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Vol. 49 | No. 2 | February 2022
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Media expert warns of stereotyping Misconceptions apply to both young and old By David Wilkening Contributing Writer
Media tend to stereotype as a kind of shortcut, says Julie Dobrow, a senior lecturer at Tufts University in Medford.
MEDFORD - Julie Dobrow, one of New England’s bestknown media experts, has done considerable research on how media impacts children. But media stereotypes and other misconceptions for younger audiences also apply to the elderly. And while she is not yet a grandmother, she has some suggestions for achieving media literacy, grandparent-style. “Some of the same principles apply to older people. The stereotype picture is of ‘doddering’ old folks. They’re often not seen at all or depicted as irrelevant or in a limited number of occupational roles,” said Dobrow. Media portrayals matter, of course, because they impact what people think and believe about all groups ― young and old. Dobrow’s educational philosophy as a college teacher and writer is “media literacy” or to educate others to be more careful and critical of media portrayals. That means “not to believe everything we see or do but to ask critical questions about it… such as who is producing it and what were they thinking?” according to Dobrow. Background includes various media connections Dobrow, 61, is a senior lecturer at Tufts University in Medford, and is director of the Center for Interdisciplinary
PHOTO/ALONSO NICHOLS, TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Media expert | 4
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AARP Fraud Watch Network 2021: The Year in Scams Top scams facing consumers in 2021 and ways to fight back
We're in Your Corner People today can spend nearly half their lives over the age of 50. That's a lot of living. So, it helps to have a wise friend and fierce defender like AARP in your corner and in your community so your money, health and happiness live as long as you do. AARP offers information and support for caregiving, financial planning, volunteering and events to help you achieve your goals and stay connected. Find us at aarp.org/ma.
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By Mike Festa, State Director, AARP Massachusetts
A
s 2021 has drawn to a close, we look back on a year in which COVID continued to be a major player in our daily lives. And the scammers, as always, were ready to pounce, deploying not only new scams, but adapting triedand-true scams to the unsettled times.
COVID Scams As the pandemic evolved over the course of 2021, the scams associated with it evolved as well. Bogus “post-vaccine” surveys — An email or a text message containing a link to a “post-vaccine” survey promises free rewards if you click the link and provide payment information to cover a small fee. Don’t click links. Mike Festa COVID-19 funeral expense support scams — A particularly heinous scam emerged earlier this year after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened up a program offering funds to help with COVID-related funeral expenses. Scammers impersonating FEMA contacted individuals offering to help them register for the program — for a small fee, of course. Know that government agencies don’t operate this way. Once the criminal has the card Unemployment compensation scams information, they are able to drain — A massive wave of identity fraud octhe value of the card within minutes. curred in the form of criminals using stolen identities to file for unemployment compensation. The victim typically only found out when they received a letter confirming their benefits, or received a tax form indicating they had received unemployment. For help recovering from identity fraud, go to www.identitytheft.gov. Gift Card Payment Scams Gift cards are popular and convenient, and not just for gifts. Over the course of 2021, we saw explosive growth in gift cards being used as a form of payment in scams. A target gets an urgent call from someone claiming to represent the Social Security Administration, the IRS, your utility company, a tech support company, etc. claiming a pressing issue needs immediate attention. Convinced of the story, the target agrees to the form of payment requested to address the problem. They go to a specific store, pick up a specific gift card or cards, and load a specific amount of money on them. Then the target, as directed, shares the numbers off the back to pay for the alleged obligation. Once the criminal has the card information, they are able to drain the value of the card within minutes. Know that anytime anyone seeks payment for anything with a gift card, it is a scam — full stop. Amazon Impostor Scams Impostor scams are on the rise, and in 2021, impostors posing as Amazon have been among the most common. The target receives a phone call alerting them of a suspicious charge on their Amazon account. If the target engages, the ploy could be anything from getting payment information, login credentials to their Amazon account, or even to convince the target to allow them to have remote access to their computer to “solve” an alleged problem. Know that Amazon will never ask you to disclose sensitive personal information or your login credentials. If you have an Amazon account, access it online or via your app to check for any problems; if you don’t have an Amazon account, you have nothing to worry about. Knowledge gives you power over scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones. We also advocate at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws. Visit www.aarp.org/fraud for more information and to sign up for alerts. Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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Get free help with Medicare from SHINE By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer
can also review programs to help people with limited income to pay health care costs.
REGION - SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) — a name that aligns with the organization’s mission to light the way for elders and their caregivers — was established in 1985 to provide counseling for those seeking elder health care. The SHINE program includes a network of health care benefit counselors who ensure that Massachusetts residents with Medicare or those about to join Medicare and their Elaine Miller, caregivers have access to Minuteman Senior accurate, unbiased and Services Regional up-to-date information SHINE Program Director, says that the about their health care best part of her job is options. Counselors are working with people just a call away ready to one on one. help you with free guidance through the process. With our complex and constantly changing health care system, SHINE can be a lifesaver. Counselors can help in many ways, such as reviewing your present coverage and providing written comparisons of plans. They can protect Medicare beneficiaries from paying for bills they should not pay, help with claim forms and with applications. They
Getting answers to your questions If you are turning 65 and have questions about your health insurance, you probably have questions about enrollment in Medicare A and B, what Medicare covers and what your out-of-pocket medical costs might be. That’s exactly how SHINE can help. Their counselors are experts on answering these types of questions. These are the questions most often asked: • How much will Medicare Part A and B cost? • What costs am I responsible for if I do not select a Medicare supplement? • What exactly does Medicare A cover and what does Medicare B cover? • How can I lower my prescription drug costs? • What is the difference between a Medicare supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan? • If I continue to work beyond age 65, can I keep my employer group health plan? • How do I enroll in Medicare A and B? • What happens if Medicare doesn’t pay for labs or healthcare services ordered by my physician? • If I’m living on a fixed, low income, are there any other programs that can help me reduce my healthcare costs? It’s pretty likely to see one or all the questions you may have about Medicare in that list above. SHINE counselors are ready with the answers.
A national leader Since its inception the SHINE Program has been considered a national leader among state health insurance assistance programs. As explained on the SHINE website, these Medicare counselors — most of them volunteers — have been extensively trained and are recertified annually by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. There are also specially-trained volunteers who can help those with limited English proficiency. Said Elaine Miller, Minuteman Senior Services Regional SHINE Program Director, “Our counseling could not be achieved without the commitment of a very special group of volunteer counselors, along with our inhouse staff.” Miller finds this kind of work very rewarding. She says the best part of her job is working with people one on one. “The most satisfying thing about my work,” said Miller, “is problem solving with consumers, case managers and family members to connect people to the best possible supplement and Part D drug plan based on each unique situation.” To get help: Go to: https://shinema.org/about-us. Call: 800-243-4636 and choose option #4. For those in Worcester County call: 508-422-9931. Or email: SHINE@state.ma.us. At this time, face-to-face appointments are not available.
