8 letters to dr. walter bortz

Contents
Spring 2010
14 ASK DR. ZORICA
CADASIL? What is this rare and
terminal disease?
16 PROFILE: DOUG MCCONNELL
You know him from the popular
TV show: Bay Area Backroads.
18 MEET LOLLY FONT, YOGI
Yoga saved her life. Now Lolly
teaches yoga to help others.
20 WHEN TO DOWNSIZE?
When is a home too much to handle?
What to do? What are your options?
24 FALLING IN LOVE AT 80
It’s never too late for romance! Older adults
are finding love at retirement communities.
26 MONEY LADY
Doug McConnell on a trail near Corte Madera
6 MOOSE and MOUSSE
Travel writer Don Mankin journeys to
Quebec to track moose and eat mousse!
8 LETTERS TO DR. WALTER BORTZ
Dr. Bortz talks about his latest book:
“The Roadmap to 100.”
Beware of the Bernie Madoffs of the world.
Sage advice from Evelyn Preston.
28 SENIOR LIVING
New Moldaw Family Residences
(CCRC) opens in Palo Alto, CA.
30 HEALTHY AGING GUIDE
Free resource guide on how to stay active
and healthy in Silicon Valley.
12 LAWN BOWLING?
It’s not for whimps! Check it out.
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Publisher’s Note
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Larry W. Hayes/Publisher & Editor
408.921.5806
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Cover and profile photography by
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650.322.2841
ActiveOver50
4
REMEMBER “BAY AREA
BACKROADS?”
Doug McConnell was host of this popular
Bay Area TV show for 16 years. Storyteller.
Adventurer. Environmental Advocate.
What is he doing today? Read his profile article on page 16.
Larry W. Hayes
Publisher & Editor
Our travel writer Don Mankin travels to Quebec to check out moose
and mousse. Read about his latest travel adventure on page 6.
No stopping Dr. Walter Bortz! He turned 80 this year, wrote
“The Roadmap to 100” and ran in the Boston marathon. Word’s out
that he’s working on his seventh book: Next Medicine. Read his
inspiring column on page 8.
Lawn bowling? You’ve got to be kidding, right? Before you dismiss
this sport outright, ice curling on grass, check it out on page 12.
Love and marriage at 80? Why not? It happens frequently at
The Forum and other retirement communities. It’s never too late
for companionship at any age. Read more on page 24.
Suckers are born every minute. Don’t become one. Our Money
Lady Evelyn Preston has some sage advice on how to avoid getting
scammed. Read her column on page 26.
Keep those emails, phone calls and letters coming in! You can reach
me at larry@activeover50 or call 408.921.5806.
T RAV E L S W ITH DON
Tracking Moose and Mousse
on the Gaspe Peninsula
By Don Mankin
(Photos by Eric Brodnax)
The clang of crashing antlers
echoed through the clear, cold
mountain air as two huge moose
butted heads just 50 yards away
in the early morning sun peeking
over the ridge in front of us.
This was our reward for getting
up at 5 am to hike a steep two
uphill miles to this moose playground/battleground in the
heart of the Gaspe Peninsula.
It was the last day of my three
day trip last October to this
rugged but civilized corner of
southeastern Quebec.
While I watched this amazing
wildlife tableau play out before
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me, I was still digesting my gourmet meal from the evening before
– possibly the best smoked salmon
I have ever had, a spicy clam and
crab soup, veal in gorgonzola
sauce, and a decidedly decadent
chocolate mousse. Such is life on
the Gaspe Peninsula -- wilderness
and nature plus French food and
culture without the inconvenience
and expense of a trans-Atlantic
flight.
The trip began with an afternoon canoe trip down the Bonaventure River on the southern
coast of the Peninsula. The sky
was clear and the air was brisk as
we paddled down the fast flowing river and bounced through
the benign rapids. There were just
enough rocks and ripples to make
it interesting. Our paddle ended
as the setting sun turned the few
wispy clouds into rosy streaks
across the sky.
Our reward for braving the
“wild” waters of the Bonaventure
was an outstanding dinner,
prepared and served by our
hosts from CIME Aventures
(www.cimeaventures.com) in their
rustic but comfortable ecolodge -grilled codfish in a miso marinade,
soup made from oranges and root
vegetables, beet salad with a
ginger, garlic and Dijonnaise
seasoning, barbequed salmon marinated in maple syrup and served
with rice, almonds and cranberries,
vodka and Malpèque oyster shots
and homemade apple pie.
We were really roughing it!
By now we were thoroughly
immersed in the charm of the
region -- the yin-yang combination of nature and French culture,
especially the food.
Day 2 was more rigorous. After
a drive of several hours to Gaspesie National Park in the interior of
the Peninsula, we embarked on an
8 mile hike on the international
extension of the Appalachian
Trail in the Chic Choc mountains,
guided by our hosts from Absolu
EcoAventure (www.aventure.com).
The trail snaked up and down
over rocks and tree roots and, since
it was very late in the Fall tourism
season, through patches of ice and
grainy snow. We covered a total
elevation gain of less than 1,000
feet, but the ups and downs made
it seem higher.
The views from the cliffs, outcroppings and the rocky mountain
tops were well worth the effort.
The Appalachians are one of the
oldest mountain chains in the
world. Originally thrusting 40,000
feet above sea level, they have
been worn down by 480 million
years of wind and rain, giving
them a soft, rounded, ancient
look. The view over the rolling,
tree-covered hills and snowdusted ridges and through the
wide valleys to the St. Lawrence
River evoked ancient connections
and primal memories.
After the hike, we checked into
the picturesque Gite du MontAlbert, a four star hotel with a
zillion star restaurant in the heart
of the park. Just as the gourmet
meal and fine wine started to lull
me into a relaxed
sense of well being,
our guides announced the plan
for the next day – a
well-before-dawn
wake-up call to hike
up a short but steep
trail to watch the sun
rise, and if we were
lucky, see a couple
of moose frolicking
in their natural
environment.
