Removing the stigma of senior sex

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

by Alicia Williams

Many consider sex to be one of life’s greatest pleasures. Yet the topic of sex among aging individuals is often considered taboo.

“People generally get pretty squeamish when they think about older folks having sex,” said Mimi Beattie, a geriatric nurse practitioner at the University of Utah. “But the reality is older folks have sex too.”

Shaun & Annette

Shaun Michel and his wife, Annette, spend time together in the backyard of their home in Sandy, Utah

Whenever Beattie hears someone say, “EEEUUUW. That’s gross,” she takes the opportunity to have a teaching moment. She said her middle-aged perspective of aging sexuality is different than younger people, because they haven’t gained the experiences needed to grasp the idea of a long lasting relationship.
So, Beattie asks them, “When would you like to stop having sex?”

Questioning stereotypes of aging and sexuality challenges our perspective, forcing us to conceptualize the absolute fact: We’re all going to be old one day. Suddenly, when we visualize ourselves as aged, the idea of being asexual, without sexual desire or sexually unattractive becomes completely illogical.

“You know what, as you get older, you don’t think older. I’m 56 and I still think I need to ask my mom for permission to buy things,” said Shaun Michel.

Shaun and his wife, Annette, 60, are uncommonly communicative about the intimate aspect of their 36-year marriage. Shaun said intimacy in a relationship is romance. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if your relationship stinks outside of the bedroom, it won’t be any better in the bedroom.

“You can’t go to the stove of life and say, ‘Give me some heat, and then I will put some wood in.’ You’ve got to put the wood in first, and then you’ll get heat,” Shaun said.

Society’s identification with the aging body as ugly, wrinkled, gross and definitely not sexy further perpetuates the stifling stigma encompassing the topic of aging sexuality. The taboo subject has healthcare professionals, even gerontologists, strategically steering clear of sexual discussions with their elderly patients.

Amanda Smith Barusch, a professor and associate dean of research in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah, wrote an article for “Social Work Today” titled, “Love and Ageism – A Social Work Perspective.” She recalls participating in a conference, about four years ago, and posing a question to an audience of 200 medical professionals.

“How many of you ask your clients about romantic love as part of your assessment?” Astonishingly, she said only two hands rose, and one of them was her assistant’s.

Several factors propel the ageism permeating society’s personal and cultural expectations, Barusch said. She defines the term ageism as a negative attitude towards older people and the process of aging. She finds it’s most often used while considering people of a certain age to be “too old” to accomplish something.

“I think mature sexuality challenges our stereotypes about age, and about sex. The notion that a lovely grandmother can enjoy intense passion goes against ageist notions of what old age is supposed to be like,” Barusch said.

A growing interest in romantic issues among older adults led Barusch to conduct a five-year qualitative research project and ultimately inspired her to publish a book in 2008, “Love Stories of Later Life.” She invites her readers to explore late-life romantic possibilities. And she believes romantic love, given its depth, pervasiveness and power, deserves to be targeted by medical professionals treating older adults.

“Professionals need to get past their own stereotypes and embarrassment, and talk seriously with older adults about their romantic experiences,” Barusch said. “This will help reassure them that they aren’t weird, and give them someone to talk to about the complications of late-life love.”

The Michels’ ability to easily converse about taboo subjects represents a sliver of light breaking through the dark wall of secrecy. Annette said even though the world worships youth, everyone has to eventually face the reality of their body changing as they age. For her, great physical experiences start with romance.

“It’s really important that your spouse lets you feel like you are a sexual being, and that you’re still wanted and desirable to that person,” Annette said.

Shaun said, “As we mature and our testosterone levels decrease, for a man, our vision improves on the things that are most important. She probably doesn’t feel as beautiful about herself as I feel about her. But it’s the whole package I love.”

“Yes,” Annette said, “and then you look at all these people that are known for their beauty and their youth. You know what? They’re gonna get old too. You don’t stay like that for very long.”

“And they aren’t necessarily happy,” Shaun said.

“Well,” Annette said, “if you judge your worth by the way that you look physically, you’re going to be really unhappy once you get older.”

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Salt Lake County provides haven for Parkinson’s patients

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photos by Jessica Gonzales

Every morning, Fred Buchanan, 78, wakes up and takes his medication to prevent and relieve the uncontrollable shaking of his hands and feet. In 1992, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and over the course of 15 hours, he’ll take 18 pills to help alleviate his symptoms.

IMG_2175

Fred Buchanan works on exercises to improve his balance at the Rehabilitation and Wellness Clinic.

For nearly one million Americans nationwide who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), most are of the aging population. This neurological disease develops in patients due to a lack of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter that aids in the roles of cognition and movement. As time progresses, stages of the disease become more apparent with symptoms including tremors, rigidity and postural instability. There is currently no cure for the disease.

According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, currently one million Americans suffer from the disease and nearly 130 out of 100,000 Americans over 65 will be diagnosed with it every year.

For those suffering from Parkinson’s disease in the Salt Lake Valley, the University of Utah provides information resources for patients and their families. Sylinda Lee is the program coordinator for Utah’s chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) Information Center, which devotes its time to finding guidance for patients suffering from the disease and their families. The information center is a haven for those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and offers a wide array of support groups, referrals to local neurological doctors and physical therapy options.