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Media expert sees stereotypes for both young and old Media expert | from page 1
Studies there. She is also Tisch College Senior Fellow for Media and Civic Engagement. She has various other academic positions involving children and media but is better known to the general public though her writing, which has appeared in the Huffington Post, Boston Globe Magazine and others. She is also a biographer. Dobrow was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, where she was well-acquainted with the world’s largest media market. She can’t recall any particular influence from that environment, but always thought she would be a writer. Her later professional training began at Smith College, where she studied anthropology, sociology, and women’s history. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on the sociological implications of technology in mass communication. Much of her research today focuses on the content and effects of media on children. She is a co-founder of the Tufts Children’s Television Project (CTV). For children, as well as for older
adults, perhaps the most common media misrepresentation involves stereotypes. “What we’ve found in our research is that media tend to stereotype as a kind of shortcut. When you don’t have a lot of time to develop character, you rely on stereotype to help tell a part of a story. This is as true in the depiction of older people as it in the case of gender, ethnic or racial representation,” she said. As for her advice to seniors coping with grandchildren, there are some suggestions from a Tufts study that found half of American households had children who were eating two or more meals every day in front of the television. Dobrow, who has four grown children and is the coordinator of Family and Media Initiative at Tufts, said she has made it the household rule to not eat family meals in front of the television. Ways for grandparents to help foster media literacy “It’s not that I’m terribly opposed to it. It’s just that we want mealtime to be family time. In our house, we try to make it television watching with
adventurous energetic
Grandparents can help instill a sense of media literacy in their grandchildren by learning more about what they are interested in.
active engagement,” she said. Older relatives might start with an initial awareness that children place an importance and pay attention to media ― which underscores the importance of media literacy ― and some skepticism. If you don’t understand why your child or grandchild is playing video games, ask why they’re interesting. If you don’t get why a child is spending so much time on a phone, ask about what apps they’re using, Dobrow advised. “My own personal philosophy is that rather than squander the energy and attention most kids invest in media, channel it ― hence the focus on media literacy,” she said. “Research has consistently found that it is not the time spent on media that is a determinant of what kids do or don’t get out of it, it’s the content, itself. And another piece of advice would be to ask kids what it is that they’re doing, or what it is that like and why? They are the digital natives, after all!” Well-received Dickinson book Dobrow is the author of “After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Poet.” It tells the story of a mother and daughter whose tireless work to edit and publish Emily Dickinson’s
then-obscure poems led to her hallowed place in American literature. During research for her Dickinson book, she was a frequent visitor to the poet’s bedroom in Amherst, which is now a museum. It is where Dickinson spent her entire life. Her Dickinson book, published by W.W. Norton, was described in the Irish Times as “Beautifully produced… with the quality of both biography and of a thrilling soap-opera.” The New Yorker magazine called it a “riveting account of the mother and daughter who brought Emily Dickinson’s genius to life.” It was also a finalist for the New England Society Book Award in 2019. It received that year’s “Conch Shell Award” from the Amherst Historical Society. Outside of her work at Tufts, Dobrow has volunteered extensively on town boards and committees in her community of Lincoln in educational and environmental realms. She is also president of the Boston Authors Club. Dobrow describes herself as a “big news junkie.” Her taste in television viewing is historical dramas and PBS documentaries. “I always tell my classes that when my kids were younger, I had my little home laboratory of four kids at different development levels,” she said.
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Autism Eats creates positive dining out experiences for families By Liz Nolan Contributing Writer REGION - Dining out as a family is something most parents do not have to think twice about. It’s not that easy, however, for parents with children with autism. In 2014, 50-yearold Andover resident Lenard Zohn was inspired by his own family’s experience and founded Autism Eats. The goals are to bring the fun back to eating out, build community and increase autism awareness. Autism Eats is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, which provides autism-friendly, non-judgmental environments for family dining, socializing and connecting with others who share similar joys and challenges. “Growing up, love was expressed through food,” said Zohn. “Family dinners and restaurant outings were a big thing. We always expected these traditions to continue when we started our own family.” The challenges Zohn and his wife Delphine’s son Adin, now 16, has autism and eating at a restaurant as a family was challenging.
“Growing up, love was expressed through food,” says Autism Eats Founder Lenard Zohn.
“Sitting still was difficult for Adin,” he said. “He would flop on the ground, bolt for the door, make outbursts and be disruptive. Any enjoyment we would have had by going out to eat, was outweighed by the stress he created.” Zohn partners with restaurants and ensures that the staff is educated, and music and lighting are adjusted to accommodate sensory sensitivities. Reservations and payments are made in advance for a buffet-style
A family met Santa at a recent Autism Eats Brunch with Santa event.
meal. Details like distributing sensory toys and hiring sensory-friendly entertainment adds to the fun. Families can relax and enjoy. The feedback from families is
heartwarming. Zohn recalls a young boy coming up to him at an event to tell him it was “the best night of my life…I see Autism Eats | 7
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Boston women among book club pioneers The Milford library’s book club met outside in the gazebo at the town’s senior center during the warm weather.
By David Wilkening Contributing Writer MILFORD - Don’t forget the Great Books, please. But Oprah’s Book Club was the main inspiration for Milford librarian Anne Berard’s starting a book club. “You have to mention ‘The Great Books’ program as an influence for me, which was longer standing but it had more academic underpinnings,” said Berard, facilitator for the library’s Center Book Group. “Oprah Winfrey’s club was more rank and file, and it influenced me because it definitely got a lot of people reading books and talking about what they read.” The group regularly meets at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the Milford Senior Center. Don’t forget their place in history either or leave out the efforts of some prominent Boston women who were early forerunners of today’s modern-day book club movement in the U.S. They included Anne Hutchinson, Hannah Mather Crocker, Hannah Adams and Margaret Fuller. As public places ranging from restaurants to museums look to making comebacks since the pandem-
ic, book clubs are also poised to meet again in person. So are senior versions, which share in common with all such clubs a debt to New England women.
Journalist Margaret Fuller hosted the first known bookstore-sponsored discussion club in the U.S. in 1840.