Only about half
of us made the early
morning wake up call. I was glad
that I did. Watching those two
moose bang antlers in the soft
glow cast by the rising sun was
pure magic. We saw over a dozen
moose that morning – at least three
adult males with big sets of antlers
and several mothers with their
“Watching those two
moose bang antlers
in the soft glow cast
by the rising sun
was pure magic.”
kids. The setting was also spectacular – trees, rocks and rolling
snow-covered hills with not a sign
of civilization in sight other than
the trail, a simple wooden viewing
platform, and a handful of other,
early rising hikers. There were also
no sounds other than the clanging
of the antlers, a high pitched keening from the youngsters, and our
excited but hushed whispers.
As we descended the trail to
head back, I stopped to gawk at
one male with a big rack (not a
phrase heard often in everyday
life) just a few yards off the trail.
When he started to move in my
direction, I decided that it was
time for me to also move, in the
opposite direction. I’ve seen moose
before – mostly in Newfoundland
by the side of the highway – but
rarely in their natural environment
like this.
From there on, it was all downhill – literally. The hike down
was easy and fast. We got back to
the hotel in time for a fast cruise
through the breakfast buffet and
one last chance to immerse myself in the gustatory delights of
the Gaspe Peninsula (with apologies to Homer Simpson, “hmmm,
crepes, hmmm”).
[Note: In the interest of full
disclosure, this trip was hosted by
the Provincial tourism board, the
two local tour companies cited in
the article, and others to promote
adventure tourism in Quebec. All
of my expenses, except for my airfare to and lodging in Quebec City
were covered by the hosts.]
Don Mankin is a travel writer, business
author, psychologist, organizational
consultant and executive coach. The
Wall Street Journal called his latest
book, “Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic
Ocean: A Guide to 50 Extraordinary
Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler”
(National Geographic, 2008), one of the
best travel books of the year. For more
information on Don or Riding the
Hulahula, check out his website
www.adventuretransformations.com.
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Letters to Dr. Walter Bortz II
basic understanding has evolved.
I’m proud of being a part of it
and hope you may enjoy this
new telling.
Dear Dr. Bortz: A little bird
tweeted me that you have written
another book. I have read and
enjoyed your previous ones. So
because of this, I plan to enjoy
this one as well.
– Joe Dearing, Pittsfield, MA
Dear Joe:
Your little bird got it right. Yes,
I have written and now have seen
a first copy of my sixth book. Two
earlier ones were about diabetes
and this third about aging. Its title
is “Roadmap to 100. The Science
Behind a Long and Healthy Life.” Its
publisher is Palgrave McMillan,
which is a major coincidence
because McMillan published a
book of my father’s “Creative
Aging” in 1963.
On re-reading that book, one
recognizes the precociousness of
his grasp of the ideals of a long
life and the steps we can all take to
increase our chance of reaching it.
I am proud of my earlier books
on aging, “We Live Too Short and
Die Too Long,” “Dare to be 100,”
and “Living Longer for Dummies.”
Each of these presented my best
thinking of the moment.
One feature that I find fascinating is how much we have learned,
even in the 29 years since the first
one was published in 1981.
Much of the earlier reporting
was guesswork, and frankly, not
fully worked out yet. For example,
from the beginning, I projected
that the natural human lifespan
extended at least to 100 years, 122
for Madam Calment.
Earlier readers were concerned
that I was merely blowing smoke
and that a hundred years was a
mirage, reached by only a few
artifacts.
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Now, I believe that a hundred
years is securely established as the
human potential.
Another early insight was
the fact that heredity was not
as important as otherwise
acknowledged. This is an
important differentiation because
you can’t do anything about
heredity but you can do a great
deal about how we age.
“It ain’t the cards you are dealt
that matters, but how you play
the hand.” This recognition goes
by the relatively new term of
“epigenetics” that is described
in my new book. Time magazine
recently had a cover story
acknowledging this “new” insight.
But even bigger than these
two major understandings is the
fact that the last few years have
opened the door as to what aging
truly represents and not some
mischievous divine retribution.
Two years ago, my good friend
Leonard Hayflick, Nobel candidate
and eminent gerontologist,
published an article in which he
said “biologic aging is no longer
an unsolved problem.”
This progress, which has been
developed, particularly in this last
book “Roadmap to 100,” helps to
illustrate how the new powerful
Dear Dr. Bortz: Of all your
speculations and insights about
growing older, I’m anxious to
ask you if you had to nominate
a single idea which is most
important in the whole field, what
would it be? --Jamie Crescent,
Denver, CO
Dear Jamie: Easy answer:
engagement. That one word
encompasses the force that allows
life, not only just to happen but to
be enriched. “Engagement” rules.
Dr. Walter Bortz’s latest book,
THE ROADMAP TO 100, shows
how aging cannot be viewed as a
disease that is curable by a never
ending stream of medication.
THE ROADMAP TO 100 shows
how physical fitness, social
engagement, proper nutrition
and even an active sex life can
add years and immense quality
to anyone’s life.
Published by Palgrave
Macmillan. Available wherever
books are sold.
Dr. Walter Bortz II is one of America’s
most distinguished scientific experts
on healthy aging and longevity. He
spent his entire career at Stanford
University where he holds the position
of Clinical Associate Professor of
Medicine. An active marathoner, he
has written six books and is working
on his seventh: Next Medicine. Would
you like to contact Dr. Bortz? Email
him at [email protected] or visit
www.walterbortz.com.
ActiveOver50
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S P O RT S
Lawn Bowling Isn’t for Whimps!
By Athol M. Foden
Every Sunday, Bonny a sprightly
senior, would show up at the Palo
Alto Lawn Bowls club, sit on a
bench and watch the scene.
Every Sunday, club members
would invite her to play but she
would decline and say she was
only there to see her husband
Britt, an elderly frail man (at that
time) trying it per doctor’s orders
to exercise.