Book clubs have a long history Oprah Winfrey’s launch of her book club in 1996 ― which prompted Berard’s own effort in 1999 ― has gen-
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She began holding meetings with local women to discuss what she viewed as the too-strict teaching of the local Puritans, which led to her banishment from the state. Her gatherings inaugurated what has been called a “tradition of women’s analytical discussion of serious subjects.” Hannah Adams is often described as the first American woman to professionally earn a living through writing. She is predominantly known for her essays. In the late 1760s, she joined a reading circle in her village of Medfield. The circle read and discussed literary works and shared their own poetry and prose. Journalist Margaret Fuller was the first American female war correspondent. In 1840, she hosted the first known bookstore-sponsored discusBoston women | 7
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sion club in the U.S. during a meeting at a friend’s Boston home. Through the “Conversations,” the women used a Socratic method to discuss anything from literature to history. Fuller took up such philosophical questions as “What were we born to do?” These gatherings have been called the first women’s book club in the U.S. The traditional early reason for women joining book clubs was often due to their exclusion from mainstream, men-only organizations. But they are no longer on the fringes and have become one of the most important driving forces in the book world. Although exact numbers are not easily found, there are an estimated five million Americans belonging to book clubs, as of a few years ago. Of those, an estimated 70 percent of members were women. A 2014 survey of American women who read at least one book a month found that 56 percent were in book clubs, and the majority of those were clubs that met in person. Milford club is mostly older adults “Almost all members are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s,” said Berard. “Almost there myself.” She is 53. The club of approximately 20 members also reflects national trends
in being largely composed of women. Like the rest of the world, the club suspended meetings during the pandemic. Then came Zoom virtual meetings followed by smaller groups meeting outdoors. The group is now back to regular meetings. The question of how book clubs like this one fared during the virus shutdown is still largely unanswered. But some preliminary studies found that membership continued to grow during that time, though only slightly. There are various benefits for book club participation, some of them more relevant perhaps for seniors. These include socialization, which also is a major motivation in the Milford club. Making new friends is another major goal for members. There’s also an element of education or learning new information. That was evident in Milford for several books. A particularly timely one during the worst of the pandemic was “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.” It was a non-fiction book authored by American historian Walter Isaacson. It was best described as “how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, and fend off viruses.” — a popular choice for this era.
Autism Eats creates positive dining out experiences for families Autism Eats | from page 5
both of my parents smiling tonight and my brother is himself.” Additional stories include grandparents taking their grandchildren out to dinner without the parents, and mothers and sons dressed up for a date night. According to Zohn, going out to eat at a restaurant is now Adin’s preferred activity. Importance of community and acceptance “I have learned how important community is and how people want to feel accepted and welcomed,” said Zohn. “If Autism Eats can help in some small way with that, I feel we are doing a good job.” Zohn’s favorite quote is from Dr. Stephen Shore, who has autism and is a renowned advocate, “If you met one person with autism, you met one person with autism.” “People with autism have interests, things they like, things they don’t like, and a sense of humor,” said Zohn. “Be patient even if they cannot
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communicate in a typical kind of way. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have something to share or important to say; they are doing it in a different way. Take the time to get to know people who are on the spectrum — you will be richer for doing so.” The pandemic has impacted coordinating Autism Eats events, but Zohn is ready to reengage. In October, the first casual dining event was held at MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes in North Billerica. Brunch with Santa at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Boston and Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lawrence were held in December. Zohn’s goal is to expand the organization to 10 new states in 2022; there are currently chapters in 20 states. He would like to have 10 events scheduled per month in different communities, but for that to happen, a larger volunteer base is needed as well as additional sustainable funding. View additional information on upcoming events, how to donate, or how to volunteer at www.autismeats. org.
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Older adults continue to embrace candlepin bowling By David Wilkening Contributing Writer REGION - Well-known novelist Elizabeth McCracken grew up in Boston, where she was familiar with candlepin bowling. She also wrote an often-praised book about it. “These days I still candlepin bowl when I’m in New England,” she wrote last year. “I take my kids often to Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Somerville.” McCracken, now 55 years old and a college creative writing teacher in Austin, wrote about being part of a candlepin bowling league in a Slate article — the story’s title: “In Praise of Real Bowling.” Many present-day participants would agree about “real” bowling. Call it “bowling light,” candlepin bowling originated in New England and is often portrayed as a family event that can include all ages. But it has a particular appeal to seniors. Many of them consider it the “real” sport of bowling. McCracken explained that candlepin bowling is almost exclusively a New England sport (though the variation of regular big-ball bowling is also found in the Canadian Maritime Provinces). She grew up around estab-
South Boston Candlepin, aka Southie Bowl, serves craft beers, hosts corporate events, and allows you to reserve lanes online.
lishments such as Sacco’s ― one of the Boston area’s longtime alleys with more than 80 years of history. “We didn’t know that our bowling was a regional variation,” she said. “Even now New Englanders will say, of candlepin, ‘Oh, you mean real bowling.’”
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This is ‘bowling light’ The differences between traditional and candlepin or “light bowling” are immediately obvious. The very first and possibly most obvious is the much-smaller and lighter softball-sized ball. Executive director of the Haverhill-based International Candlepin Bowling Association (ICBA), Maria Angelotti, views it as an amazing and appropriate sport for older adults for many reasons. “The most important one is the size of the bowling balls. The small circumference and the light weight (under three pounds) is so much more manageable for them as compared to our ten pin counterparts,” she said. The candlepin ball is also without holes, unlike the normal everyday bowling ball weighing anywhere from 10 to 16 pounds. “Another great aspect is the fact that we leave the deadwood candlepins,” Angelotti explained. Bowlers can play angles to bounce fallen pins
after still-standing ones. “That is unlike traditional bowling pins, which are cleared on the pin deck,” Angelotti noted. Regular bowlers get only two chances to down all the pins for a strike or a spare, while candlepin allows three balls. This enables the bowlers to strategize their toss and work with the angles to raise their scores. Lower scores The best regular bowlers might average scores over 200. But candlepin players might be happy to bowl over 100. Perfect, or games with a score of 300 are common in regular big ball bowling. But “strikes” are far rarer in the lighter version, and no one has ever rolled a perfect 300. The highest sanctioned candlepin score is 245, achieved in 1984 in Erving and again in 2011 in Haverhill. No wonder the lighter version is described by all as far more difficult. Candlepin bowling is “the most challenging of all indoor sports,” accordCandlepin | 9
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Even now New Englanders will say, of candlepin, ‘Oh, you mean real bowling.’ – Elizabeth McCracken
Candlepin | from page 8
ing to the Massachusetts Bowling Association. A long history Traditional ten-pin bowling began to be popular in the U.S. after the Civil War. A billiard room owner named Justin White in the 1880s trimmed the size of the pins at his Worcester hall. The pint-sized version of traditional tenpin bowling quickly spread through New England, though it was generally confined to building basements and not with the added electronic games and dining amenities of today. In the late 1950s, a 12-lane alley with a skating rink opened in Newburyport. It was regarded as a model for others with more elaborate options. There were an estimated 70 million bowlers in the U.S. of all types prior to the pandemic. Virtually all bowling venues suffered as a result of the coronavirus. But owners say the revival of business today has been particularly strong with older bowlers. Seniors as old as their 90s Needham Bowlaway owner Zach Sundberg and others say senior leagues of bowlers in their 70s, 80s and even 90s are not only being revived but may have more participants than prior to the pandemic. Owner of Woburn Bowladrome Mike DeRienzo also has seen an upswing of older bowlers, though families remain a staple of participants everywhere. “Older players can have a couple of beers and pizza. They enjoy the company of being with friends,” he said. His place is said to have among the highest numbers of older partici-
pants in a Monday league. Another longtime bowling alley in the heart of Boston that has adapted to the times is South Boston Candlepin, aka Southie Bowl. Serving craft beers, hosting corporate events, and having the ability to reserve lanes online are some of the ways the 60-year-old business has stayed relevant. Down but not out A senior bowler himself, Bill Ballou writing in the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester found last year that the number of bowling alleys are dwindling, but there were still 75 throughout the state. “There are far fewer bowlers now than two generations ago, but the remaining ones are passionate about the sport and welcoming to others who embrace it,” he reported. Candlepin dying? Too dramatic, he said. But it is definitely shrinking. “The future seems to be in places like Apex in Marlboro and Wamesit Lanes in Tewksbury, massive multipurpose complexes where candlepin bowling is just one entertainment option.” “Bowling in general has struggled these past few years,” admitted ICBA’s Angelotti. “Many of our centers have added restaurants, game rooms and bars to their footprints to bring in open bowling customers.” Not so much with candlepins. Players seem more interested in a purer form. “Our sport is so unique and challenging that it stands on its own, especially for the seniors. They aren’t interested in game rooms, restaurants, laser tag or all the other (usual) draws. They simply want to bowl, and maybe play Keno,” she said.