Like so many others who are
drawn into lawn bowling after
several years of driving by a
real grass bowling green, Bonny
became a staunch fan, and now
happily helps spread the word
about this most peaceful sport
played mostly by people over
the age of 50.
The game is simple: Roll your
bowls closer to the little white ball
called the jack. But the devil is in
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the details as you really have so
many angles and approaches that
you have to think and strategize,
even more than curling, the ice
version of lawn bowls. Players
like Britt who are hard of hearing
soon learn that there is a very
practical reason for those strange
hand signals between partners
at opposite ends of the lawn
bowls green.
The unique part of lawn bowls
is that the bowls have a bias so
they curve when rolled, allowing
you to go around opponents as
you approach the jack. In the old
days they were made of wood.
Today they are hard plastic 3 lb
bowls, just bigger than a baseball
and come in sets of four. And,
of course, being played on real
grass, you have to learn the
idiosyncrasies of a supposedly
flat piece of finely mowed turf. So
the game is mentally challenging
as well.
Bonny would certainly agree.
In 2006, after several weeks, she
realized Britt ‘s steady progress
and growing enjoyment of the
friendly group of people around
the sport, many of whom were
women of retirement age, might be
worth a try for herself. With Britt’s
free trial lessons coming to an end,
she knew they could easily afford
the $100.00 annual dues and the
club had plenty of loaner bowls for
their first year.
Bonny and Britt have become
major players—on the social
scene as well as the lawn—
cheerfully volunteering as well
as participating in a competitive
club that also has a large social
calendar. And no one believes Britt
is well over 80 when they see him
in action now.
Although not well known in
America, lawn bowls is played
across the USA, especially in
the warmer climates, and clubs
like Palo Alto (see www.PALBC.
org) are growing steadily. Team
USA members attend major
international events as the sport
is played worldwide by the same
rules. See www.uslba.org.
This delightful sport is ideal for
active seniors when your back (or
your bank) hurts from golf. It is
loved by tennis players when their
knees start to creak. And it is very
much loved by your family when
you get off the couch and spend
some time in the fresh air. Only
serious problems will keep the
keen bowlers away. After all, it is
cheaper than going to Starbucks
each week and some bowlers even
call it the key to their longevity.
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Ask Dr. Zorica
“CADASIL?” What is it?
By Dr. Zorica M. Ljaljevic, M.D.
My mom was recently tested for
CADASIL. Do you know what
it is?
CADASIL syndrome stands for
Cerebral Autosomal Dominant
Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy.
Quite a mouthful but what does
this REALLY mean? CADASIL
is a rare inherited disease
characterized by recurrent strokes,
cognitive decline and dementia.
What are the symptoms of
CADASIL?
The most common clinical signs
and symptoms of
illness are migraine
headaches and
transient ischemic
attacks also known
as TIAs or strokes.
Psychiatric disturbances, such as
severe depression,
panic disorder or
hallucinations occur
in approximately
one third of patients.
What age group is affected?
Cognitive decline and migraine
headaches are often the first signs
of illness at age 30 to 40. These
are usually followed by TIAs
and stroke at age 45. Majority of
patients show severe cognitive
defects and dementia by age 65.
How is the diagnosis made?
CADASIL is caused by
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mutations in the NOTCH3 gene,
on chromosome 19. The most
definitive diagnostic tool is a
blood test to screen for mutated
NOTCH 3. When the NOTCH3
gene does not function correctly,
protein builds up in the smooth
muscle cells surrounding small
and medium sized arteries, thus
damaging them. Therefore, skin
biopsies have been used for
diagnosis as well. However, this
method is less reliable than the
blood screen.
Why did they take a MRI/
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging of my
mom’s brain when
evaluating her?
MRI/Magnetic
Resonance Imaging
of the brain is able
to detect signs of the
CADASIL disease
years prior to clinical
manifestations of the
disease.
It can show progression of white
matter lesions in the brain over
time. MRI of the brain is not, however, a diagnostic test for CADASIL.
Since CADASIL is a genetic
disorder what are my chances of
having this disease if my mom
tests positive for it?
For patients with a NOTCH3
mutation, each child is at a 50%
risk to inherit the same mutation
and therefore have a diagnosis of
CADASIL. So if your mom has
CADASIL your chance of having
this disease is 50%.
When do you recommend
testing of the family?
Once a NOTCH3 mutation
has been found in an affected
individual, family members
can be tested for that particular
mutation to determine whether
or not they have a diagnosis of
CADASIL. Counseling is always
recommended and required prior
to testing.
How often do you see this
disease?
The exact number of people/
families with this disease are
not known. Approximately 500
affected families have been identified throughout the world. The
majority of cases are in European
Caucasians. It is very likely that
there a number of families that
have yet not been identified.
Mom’s got it –what now?
What treatments are available?
This needs to be discussed and
reviewed with your doctor. No
specific treatment is available.
Antiplatelet agents like aspirin
might help slow down the disease
and help prevent strokes. You
would need to further discuss this
with your and your mom’s doctor.
How long will mom live?
The prognosis of CADASIL is
variable. The length of time
between onset of symptoms and
death ranges from 3 to 43 years
in studies –average being about
23 years. The mean age of death
of CADASIL patients is around
age 60.
Dr. Zorica Ljaljevic is a Board Certified
Psychiatrist and an Adjunct Clinical
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at
Stanford University with expertise in
mood disorders and geriatric psychiatry.
For more information, go to www.
drzorica.com. Or call 650. 917.9009.
ActiveOver50
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PR O F I L E
Doug McConnell
Age: 65
Occupation: Media professional
Education: BA Government, Pomona College. MA
Political Science, Rutgers University
Marital Status: Married, two children
Residence: Corte Madera
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We remember you as the host of
Bay Area Backroads. What made
it so popular for so long?
I can’t take any credit for the
creation of Backroads. That honor
belongs to Jerry Graham and his
crew in 1985, the same year my
team and I began Mac and Mutley
on KPIX.
I joined Backroads when Jerry left
in early 1993. When the show finally
went off the air in March of 2009, it
was the second longest running,
field-produced, regional show in
American broadcast history.
I think the show worked in the
16 years I was involved because it
wasn’t about me. I was the guide
maybe, but the real stars of Backroads were the incredible people we
met and featured along the way.
What are your favorite adventures
in the Bay Area?
I love exploring our cities and their
neighborhoods. Of course, San
Francisco offers endless possibilities.
It’s a great walking town. You can
saunter along the revived waterfront, grab some fine food and coffee
at the Ferry Building, climb up to
Coit Tower for grand vistas and
Depression-era art and architecture,
descend into the narrow streets of
North Beach and its long Italian
legacy, visit the epicenter of the
Beat Generation at City Lights Book
Store, wander into another world
entirely in Chinatown and pop out
in historic Union Square, criss-crossing the fabled Barbary Coast trail
along the way.
That’s just for starters. We could
have done Backroads, all 24 years of
it, entirely within the city limits of
San Francisco and never run out of
places to see, people to meet and
stories to tell.
You’ll find me on the trails of our
extraordinary collections of parks,
public lands and open spaces in
the Bay Area. By far, the Bay Area
has protected more of its natural
heritage than any other urban
region in the world.
The East Bay Regional Park
District, at 100,000 acres, is the
largest regional park district on the
planet. The Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, at 80,000 acres,
is the largest, most complex and
most visited National Park in an
urban region in the nation.
We have Pt. Reyes and two-thirds
of Marin County in some kind of
protected land status. The San
Mateo coast, from Half Moon
Bay to Santa Cruz, is essentially
protected forever. And almost
all of this is available to all of us
to explore.
Of all the awards that you have
won, which one means the most?
I’ve been honored to receive some
special awards from the community over years for my work with
animals and nature and on behalf
of the environment in and out of
the media.
The two I cherish most are being
named an honorary National Park
Ranger and an honorary California
State Park Ranger, and I’ve got the
hats to prove it.
Tell us about your latest
program: Open Road.TV.
“OpenRoad with Doug McConnell, Exploring the West” grew out
of Backroads and has been airing
on Public Television here and
around the nation since the week
after Backroads went off the air on
KRON last year.
In addition to the Public TV
series, we have a travel website:
www.OpenRoad.TV. We’ve got
lots of video stories and information on the site, and you can watch
all of the shows from our first
season on Public Television.
We want people to take care of
themselves, also. We push what
we call an Rx for the Outdoors.
Get outside, take a walk, ride
a bike, inhale the fresh air and
enjoy the sunrise and sunset.
“We can’t delegate
our quality of life
to somebody else.
The ball is in our court.”
Why are you so passionate
about environmental issues?
I think it all started in my earliest
childhood days. My mom and dad
loved to spend time outdoors,
especially in our state and national
parks around the West, and I was
hooked. I got to see bears and
moose, spectacular landscapes
and old ghost towns. I fell head
over heels in love with nature
and history, too.
I was involved in activities
surrounding the first Earth Day,
40 years ago. Conditions were dire
then. Now, with the health of the
biosphere in even graver danger
on many fronts, we face crises that
seriously threaten us and coming
generations. We owe it to our kids
and those who follow them to do
a lot better than we are.
What can the average person
do to improve quality of life in
the Bay Area?
The main ingredient is to take
responsibility and to get involved.
We can’t delegate our quality of
life to somebody else. The ball is
in our court. Each of us matters,
and the fact is that we can actually
have fun making our community a
better place to live. I have a particular interest in protecting and
caring for the natural environment.
Who are some of your heroes?
Two of my heroes were my mom
and dad. Politically, they were
about the most conservative
people I’ve ever known but they
always voted to tax themselves
to make sure California had the
best schools and system of parks
in the nation.
The Bay Area has a long tradition
of environmental activists who
profoundly and positively affected
the world around them. Think of
John Muir, Ansel Adams, David
Brower, Galen Rowell, Bill Mott,
Marty Griffen and many, many
others. But please don’t forget one
of America’s greatest but least
known environmental champions,
Dr. Edgar Wayburn.
Ed died this March at the age of
103. He was a full-time doctor in
San Francisco. But somehow, he
managed to fit in being the Sierra
Club’s President five times. He
played central roles in saving more
land than any other person in
American history.
How do you stay active?
Kathy and I had kids at an older
age, and they’ve kept me on the
go ever since. And so have all the
rescue animals we’ve harbored
over the decades. I like to hike,
bike, ride horses when I can. Just
keep moving. And I hit the gym
all the time. I try to get an intense
hour workout in almost every day
in some way whether I’m at home
or on the road.
What is your favorite outdoor
activity?
Show me a trail and I’m gone.
The wilder the better but any
hike is well worth taking. I’m
thrilled to have the good fortune
to still be able to walk well...and
to be in good health and physical
condition.
ActiveOver50
17
EXERCISE
Conversation with
a mental picture of each student,
guiding her instinctively to know
what to teach, for each class is
unique.
Lolly teaches from the heart,
applying 36 years of Iyengar Yoga
instruction to people aged 50 to 99.
“Aging is an ongoing process of
change and yoga, relaxation and
meditation become our friends
–– our allies throughout this
transition,” she explains.
“As we grow older, we
experience health challenges,
physical imbalance, emotional
issues such as loss and grieving
and sometimes surgeries,” she
continues. Lolly teaches practical
and easy solutions anyone can
learn to relieve their pain and enjoy
a healthier, fuller life.
Lolly says, “We have this builtin tool to feel better naturally:
the breath. With awareness of
what’s occurring inside your body
–– beginning with breathing ––
transformation begins. Usually
people tighten and hold their
breath when something stressful
happens to them. So that’s why
focusing on breathing, inhaling and
exhaling slowly, softening––and
then thinking about what you’re
going through at the moment––will
calm your body and your mind.”