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Reverse Mortgages: Get the Facts Alain Valles, MBA, MS 781-724-6221
Reverse Mortgages. Not Working? Concerned? Recently there has been a shortage of employees. Many older people have decided not to work or are unable to go back to work. For many, the joy of not working has led to a higher quality of life. For some, there’s a growing concern of how to fund this improved lifestyle. A reverse mortgage can be the solution to the need for immediate cash as well as peace of mind if money is needed in the future.
What is a reverse mortgage? For homeowners at least 62 years old with sufficient equity, a reverse mortgage is a government guaranteed loan that allows you to receive cash when needed or desired. The primary benefit of a reverse mortgage in comparison to other mortgages is that you never have to make a monthly mortgage payment. Although you would be required to pay your insurance and real estate taxes. For so many senior homeowners, a reverse mortgage is the ideal choice in achieving financial independence without the pressure of needing to work.
Still Working? If yes, hopefully it’s because you want to work. A reverse mortgage can also be the solution when funds are needed to cover monthly shortfalls and out of the ordinary expenses. Or, even if you want to retire today.
There is no cost to learn Regardless of what you’ve heard about reverse mortgages, it can be complicated to determine if a reverse mortgage is the best path for you. A great place to get free information is the “How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home” 36-page book. This is the official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and published by the National Council on Aging. For more personalized information, please give me a call at (781) 724-6221 to receive your free copy of “Use Your Home to Stay at Home” or email me at av@powhse.com. I am available to evaluate your specific situation. It only takes about 10 minutes to calculate if you qualify and how much money is available. No credit report is required. The only personal question asked is your date of birth. Thank you and stay safe! Alain Valles was the first designated Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in New England. He obtained a Master of Science from the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate, an MBA from the Wharton School, and graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst. He is the senior reverse mortgage loan officer MLO#7946 at Powerhouse Funding Corp. NMLS #1740551. He can arrange but does not make loans. Alain can be reached directly at (781) 724-6221 or by email at av@powhse.com.
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Navigating the challenges of aging alone By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer REGION - Are you a solo ager? What does that mean, anyway? Well, if you’re at a loss as to who to put down on forms as your emergency contact person, that’s a solo ager. But there can be other difficulties more challenging than that. You may not have any support system. You may not know what to do about appointing a health care proxy and you may be embarrassed to get help or talk about your loneliness ― a major taboo in our world. Luckily, there are solutions to make aging alone less of a problem. The Situation The baby boomers are going gray and their children, if they’ve had them, have left home. Through the census data it’s easy to see there’s many living on their own. According to the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau’s report, about 22.1 million adults 55 years old or older live alone. An even greater number ― 40 percent of those 55 and older without children live alone. The challenge today is that unlike generations past, elders may be living alone with no family members nearby. And longevity is becoming increasingly
Ailene Gerhardt is a Brooklinebased independent, boardcertified patient advocate who advises people on how to successfully age alone.
common. That can mean you may come to a point in your life when you have no family members at all. The government’s census calls you a “one person household” but that doesn’t explain much about your life. Solutions How to make it through your elder years without a partner, spouse or chil-
dren can be tough. “We have a caregiving and support shortage,” explained Ailene Gerhardt, 49, an independent, board-certified patient advocate and founder of Beacon Patient Solutions, LLC, a patient advocacy business. “The infrastructure doesn’t exist. So we have to create it. We have to make sure support is there.” The greatest challenge can be our complicated health care system. There are decisions to be made. Advocates like Gerhardt can help make it easier to figure out what to do to care for yourself and have plans in place if you cannot care for yourself. She also helps solo agers connect with financial planners, lawyers, housing experts, and others ― people who are well versed in what it means to be a solo ager. She explained, “When my clients are seeking advice, they are asking, ‘who speaks my language?’” Gerhardt is passionate about helping elders. She knows elders have different needs than younger people ― that we speak a different language. At the top of many elders’ list is medical issues. For some peace of mind, Gerhardt advises to make a plan now for unforeseen medical emergencies. “Be proactive, not reactive,” she adds.
To keep feeling connected to others, though it can be difficult, it’s important to get out into the community. For elders unable to drive or walk, there are community senior centers or city agencies that often offer driving to places. If able, it’s healthy to get to your local park, café or senior center. Feeling less alone Gerhardt knows it’s not easy to be alone. She’s a solo ager herself. “There’s a stigma about being solo,” she said. “But when people learn they are not a unicorn, they are thrilled knowing that others are experiencing the same things, such as navigating the stigma of living alone both internally and externally.” What this means is that an elder may feel bad about themselves that they are on their own. That’s an internal problem, a voice in one’s head that says they are a problem because they live alone. An external problem is society. Others may treat elders on their own poorly or try to take advantage of them because they live alone. Fortunately, with people like Gerhardt and the many other resources available, (but unfortunately not widely or plentifully enough) these challenges can be addressed.