Reflections of Living a Lolly Life:
she began practicing yoga when
♦ “I was brought up to work.
nothing else worked to give her
I grew up in a family of Italian
relief.
immigrants in upstate New York,
“My body was in great pain and during the Great Depression.
I was immobilized. Drugs and a
♦ Just “be” with a person. I learned
neck collar were ineffective so I
this by watching my mother who
searched for an alternative. Yoga
was the family and neighborhood
made my body free again. I felt
healer. She instilled in me a
freedom physically and mentally
reverence and respect for the
for the first time in years,” she said. aged. She intuitively knew how to
As she gracefully moves across
rub my grandmother’s crippled
the room, her straight and strong
arthritic feet and bring relief.
carriage and easy effervescence
♦ People want redirection and
make her appear taller than her
insight into their pain. They’re
five feet. Clear hazel eyes capture looking for validation, love and
Lolly Font, Yogi
By Addison Olian
Lolly Font teaching a class.
A full, independent, healthy life
that’s mostly pain-free is not only
possible, it is essential. Lolly
Font proves this is possible.
Lolly Font, a fit and happy
octogenarian with two masters
degrees––one in education and
the other in psychology––devotes
her life to teaching seniors how to
get and stay healthy without pain.
She herself suffered arthritis of
the spine after years of neglecting
her own body while raising five
kids and teaching children with
disabilities. When Lolly turned 43,
ActiveOver50
18
spine. We round our shoulders
connection. They want to be seen.
♦ I trust my intuition. My study of
and back. The legs get weary of
holding all this up and then don’t
psychology, yoga and meditation
allows me to be totally present with work properly. I concentrate on
a person’s posture because it’s
another individual. I choose to live
moment to moment, not in the past fundamental to regaining our
life force.
or the future.
♦ Yoga means union; it brings all
♦ When you have fear, you contract.
your disparate parts together. It
You don’t breathe deeply. All
helps you to look at yourself as
of your systems: respiratory,
being one and
circulatory,
whole. The blood
digestive and
“Yoga
means
union;
it
flows, your organs
nervous system are
brings all your disparate disconnected. It’s
are not constricted;
you feel release
parts together. It helps like a dysfunctional
when you do yoga.
you to look at yourself family. My job is
♦ How wonderful
to help make it
as being one and whole.” functional.
the body is. It all
begins with the
The alternative
feet. Did you know that? It’s so
is living a more full life: Love,
simple. Look, that’s where the
communication, connection, caring,
energy from the earth enters your
and mindfulness. I’ve discovered
body and flows all the way up
that anyone at any age can benefit
your spine, into your organs and
from yoga and how it’s taught is
into your brain. Give it some help,
so important.”
will you?
Lolly Font’s classes are open to the public
♦ Everyone needs to learn how to
in Palo Alto at the California Yoga Center
stand up straight and to feel his
(which she co-founded in 1980). She also
or her shoulders and spine are
teaches yoga privately to seniors at the
aligned. There can be pain in the
Classic Residence by Hyatt in Palo Alto.
joints and bones and especially the
ActiveOver50
19
D OW N S I ZING
WHEN to Downsize?
By Loretta Boyer McClellan
When is a home too much to
handle? Such was the question
asked by a particular 50+ client
of mine, with “too little time”
and “too much house,” when
she found herself in need of
downsizing her home.
Having raised their children in
a home of abundant space, my
client’s husband became seriously
ill. Now living by herself and
committed to focusing on quality
time with her spouse, it was no
longer feasible to provide the time
and means involved with upkeep
of an expansive home. Selling
and relocating to a smaller home
became the ideal solution.
First to prepare the sale was
downsizing belongings. With a
lifetime of possessions needing
organization, “store it,” “sell it,”
“donate it,” or “move it” became a
primary concentration.
Many seniors are often
reluctant to part with household
items to make way for future
space constraints or become
overwhelmed with the organizing
process. It’s important to consider
all personal items valuable – just
as they are to the senior – taking a
methodical approach, providing
support as-needed.
Should a REALTOR® with Seniors
Real Estate Specialist/SRES®
designation and training not be
involved in the move, the National
Association of Professional
Organizers or NAPO, (napo.net)
is an additional resource for
streamlining this process.
Residing in a home for decades
ActiveOver50
20
invariably poses the need for
updating, touch-ups and at times,
deep-cleaning for seeking a home
sale. A circa 1970 treasured light
fixture for instance – considered
outdated by most buyers-becomes an ideal transfer to the
downsized home to be showcased,
preserving memories for the seller,
while simultaneously making way
for achieving buyers’ wants and
promoting the sale.
There is an ongoing necessity for
all involved to have patience in
facilitating the downsizing process
– especially emotional connections
between the senior and their
cherished abode.
Sincere validation of the senior’s
concerns or hesitations, while
offering solutions respectfully are
key in a successful, downsizing
effort. You can’t rush a lifetime of
memories into a cardboard box or
out the door.
Downsizing – particularly
with seniors, is not just a sales
progression, but also a life
transition; this transition perhaps
involves home healthcare needs
– new or existing, the family of
the senior’s wishes, fiduciary
involvement, tax matters, mobility
issues, among others to consider.
When one does not have the
option of purchasing a smaller
home in the same area; out of
the area near a family member
or other area of interest or in
an active senior, senior living
or assisted living community –
including single family homes –
modular or mobile homes may
Loretta Boyer McClellan
be a consideration.
Additionally, living in a separate
or attached unit on a family
member’s or friend’s property
may be viable housing options.
According to a 2007 AARP
poll of women aged 45+, “In
considering where their parents
might go if they were unable to
live by themselves, respondents
most often mentioned having
their parents move in with them
(43%) or remain at home with
paid help (33%).”