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Improve your brain health with meditation By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer REGION - It’s projected that up to 152 million people worldwide will be living with Alzheimer’s disease by 2050. That’s a frightening statistic, but there may be ways to keep brains healthy and possibly prevent succumbing to this disease or dementia in general. One way to keep brains healthy could be meditation. And luckily meditation can be learned by practically anyone. Even if you’ve never done any kind of meditation before, the good news is you can teach an old dog new tricks. Our brains are ever-changing. “The studies on meditation in older individuals is exciting. It proves that the brain can continue to change and adapt throughout the lifespan,” said Dr. Andrew Newberg, research director at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. “Meditation can be considered a type of exercise for the brain.” Mindfulness technique First and foremost, if you want to keep your brain healthy, just like you might for your body, it’s best to find a meditation type that you enjoy. There
Dr. Andrew Newberg
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are many on offer, but some have been more studied regarding brain health than others. According to one Boston study (albeit a small one) conducted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, there is promising evidence that adults with mild cognitive impairment who practice mindfulness meditation may boost “cognitive reserve.” Cognitive reserve is your brain’s ability to improvise and find alternate ways to get something done. Mindfulness meditation is a type of awareness where you pay close attention to your thoughts, feelings, and your surrounding environment in a non-judgmental way. For example, you can brush your teeth mindfully. If thoughts arise that judge what’s hap-
pening in those moments when you’re brushing your teeth, such as your toothpaste tastes yucky, in mindfulness meditation you tell yourself that yes, you’re having a judgmental thought. Then you try to gently remind your brain to let the thought go away and bring your attention back on the sensations you’re experiencing without going deeper into thought, such as thinking: better get a different type of toothpaste next time. Singing meditation Kirtan Kriya is another type of meditation ― a singing meditation ― that involves four sounds, breathing, and repetitive finger movements. “Many types of meditation like Kirtan Kriya activate the frontal lobes of the brain. This increased activity in the frontal lobes helps to improve concentration, but also regulates emotions,” explained Dr. Newberg. “By improving concentration and reducing anxiety and depression, overall cognition improves.” Dr. Newberg continued, “In one of our early studies which looked at Kirtan Kriya, after just eight weeks of doing this meditation, older individuals who originally complained of memory problems were found to have significant im-
provements in both brain function and memory.” “Kirtan Kriya has a demonstrable effect on the brains of seniors with and without memory loss,” added Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, president of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation in Chicago. Grow a bigger brain, grow a better brain According to Dr. Newberg, studies show that meditation can result in a physically bigger brain, as well as a better functioning brain. But there’s a catch. You must like the meditation you are doing. “One of the important findings from studies on meditation in older individuals is that it’s essential for people to find practices they can fully engage in,” noted Newberg. “This means that people should find practices that they enjoy and would like to make part of their daily routine. When people fully engage in a practice, that is when the brain becomes most active and you’re likely to reap the most benefit.” For free meditation instructions, guided meditations, and more visit uclahealth.org/marc/.
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Alexa Together ushers in next generation of remote assistance for older adults By Brett Peruzzi Managing Editor
SENIOR FRAUD HELPLINE
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Above: A friend or family member providing support to an elderly person uses the Alexa app on their smart phone to connect to Alexa Together. Left: Notifications from Alexa Together provide assurance that an elderly person is going about their typical daily routine.
Hands-free emergency assistance Alexa Together provides the elder customer with round-the-clock, hands-free access to an emergency
Falls detected automatically Alexa Together also works in conjunction with a device from another technology provider that can detect when an elder customer has fallen, using a wall-mounted sensor. Alexa will then ask if emergency assistance should be called, and their support person notified. Another option is a traditional wearable device that will allow Alexa to be prompted to ask if emergency assistance is needed when the customer presses a button. Amazon also expects to add support for additional devices over time. Notifications and remote assistance Alexa Together can be set up to provide the elder customer’s support person with daily notifications when the elder has their first interacAlexa | 13
F il
THE
REGION - Alexa, the voice-activated digital assistant from Amazon that is present already in so many homes, is now the latest tool that could help the elderly to continue to live an independent life. The company recently announced Alexa Together. Amazon described it as “a new service designed to help aging customers feel more comfortable and confident living independently and give their family peace of mind.” The key to the new service is what Amazon calls the Care Hub, its existing service which creates a connection between two Alexa accounts. The elder customer needs an Amazon Echo, Sonos One, or other type of Alexa-enabled smart speaker. The friend or family member providing support just needs the Alexa app on their smart phone. Some of the first users of the service have been Amazon employees who use Alexa Together to stay connected with aging parents. The Alexa app can also be used by the support person to place calls or send messages to the elder customer.
help line. All they have to do is say, “Alexa, call for help,” to be connected to a live agent who can contact police, the fire department, or an ambulance. This eliminates the need to be able to reach a phone or wear a medical alert device. Alexa will also notify the friend or family member providing support.
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There are no words By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes
W
hen my son was about seven, he told me he remembered crying in a crib. I asked him about this early memory and all he could say was “I felt bad.” I asked, “Were you mad? Scared? Sad?” And he repeated, “I felt bad.” It occurred to me that he was so young he probably didn’t have the vocabulary to separate out the different emotions, so “bad” was all he could say and many years later, all he could remember. As I have grappled with my own losses and watched others struggle, I believe part of our struggle with grief lies in our inability to properly identify and express our emotions. It is my hope that together we can create a vocabulary around grief. Here are my first entries in this urban dictionary. Granger – Angry Grief Being angry while grieving is probably the most common combination of emotions. The anger can be substantive (like over the departed’s final wishes) or inconsequential (like getting the wrong coffee order). Granger can be immediate, or it can develop over time. Many people are completely unaware that they are experiencing any kind of grief when they are grangry. I have previously written about how grangry I was at my mother’s church for not coming to visit her while she was dying. Mog – Missing Out Grief This feeling can be used to describe how a bride might feel if her father is not around to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. It can be strong, but it is often a lingering knot in your stomach when you realize how death has changed your world. I felt mog when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and I could not share the victory with my father. Enveef – Envy Grief Envy grief is similar to mog in
that it often arises when you are feeling left out, but the difference is that envy grief is more directed at a person. For instance, my husband lost his father to pancreatic cancer five weeks after diagnosis. He felt enveef watching Alex Trebek survive and thrive for almost two years after diagnosis. Regrief – Experiencing grief again About a month after my father died, my second cousin died. I barely knew him, but when I attended the funeral, I couldn’t stop sobbing. Of course, everyone knew I was truly grieving my father. Each new loss reminds us of other losses and the grief becomes cumulative. Ceg – Current Events Grief The impact of world events can have a profound impact on anyone. These feelings can be even stronger if you can identify with the bereaved in a specific way. For instance, my youngest son was the same age as the children who were slaughtered at Sandy Hook elementary school so each year that these children are remembered, I grieve again for the loss I could have experienced. Glief – Gaslighting Grief A number of years ago, I encountered an old friend of my father’s. He and I were on opposite sides of a legal battle and he told me, “You father would be very disappointed in you.” As confident as I was that this was bunk, I felt glief and wondered how accurate that was. I’ve also seen glief when a community grieves an active member who was unpleasant at best in his personal life, leaving his family to feel confused and resentful when hearing, “Oh, he was such a great man, he will truly be missed.” These are just a few facets of the different kinds of grief I have witnessed and experienced. There are many more. I welcome you all to contribute to this new vocabulary by writing in and giving your best effort to naming and describing another facet. Together, we can turn grief from a generalized “bad” emotion into something more understandable and relatable. A common language will help us all talk about our griefs.
Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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Alexa Together ushers in next generation of remote assistance for older adults Alexa | from page 12
tion with Alexa, or if there has been no interaction by a certain time. This provides reassurance to the support person that the elder is up and going about their daily routine. And the elder customer is confident that their support person knows they are okay without the need for a text or phone call. The service also has a remote assist feature that the elder customer can enable. This allows their support person to set up Alexa features and manage other settings remotely from their smart phone. This can be useful for things like setting reminders or timers or adding items to a shopping list. This can also be used for homes that have additional items connected to Alexa, such as lights or other devices that use a “smart” plug that can turn it off and on with voice commands. It can lessen the burden on an elder who may not have the interest or ability to learn how to use some of Alexa’s features.
privacy protection so the elder customer doesn’t feel intruded upon too much by their support person. In addition to having to approve access for their support person to be able to use the remote assist feature, the notification feature only allows the support person to see that there was an interaction with Alexa, but not the type of interaction. For example, it would indicate Alexa was being used for entertainment, but not identify the radio station, song, or audio book specifically. So how much does it cost? Amazon prices Alexa Together at $19.99 per month or $199 per year. Customers can sign up for a free six-month trial. Amazon customers who already subscribe to the Care Hub service will receive a free year of Alexa Together until December 7, 2022. Either the person providing or receiving support can start the signup process. But both customers will need to complete the process to create the relationship, to ensure they are in agreement to use the service.
Privacy protection Amazon stresses that Alexa Together comes with multiple levels of
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viewpoint Pondering fast summer, slow winter By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer
W
hy does winter seem to pass sooooo sloooowwwwly while summer goesbysofast? From June through September is four months. From December through March is four months. But that equality of time means nothing when you get the feeling that “Yikes! Here it is September, and I’m not done with June yet!” Or “Here it is February, and it seems like two years since Christmas.” Why this disparity? I’ve been pondering this question when in pondering mode, and I think I have the answer: environmental monotony. The winter months present a long stretch of tedious sameness in the natural world. The opposite months, on the contrary, present so much variety, it’s almost hard to keep up. By June, you hear spring peepers; the redwinged blackbirds then all the other summer birds are back; you see some species because they’re only passing through but some of them stay, then the males start singing at dawn; as summer progresses birds nest, and soon you see baby birds, and by the time the last birds (the goldfinches) nest, some of the other babies are already grown and getting ready to fly south. Or the violets bloom and the dandelions, then the daisies, then the lupines pop out, then the day lilies, and when they fade the goldenrod takes over, then the asters, and amidst all that blooming and fading, dozens of other wildflowers bloom briefly and fade and make way for dozens of others that bloom and fade. From June through September, every week in the natural world is just a little different from the week before. Always a new adventure. No wonder it goes by so fast!
By contrast, here’s what happens in the natural world from December through March: Nothing. Not totally nothing, but most of what happens takes place in the ground or under the snow or inside the trees, and we don’t see it. The earth keeps revolving, so the light changes a tiny bit at a time, but that’s not a whole lot to watch for when you look out your window. By the end of November, a sameness settles in, sometimes a sunny sameness, sometimes a gray sameness. Winter’s idea of variety is this: Maybe we’ll have a snowstorm, or maybe we’ll have an ice storm. That’s why winter seems to move so slowly: environmental monotony. While I’m in pondering mode, I can ponder anything I want to cheer myself up. So I’m pondering a new idea — rainbow snow. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if snow fell in different colors, and we never knew which color we would get? I can picture pink snow and magenta snow and aqua snow and emerald snow and lime snow and pumpkin-colored snow and gold snow. We would have layers of color. Paths made by snow blowers would be bordered by many colored horizontal layers, like the rock layers in the Grand Canyon. Children would build families of snow people, each a different color. We would no longer engage in New Englanders’ favorite storm-related activity: discussing how bad a storm will be, then discussing about how bad it is, then discussing about how bad it was. Instead, we could happily speculate about the coming colors and enjoy whatever falls. The winter months would be as interesting and varied as summer. No months would drag. Of course I know that this is a silly idea. But when a person is in pondering mode, silliness is perfectly acceptable; in fact, it is desirable. It makes all things seem possible. And it helps to relieve the monotony. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net
Seven ways to manage your arthritis symptoms By Brett Peruzzi Managing Editor REGION - There is unfortunately no cure for arthritis, but it can be successfully treated, and the symptoms managed. The term arthritis actually refers to a wide variety of ailments (over 100) related to the body’s joints and surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues. Symptoms usually include joint pain and stiffness. Nearly 60 million adults in the US suffer from arthritis, a number that is expected to rise as the country’s population ages. Arthritis is the third highest cause of worker disability, after back and neck problems and mental health issues. Here are seven ways to help manage your arthritis symptoms.
Arthritis is not inevitable with aging, according to Dr. Barry Taylor, a naturopathic doctor in Weston.
1.
Consult with your doctor This should be your starting point if you have not already done it. While you can do a lot of self-management of symptoms, you need to start with a solid medical diagnosis. A physical exam and questions from your doctor can help determine the cause of your joint pain, since there are so many types of arthritis, and the extent of any damage. Your doctor can help you come up with a treatment plan, which will likely include some of the same suggestions included here. You may also be referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other related ailments.
2.
Stay active with the right kinds of exercise All exercise is not created equal. While being active is one of the best things you can do to decrease your symptoms, the wrong types of exercise can actually make things worse. You want to do exercise that strengthens the muscles that support your joints but doesn’t damage the joints. Do stretches, and low-impact cardio work such as bike riding, walking, or swimming or pool exercise classes. Stay away from running, anything that involves jumping, high-impact aerobics, and high amounts of repetitive motion. Besides being good for your joints, exercise will improve your mental state and help with weight control.
3.
Weight loss Excess weight puts addition-
al stress on joints. If you are overweight or obese, try to get down to a healthier weight for your height and body type. It doesn’t have to be a drastic weight loss; losing even 10 to 15 pounds can reduce your arthritis symptoms.
4.
What you eat Diet can be very helpful in managing arthritis symptoms. Many of the foods to minimize or avoid are the ones you’ve heard about before to improve your overall health. They include foods with added sugars, like candy and sweet baked goods, and sugary soft drinks, processed foods, saturated and trans fats, and alcohol. Foods that will help with arthritis Arthritis symptoms | 15
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symptoms include green vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, and brussels sprouts, whole grains, and fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel, which contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which help with inflammation. Dr. Barry Taylor, a naturopathic doctor in Weston, had this to say about diet. “One of the biggest things is to minimize animal food and eat more vegetables. Minimize acid foods and maximize alkaline foods,” he emphasized. “Drink minimal coffee and consume minimal sugar and alcohol.” Also, stay hydrated. Try to drink two quarts of water a day. Joint cartilage is mostly water, and when it’s dehydrated it breaks down more easily and makes injury more likely.