Only 17% had considered the
possibility of their parents moving
into a nursing home.
My paternal grandmother
lived to be 100 years old and was
fortunate enough to stay in good
health in her longtime home by
herself up until two weeks before
she passed away.
Grannie had two daughters
nearby to drive her to her hair
appointment or to senior citizen’s
to play the piano every day. Not
everyone has the opportunity to
stay put or live by themselves into
grand old age. The good news is
that there are many solutions for
living situations for improved
quality of life. Downsizing may
be the welcome answer for you or
your loved one.
Loretta Boyer McClellan, REALTOR®,
Senior’s Real Estate Specialist/SRES®
and GREEN designee with Coldwell
Banker-Saratoga is a San Jose
native, serving Santa Clara County
and North Santa Cruz County. Visit
GrandGateRealEstate.com or call
408.656.1086.
“The Golden Girls” do everything together at the Golden Heritage. Residents
(left to right): Mina G., Sunnyvale, Alice O., Sacramento and Rosemary F., San Francisco.
Senior Living for the Chinese and Japanese Community
“We Pal Around Like Sisters”
— the Golden Girls
“You would think we were sisters the way we get along,”
said Ms. Alice O.
Everything at the Golden Heritage is Asian oriented to
make you feel at home—the staff, the food (Chinese and
Japanese) and daily programs. Faith based, Golden Heritage
is a non-profit, independent/assisted living community in
the Bay Area dedicated to the Asian community.
•
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Upscale, 52 apartments
24 hour personal care
Three healthy meals daily with focus on Chinese and Japanese food
Scheduled transportation to medical appointments or errands
State-of-the-art security systems
Call today for a personal tour.
RCFE License # 435294261
Living Well Together
Golden Heritage
1275 North Fourth Street
San Jose, CA 95112
408.392.0752.
www.goldenheritage.net
ActiveOver50
21
THE MARKETPLACE
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Call Minda Cutcher, MBA,
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Or visit
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THE MARKETPLACE
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Estate Planning is Asset Protection!
e-Newsletter from
ActiveOver50
Discover “The 7 Common
Estate Planning Mistakes That
People Make in California.”
Got Back Pain?
Get the latest news and
community events in the
Bay Area. To sign up, go to
Call 408.599.1950
for a FREE recorded message.
www.activeover50.com
Nancy Williamson, Esq.
Specializing in Estate Planning
[email protected]
www.SanJoseWillsAndTrusts.com
Zero gravity & Massage Chairs
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LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
Visit We’ve Got Your Back
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IS IT DEPRESSION?
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call Dr. Zorica today at
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adults and seniors
Over 15 years experience
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or call 408.921.5806 today.
*Introductory price based
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time rate $79.00
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Email: [email protected]
ActiveOver50
23
RO M A N C E
Elayne and Don McCabe
close to the community where
they still shop and enjoy walking
downtown. Companionship was
especially important to both of
them. Marie had been married for
62 years and Bernie for 61 years.
“We were blessed with and given
a second chance in life to play out
our remaining years together,”
Bernie said. Marie added, “It’s
much nicer to have someone to
share your life.”
They were married in October
2008 and celebrated their honeymoon in Carmel and Coronado
where they were showered with
champagne and upgrades.
“You don’t expect people to get
married when they are in their 80s,”
Bernie said. “But, I can tell you one
thing. My love for Marie continues
to grow every day.”
The Meseths enjoy traveling
together and are looking forward to
a trip to Washington D.C. in the
Marie moved to The Forum after
spring and plan to get away for
her husband passed away because
some long weekends to their
she was concerned about security
favorite spots in Napa and Carmel.
and the maintenance and upkeep
“We’re both very happy,” Bernie
of her home. “I didn’t want to be
said.
alone,” said Marie, a homemaker
For another couple, it was a
and the mother of five children,
chance meeting in the elevator that
none of whom live close by.
resulted in saying “I do.” Elayne
McCrea and Donald McCabe were
“We were blessed with
married in The Forum’s living room
and given a second chance
in February 2004 and then invited
everyone in the community to
in life to play out our
celebrate with them.
remaining years together.”
Now, six years later the McCabes
are still enjoying life “happily ever
Bernie, a retired general manager
after” and Elayne said, “It’s the best
from General Electric whose wife
thing we ever did.”
also passed away, decided to move
Whether it’s falling in love or
to The Forum because he played
finding fun and fellowship with
golf with some of the residents who
friends, seniors are actively pursulived there and liked the financial
ing companionship as one way to
arrangement and equity ownership
keep socially active and live life to
investment.
the fullest.
Both Marie and Bernie loved
Los Altos and wanted to stay
Falling in Love at The Forum
By Jean Newton
It’s never too late for companionship no matter what your age.
One of the benefits of moving to
a retirement community is the
opportunity for single seniors to
make new friends and sometimes
fall in love all over again.
Although Bernerd Meseth and
Marie Piozet lived only a mile
apart in Los Altos for almost 40
years, they didn’t meet and fall in
love until they moved to The
Forum Retirement Community in
Cupertino.
They first saw each other at a
reception for new members and
then ended up sitting next to each
other at Leisure Night, a weekly
casual dining event featuring
cuisine with different themes.
“It grew from there and we
recognized you need to do the
things you want to do and not
waste any time,” Bernie said,
“So, we decided to get married.”
ActiveOver50
24
Baby Boomer Senior Expo
Saturday June 5, 2010
Santa Clara Convention Center
5001 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara CA 95054
11:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Free Admission - Free Parking
An opportunity for baby boomers, seniors, family
of seniors and caregivers to meet experts.
Attend this free event and learn valuable information
about: affordable housing for independent living, home
care assistance, home improvements, long term care, real
estate, reverse mortgages, travel, estate planning and much
more. Visit exhibitors like
For more information visit:
http://www.BoomerSeniorShow.com
Or call (408) 972-1985
Registering online automatically puts you in a chance drawing
for a $50 gift basket!