5.
ic serv
The Arthritis Foundation mentions several supplements on its website that appear to offer benefits for arthritis sufferers. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, often found in curries, acts as an anti-inflammatory. One study of several hundred people with knee osteoarthritis found that 1500 milligrams daily of curcumin extract was as effective as 1200 milligrams a day of ibuprofen. The polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in fish, which are available in pill form as a supplement known as fish oil, have also been cited as
helpful for arthritis due to their anti-inflammatory properties. “Alfalfa supplements alkalize the body and are very inexpensive,” added Taylor. “They also seem to really help.”
6.
Therapies Traditional physical therapy, usually thought of in relation to recovering from an injury can also be helpful for treating arthritis symptoms. PT can help increase range of motion, improve muscle strength to support the joints, and help target the source of joint pain. Other help-
ful therapies include hydrotherapy, such as hot tubs, massage, and acupuncture.
7.
Adaptive devices There are also a wide variety of adaptive devices and equipment, much of it inexpensive, that can make everyday tasks easier for someone with arthritis. These range from canes for walking, to grab bars in the bathroom, jar openers and long-handled grippers to retrieve items stored high or low, to wide key holders to make it easier to turn a car ignition. There’s likely something for nearly any task that is difficult or painful for an arthritis sufferer if you do your research. It’s not inevitable Are there factors besides aging itself that increase your risk of developing arthritis? “As people get older, many develop poor nutrition habits and move less,” explained Taylor. “People tend to get entrenched in their mind and their body follows.” Taylor stressed that misconceptions about arthritis make some people believe that it’s a natural part of aging. “It’s not inevitable,” said the 71-year-old, especially if you eat right and stay physically active. “It doesn’t come with Social Security.”
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Medications and supplements The most common medications used to treat minor arthritis pain and swelling are over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Cortisone shots by a doctor are sometimes used to reduce pain and inflammation, but they are used sparingly because they can reduce bone density and increase the risk of fractures.
Nearly 60 million adults in the US suffer from arthritis, a number that is expected to rise as the country’s population ages.
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Gray divorce on the rise as gender equity, life expectancy increases By Colin McCandless Contributing Writer REGION - The United States has the highest divorce rate in the world, with nearly half of all marriages breaking up. Research indicates that even people married 20 years or longer are getting divorced more often in recent decades. There has been a significant uptick in “gray divorce,” a term used to describe a split involving married couples at least 50 years of age or older. According to a study from The Journal of Gerontology, persons aged 50 and older account for one-fourth of divorces, and the divorce rate for this demographic has doubled since the 1990s. It also found that “over half of those divorces happened after 20 years of marriage.” A Pew Research report shows that higher gray divorce rates are linked to Baby Boomers, who comprise the “bulk of this age group,” but what factors are spurring the increase and why is it more prevalent now? Contributing factors Jeff Stokes, assistant professor in the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Department of Gerontology, cites three main contributing factors to the
Jonathan Fields, a practicing family law attorney and divorce mediator, says that in gray divorce, “a big concern is whether and to what extent each party is competent to represent their own intentions.”
Eileen Frazier, a licensed independent clinical social worker who works in marital and discernment counseling, says most of her clients fall within the 50-plus demographic and many have been married 20 to 30 years or more.
rise in gray divorce. The first entails “changes in gender equality among current primary cohorts of gray divorce and less defined gender roles in the labor force,” said Stokes. “There are much more equal proportions of men and women in the labor force.”
An increase in women’s financial independence has reduced the fear of financial repercussions stemming from divorce, he explained. “It’s not uncommon for women to earn more money than their husband.” Secondly, there is greater cultural
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expecting decades of active life ahead, the thought process becomes less about ‘Will I find someone else?’ and more ‘Why should I spend it with this person who doesn’t make me happy anymore?’
Typically, there is a leaning-in person — who wants to save the marriage — and a leaning-out person who wants to leave it.
– Eileen Frazier
Counseling couples Eileen Frazier, a licensed independent clinical social worker and trauma specialist with Discernment Counseling in Falmouth, has worked in marital counseling for 24 years and in discernment counseling for six. Most of her clients fall within the 50-plus demographic and many have been married 20 to 30 years or more. Discernment counseling is designed for couples who are considering divorce and at least one spouse is ambivalent about the benefits of intensive couples therapy. It was created to address the gap between marriage counseling and hiring a lawyer, according to Frazier. While discernment counseling doesn’t always save a marriage, it often results in a more amicable divorce when separation is seen as the only alternative, asserted Frazier. “You can get a divorce, but you don’t have to let it destroy you.” Marriage counseling is traditionally geared toward fixing a marriage, but discernment counseling examines Branding Concepts the idea of Group what Frazier described as Family Dental Concept 2 | Revised Main Logo:
a “quality of a marriage as opposed to the quantity of marriage” (marriage length). Frazier meets with each spouse individually (over Zoom these days) and asks them about their relationship and how it’s defined. “Typically, there is a leaning-in person — who wants to save the marriage — and a leaning-out person who wants to leave it,” she explained. The objectives are establishing confidence and clarity in assessing what happened, evaluating the marriage’s direction and determining each person’s contributions to the state of the marriage. “I help you in a safe, supportive setting and discuss what you’re seeing,” said Frazier. Discernment counseling consists of up to five sessions, and usually one of three paths results: The couple decides not to fix the marriage nor actively seek divorce; they proceed with separation or divorce; or they choose marriage
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counseling. Should they pursue counseling, Frazier generally recommends a minimum of six months. Navigating legal issues When a couple 50 and older opts for divorce, the next step involves hiring a lawyer. A gray divorce can entail navigating the legal aspects of dividing up shared property, retirement accounts and other financial assets. Jonathan Fields is a practicing family law attorney and divorce mediator of nearly 30 years with Fields and Dennis LLP in Wellesley. He has delivered talks on the subject of gray divorce at the MassBar Educates Panel and Utah Bar Association events and wrote a 2018 piece in the Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly entitled, “Tips for the practitioner handling gray divorce.” Fields said there are specific legal issues unique to gray divorce that must be considered when assessing
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financial matters, including mental competency concerns such as dementia. “From a lawyer’s perspective, a big concern is whether and to what extent each party is competent to represent their own intentions,” he stated. For couples of advanced years, more likely 80-plus or a similar age of “diminished capacity,” as Fields phrased it, another legal piece is ensuring that adult children aren’t the ones pushing the divorce for their own financial gain. Additionally, lawyers overseeing a gray divorce can help make sure that each spouse’s “beneficiary designations are in place in terms of estate planning,” said Fields. This might include updating 401(k) or life insurance beneficiary designations so that they match each individual’s intent. A further potential legal scenario within the gray divorce demographic is “Medicaid divorce” or “sham divorce,” This is a situation, Fields explained, in which “the parties may consider divorce so that the spouse on his/her way to a nursing home can qualify for Medicaid.” While the 35- to 50-year-old cohort remains his practice’s largest divorce demographic, Fields suspects he has seen more gray divorce clients compared to 10 years ago, particularly between ages 60 and 65. “It’s a growing area for sure,” he affirmed.