Annuity Owners Could Pay
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Most annuity owners are losing half of their
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annuity owners don’t find out about a little
known secret that could save thousands of
dollars in income and estate taxes.
San Jose, CA - A FREE Report is available
that shows current annuity owners how to
avoid big mistakes and save thousands of
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ActiveOver50
25
M O N E Y L ADY
SUCKERS:
There’s One Born Every Minute
By Evelyn R. Preston
That old Barnum quote of the
title refers to suckers, the gullible
public who fall for flim flams and
cons designed to bilk them of
their dollars.
Judging by the recent devious,
costly and intricate money rackets,
the trend continues—mainly from
investment scams. If Bernie Madoff
is the zenith of bad actors dressed
in benefactors’ clothing, across
the U.S. many other low-lifes
have squeezed a high life from
other people’s money. King Bernie
just tops the list of the guys who
got caught!
Long gone is the concept of
community where a handshake
sealed a deal, a person’s word was
his bond, promises were kept,
debts repaid. No more are investments simply structured, easily
understood and mostly local.
What’s an investor to do?
What lessons have we learned
from this rash of financial rapes?
From adjustable rate mortgages
for the unqualified to limited
partnerships for the inexperienced,
even the Citibank honcho, Sandy
Weill, admitted he didn’t understand those esoteric and egregious
derivatives and credit swaps on
which he and his bank earned
millions.
As we bash and berate the bad
guys, have we looked hard enough
at the individual’s role in the
fleecing? See yourself in any of
the scenarios below?
Greedy? From the dot com bust
to tax shelter disallowances,
seniors have lost a bundle on legal
“deals” based on making a quick
ActiveOver50
26
buck and shaving taxes. Are you
amazed that “Nigerian banks” and
“Irish sweepstakes” reap billions
from credulous on-line and phone
contacts, many of them elders?
Even when legitimate, if it’s too
good to be true…
Lazy? Many investors spend
more time picking out paint colors
than investments. They niggle and
dime a vacation or compare cruise
package costs far longer than
checking fees and probing the
players in intricate investments.
People ask few questions until they
lose money—only then interest
peaks! Have you calculated the
real risk to any possible reward?
Are you diversified, liquid, emotionally suitable? Do you know
where all your money is?
Busy? How often do people
clear calendars to review and run
retirement numbers, revisit a land
deal from the ‘90s, figure out future
annuity options? Do you ever
spend quality time to question the
person handling your finances be
it broker, insurer or spouse?
Uneducated? Do you speak
financial? Surrender charges,
yields, ROIs? Click on an on-line
glossary and check out your
money IQ. Can you explain all
your investments in simple terms?
And the professional scammers?
What’s their secret?
Follow the Money—Most
schemers seek the “high net
worth” (i.e.: seniors), investors
who are often too conceited to
think themselves vulnerable, too
proud to ask the right questions
or too quick to duck personal
responsibility.
Seek Affinity Groups from
Religion to Occupation—Teachers
recommend in the lunch lounge,
church-goers prefer “one of their
own.” One investment size does
not fit all. Rather than expend
effort to do any homework, we
give our peers and colleagues the
undeserved cachet of “like kind
equals savvy mind.”
Hunt Like a Culture Vulture—
Seniors get caught carrying
hangovers from a kinder, gentler
time. They’re believers in the true,
good and better nature of man.
A grandma just sent money to her
“grandson” who called in distress.
A businessman helped out a
“family” caught without cash.
“War veteran” panhandlers
pluck our patriotism and our
pocketbooks. Small investments
often equal big-ring scams. And
please, don’t do “business” at
the front door.
The markets tumble, Government changes the rules, costs
rise—not our fault! Expect the
unexpected but don’t invite the
unscrupulous. Like Warren Buffet,
America’s genius financier, only
invest in what you can afford,
what you understand and what
fits your comfort zone. Suckers
will continue to succumb, but
smart seniors will keep their
heads—and their cash!
Evelyn Preston has worked as a
financial advisor for over 25 years.
Her latest book, “Memoirs of the Money
Lady” is available at www.money-lady.
com. She can be reached at 650.494.7443.
ActiveOver50
27
SE N I O R L IVING
SPOTLIGHT ON
Moldaw Family Residences
of Palo Alto, CA
By Larry W. Hayes
The new Moldaw Family
Residences in Palo Alto is huge
with over 300,000 sq. ft. of occupied
space in eight buildings housing
193 apartments: 54 one-bedroom,
116 two-bedroom, 12 three-bedroom
and 11 memory support.
Unlike other CCRC’s (Continuing
Care Retirement Communities),
the Moldaw Family Residences is
“multi-generational.” A fancy word
meaning a senior living community
for all ages. However, this doesn’t
mean that the residents actually live
with children and teenagers. But
they have the option to mingle and
freely attend events at anytime at
the adjacent Oshman Family JCC.
No one from the JCC can enter
the Moldaw Residences without
permission.
A Unique,
“Multi-Generational”
Community Open to All
Faiths, Ethnicities and Racial
Backgrounds. You Don’t Have
to Be Jewish to Live Here.
The campus is built around a
town square layout with gathering
spots and landscaping to invite
people to come together outside as
a community for various functions.
“Because the Moldaw Family
Residences is unique, unlike any
other retirement community, it is like
un-retirement,” said Dawn Sigmen,
marketing and sales manager.
“Residents have a chance to be more
connected to the community, explore
new opportunities than ever before
and feel secure with future health
care protection.”
Entrance fees range from $260,000
to $1.1 million. Monthly fees begin
ActiveOver50
28
at $2,225 and cover housekeeping
and linen service, 24-hour security,
utilities and 10 free days per year
of skilled nursing, if ever needed.
Valet underground parking is
either covered with an additional
entrance fee or an additional
monthly fee amount.
“We offer a flexible
dining program
where the residents
select which meal,
how many and where
they would like to
dine,” said Sigmen.