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Worcester growing as an arts and culture destination By David Wilkening Contributing Writer WORCESTER - This city is sometimes derisively known as “Wormtown” and at times with a possibly more dignified designation: “Heart of the Commonwealth.” For most visitors, however, Worcester might be better recognized as the “second city.” “Second” in just about everything. In population. It’s the state’s “second city” in its arts collection. And its most prominent artistic landmark, the Worcester Arts Museum, is often termed one of the biggest of the state’s 228 museums ― outside of Boston, that is. Worcester was named for Worcester, England. It developed as an industrial city in the 19th century due partly to the Blackstone Canal and rail transport. However, the city’s manufacturing base waned following World War II. Long-term economic and population decline was not reversed until the 1990s, when higher education, medicine, biotechnology, and other industry thrived. The city’s evolution and higher profile as an arts destination is striking in part because Worcester (population 206,518, as of 2020) is somewhat of a dwarf to Boston ― more than three times its population with 695,506 in 2020. So, what’s responsible for its improved reputation?
The Worcester Art Museum (WAM), with its 38,000 art objects, is a prime reason for the city’s high rating for visitors.
Worcester Art Museum is catalyst The Worcester Art Museum, known to locals invariably as WAM, is a prime reason for the city’s high rating for visitors. The art museum, with its 38,000 art objects, is particularly popular with older visitors. “They’re one of our biggest audiences,” said Julieane K. Frost, senior marketing manager of the museum. Why is that? “We’re what is known as an encyclopedic museum. That means we cover over 50 centuries of art. Almost every corner of the globe is represented in our collection. That means anyone interested in the world’s art finds it here,” she said. But that’s not all the museum offers. Other attractions include its current showing of exhibits from the
London National Gallery. The first one available through March 13 is “Love Stories from the National Portrait Gallery, London,” an exploration of the role of love in some of the greatest masterpieces of Western art. The portraits include such famous couples as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, among others. WAM is the first stop for the international tour organized while the National Portrait Gallery is closed for a major redevelopment. “We became the first museum to have it on tour. It’s a lifetime opportunity to see art in Worcester that you would normally have to visit London to see,” Frost said. The museum also offers various
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tours and programs such as floral arrangements involving interpretive art that are particularly popular with older visitors. Other related attractions WAM became home to the Higgins Armory Collection in 2014. The collection was previously housed at Worcester’s Higgins Armory Museum from 1931 to 2013, which before its closing contained the largest collection of armor outside of Europe. No surprise that the gallery’s collection is popular with older veterans, according to Frost. Around the corner from the WAM is the Salisbury Mansion, a historic house museum. Built in 1772 by Stephen Salisbury, the home went through various owners, ranging from a rooming house to a “gentlemen’s club” before being rescued from demolition and moved to its present location near the museum. It’s been restored to look as it did in the 1830s. The Salisbury Mansion is considered one of the best documented historic house museums in New England. It’s also part of the Salisbury Cultural District (SCD), home to some of the region’s most venerable cultural, historical, educational, and religious organizations, as well as a thriving restaurant, retail, and art community. Worcester | 19
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Tax credits possible for family caregivers By R.R. Fletcher Contributing Writer BOSTON - Family caregivers are a vital but largely unrecognized component of long-term health care. However, that may be changing. Currently, over 15 acts sit before the 192nd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts addressing caregiver issues and needs. One set of legislation proposes tangible relief. The bills H.3043 and S.788, An Act to Establish the Family Caregiving Tax Credit, sponsored by Sen. Jason M. Lewis (D-5th-Middlesex) and Rep. David Rogers (D-24th Middlesex), provide tax credits for incurred caregiving costs. A third, Bill H.2979, An Act Establishing the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn C. Dykema (D-8th-Middlesex) and Rep. Michelle M. DuBois (D-10th-Plymouth), allows a more generous tax credit. Also of note, similar bills sit before the United States Congress ― S.1670/ H.R.3321, Credit for Caring Act 2021, which provide a federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers. These bills are sponsored by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Elizabeth Warren (DMA) and in the House by Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA). Family caregiving in America Over 48 million caregivers in the United States provide unpaid care to loved ones, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 43 percent of adults serve as unpaid caregivers. In Massachusetts, more than 840,000 residents provide 786 million hours of informal care annually and cost Massachusetts employers over $982 million in 2017 through increased turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. And even more startling, according to AARP, if family caregivers aged 50 and over have access to work-
Worcester | from page 18
About those other names And those other monikers for Worcester, such as Wormtown? That was the idea of L.B. Worm, a locally famous disk jockey in the late 1970s who gave it to the city because he thought its punk rock scene was lifeless. Worm compared it to death and worms and dubbed the city “Wormtown.” “The Heart of the Commonwealth” slogan has a less flamboyant past. It became known as that due to its location near the geographic center of Massachusetts. A red heart became the official symbol of the city.
place support, U.S. Gross Domestic Product could grow by an additional $1.7 trillion (5.5%) by 2030. While most caregivers assist with basic activities such as mobility, eating, and dressing, many perform more complex tasks, including maintaining medication schedules, providing wound care, and operating medical equipment. Caregivers also coordinate healthcare schedules, assist with the household, including finances, and encourage socialization. But it’s not just physical care. Research shows 8 in 10 caregivers face regular out-of-pocket costs, with the highest burden falling on younger and Latino and Black caregivers. AARP found that family caregivers face a significant financial strain ― $7,242 annually ― over 26% of the caregiver’s income, and working caregivers spend over $10,525 annually in unreimbursed costs. Caregivers are also experiencing indirect financial setbacks. Over 47 percent experienced at least one negative personal impact ― cutting personal health care spending, accessing personal savings, or reducing retirement contributions. What is ‘An Act to Establish the Family Caregiving Tax Credit’? These bills would provide tax credits for certain defined expenses incurred by family caregivers for the care and support of a loved one. Proposed tax credits vary ― establishing income and state residency requirements and tax credit maximums ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 annually. The bills, H.3043/S.788, build upon the standard definition of caregiving, “Activities of Daily Living (ADL).” And while not perfect, they at least acknowledge the complicated nature of caregiving by defining “Eligible Family Members” as related by “blood or marriage including in-laws.” More than just a tax credit Tax credits are a positive first step in acknowledging the strain on familial caregivers. However, as more and more bills address caregiver issues, there is also a growing message ― the need to recognize the irreplaceable role that family caregivers have in the ‘Continuum of Care.’ Raising awareness is at the heart of organizations like the fledgling Massachusetts-based start-up ARCHANGELS. Collaborating with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the Mass Caregiving Initiative, ARCHANGELS launched the Any Care Counts campaign, designed to increase recognition and support of unpaid caregivers in the Commonwealth.
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