“They can enjoy lunch or dinner in
Moldaw Family Residences’
courtyard dining room or
breakfast or a light lunch at the
café on the Oshman Family Jewish
Community Center.”
“Residents are supplied with
dining dollars to use each month
at the different venues. If they
exceed the monthly amount, any
extra will be added to their
monthly fee. The monthly dining
dollars are sufficient to cover one
evening meal per day.”
Modlaw Family Residences
opened in the fall of 2009 and is
approximately one third occupied.
Apartments range in size
from 780 sq. ft (1 bedroom)
to 1,600 sq. ft. (3 bedrooms)
and feature top-of-the-line
amenities including granite
countertops and stainless
steel appliances.
Why live at Moldaw?
“The setting of the campus is
beautiful. It’s also conveniently in
town, close to shopping needs, not
tucked away in an out-of-the-way
location,” said P.K. “The physical
set-up of our residents is ideal.
One is able to mix with children
and teens as well as adults.”
“Being local, I told myself and
others that I wasn’t looking for
new friends but they’ve magically
materialized and I’m thrilled,”
said M.E. “I’ve been surprised by
the interesting, intelligent and
funny people with whom I share
this residence.”
Assisted living services are
available in your apartment plus
on-site memory support and
access to nearby skilled nursing,
if ever needed.
Besides the senior living
community, the 8.5 acre Taube
Koret campus includes the 145,000
sq. ft. Oshman Family Jewish
Commu-nity Center (JCC). Hence,
the term multi-generational. The
JCC has over 7,000 members-children, teens and adults plus a
preschool of 250. There is
something going on all the time.
JCC membership is included in
the Moldaw monthly fee. Moldaw
residents are encouraged to attend
JCC events and use the facilities
including a state-of-the art fitness
center, cultural hall, outdoor and
indoor pools, dance and exercise
studios for all ages.
For more information about the Moldaw
Family Residences, call 650.433.3629.
Visit www.899charleston.org.
Fact Sheet
• 193 apartments (182 independent living plus 11
memory care suites)
• JCC membership included in monthly fee
• 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms
• Don’t have to move from your apartment if and
when you need assisted living services
• Maintenance free living/high degree of security
• Skilled nursing available, your choice
• Dining includes Kosher & Jewish style with separate
kitchens for both as well as a campus cafe’
• Multi-generational activities
• Variety of social, media, arts (including a pottery wheel
and kiln), library, club rooms and hair salon
• 24/7 response to any healthcare need
• Cultural Art Center on campus
• Outdoor courtyards
ActiveOver50
29
Healthy Aging in Silicon Valley
By Nicole Kohleriter
The good news is we hear the
phrase “healthy aging” more
often, a sign that our community
is coming to understand that by
2030, one out of every five residents in Santa Claraa
County will be
over age 65.
Unfortunately,
we often continue
to hear “health”
defined in terms
of the doctor’s
office, prescriptions
and chronic conditions when it is
so much more.
Lori Andersen,
Director of Healthy
Aging for The Health Trust, a
Silicon Valley nonprofit foundation, is working to broaden that
definition and give adults 50+ in
a 70 page resource guide that
covers everything from how to
stay active and preventing falls to
exploring interests and working
with your doctor, to
local cl
classes for physical act
activity to volunteer opportunities.
o
“Th
“This guide also
inclu
includes valuable
reso
resources available
in o
our community
for physical
ac
activity classes
aand volunteer
o
opportunities,”
ssays Andersen.
The idea for
the Health
Healthy Steps came
from a similar publication used in
Pennsylvania produced by Health
Research for Action (HRA) out of
UC Berkeley.
“Healthy aging is also about getting the support you need
as a giver or receiver of care and having regular social
connections and staying engaged in learning, work or service.”
Silicon Valley the tools they need
to be healthy, active and engaged
as they age.
Under Andersen, the Health
Trust is working to educate the
community that healthy aging is
about good nutrition and physical
activity but it’s also about getting
the support you need as a giver or
receiver of care and having regular
social connections and staying
engaged in learning, work or
service.
To this end, The Health Trust
recently released “The Guide to
Healthy Steps in Silicon Valley,”
ActiveOver50
30
Putting together a comprehensive
guide tailored to the Silicon Valley
community was no small feat.
Andersen and HRA worked with
a 26 member Advisory Group,
comprised of local leaders from
a diverse group of senior centers,
city recreation departments, falls
prevention programs and the
aging services network to make
sure the guide was comprehensive
and useable for people of all ages
and backgrounds. The guide is
also available in Spanish.
“One of the best aspects of
Healthy Steps is that it’s not a
one-size fits all kind of a book,”
says Milton Cadena, Director of
Eastside Senior Center, Catholic
Charities. “For example, the guide
suggests gardening as a physical
activity, an option that might be
very appealing to an adult not able
to afford a gym membership.” It
also includes 14 pages of exercises
that can be done easily at home.
The next step will be a vast
community outreach effort. “We
won’t be handing this out like a
phone book at every door,” says
Andersen. “We want organizations
and neighborhoods to really share
the broader message of healthy
aging and to think about how they
can use Healthy Steps as a tool to
reach inactive older adults and
inspire them to connect with
resources that facilitate healthy
aging.”
Over the next several months,
look for Healthy Steps presentations or workshops in your
neighborhood where you can
learn about resources and how
to use the guide.
Nancy Whitelaw, Director of
the Center for Healthy Aging at
the National Council on Aging,
applauds the effort and believes it
should serve as a model for other
parts of the nation.
“We should not continue to think
about health in terms of illness that
should be “treated” in the doctor’s
office,“ says Whitelaw. “Healthy
aging comes from the community.”
To learn more about upcoming local
presentations of the Healthy Steps guide
or to order a copy for your organization,
please contact Amy Aken at amya@
healthtrust.org. 408.879.4112.
ActiveOver50
31
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