“Support centers and education helps them to manage their disease better so that they’ll be able to have a better life and quality of life,” Lee said. “As they learn more about their disease, they learn how to deal with it better.”

Through providing educational opportunities for Parkinson’s patients in Utah, Lee believes in focusing on the mental and physical health aspects. Called the “Four-legged stool,” she highlights four attributes that will help ease the symptoms of those going through PD: communication with a medical professional, physical therapy and exercise, a positive attitude and social support. By targeting these elements, namely support among family and friends, Lee believes patients will still be able to lead active and productive lifestyles while living with the disease.

“It’s really healthy for them to get involved,” Lee said. “It helps them contribute and feel like they’re fighting their disease.”

At the University of Utah Rehabilitation Clinic, the Parkinsonism Exercise and Wellness program provides PD patients with physical therapy and strength training exercises. These exercises target balance, strength and mobility to alleviate some of the symptoms many patients experience as a result of having Parkinson’s.

IMG_2199

Parkinson's disease patients exercise at different workout stations at the Rehabilitation and Wellness Clinic.

Jim Ballard is a physical therapist at the program and typically works with five to 10 patients twice a week, most who are 65 and older. While noticing the physical benefits that therapy provides, he says there are social benefits as well.

“The Parkinsonism Exercise and Wellness Program also provides a social and an educational benefit,” Ballard said. “Individuals with PD are able to meet others with the same disease and interact with them on a regular basis.”

Buchanan, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 years ago, has participated in the Parkinson’s Wellness Program since 2004. Attending twice a week for approximately one hour, Buchanan credits his overall health to his wife and the physical therapists at the rehabilitation clinic.

“My wife has been very supportive for me over the years,” Buchanan said. “And the staff really puts themselves out to reach our goals. It’s social and we find people that we can relate to.”

Reaching patients and their families is seen as a vital asset for the APDA and its programs. With awareness through newsletters and support groups, the University of Utah and the APDA aim to supply PD patients with the tools they need to continue carrying out their daily activities. Through networking and support, Lee hopes that patients will find a sanctuary among their families and communities.

“Right now there’s no cure, so people don’t have that light at the end of the tunnel,” Lee said. “But what they do have is the ability to really continue to have a quality of life, even if they have the disease.”

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Elderly share stories at the of end of life

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by Alicia Williams

  • Watch a slide show of Tina Chavez telling her favorite story (best viewed in full screen mode).
  • Editor’s note: Tina Chavez passed away Dec. 22, a little over a month after this interview was given.

Stories told by the elderly express memories collected over a lifetime and filled with loving moments, tragic and monumental events and the valuable lessons learned through mistakes and successes. Sharing these stories offers undeniable joy, especially to individuals who have a preciously short amount of time left in their life.

Tina Chavez at her home in West Jordan, Utah.

Evidence of the truthfulness of this shines in the ailing face of Augustina “Tina” Chavez, 71, as she recounts the memories of her beloved home in Las Cruces, N.M. It’s one of her many treasured stories recently published in a book for future generations to cherish.

“Where I come from, Las Cruces, it’s nothing but desert, dry heat, and the skies are always blue. There’s no pollution and the sun is 103 degrees in the summer. It’s warm and it’s beautiful,” Chavez said in a strained whisper as she tries to be heard above the soft whirling hum of a machine tucked neatly beside her recliner.

Chavez has been physically bound to her home in West Jordan and to the dialysis machine helping to keep her alive since her kidneys began to fail in 2004. While Chavez admits to desperately missing her Catholic Church back home, she said God brought a wonderful blessing into her life when she moved to Utah in 2007.

“When you’re an active person like I was, and then all of a sudden it stops just this quick. You can’t walk, you can’t move and the only thing you have left is God and the angels he sends,” Chavez said. “The people who come to visit me, I call them my angels, because they are angels, angels unaware, because God is telling me I am not alone.”

She is referring to the people associated with LifePath Home Health, Hospice & Family Care. Located in several major cities across Utah, the in-home medical service is offered to terminally-ill patients diagnosed with six months or less to live.

The patient receives visits from doctors and registered nurses to address medical health issues, and licensed clinical social workers to manage the needs of the family. There are bereavement specialists to help with grief, certified nurse assistants to address a patient’s personal care and chaplaincy for spiritual needs. Finally, hospice volunteers befriend and support patients during the last days of their life.

Hospice support consists of patient companionship, respite care for family caregivers, oral histories, yard and house work and all types of therapy: pet, music, massage and aroma. Shannon Thompson, the volunteer coordinator at LifePath Hospice, said she draws upon her 25-plus years of experience to complete the daunting process of locating qualified volunteers, training them in end-of-life care and then diligently matching them with an individual in need of comfort.

“The hospice program is extremely important, because it’s a setting in which someone is willing, from the heart, to give, listen and participate in what an individual is going through or what an individual needs,” Thompson said. “The support is freely given from a volunteer to share that life, those moments, and the end with an individual who is ultimately going to pass.”

For Tina Chavez, Thompson expertly chose Brady Petersen, a 23-year-old pre-med student studying exercise physiology at the University of Utah. Peterson said he learned of LifePath at the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center on campus and began volunteering a year and half ago.

“It’s been a blessing, because they send me visitors once a week like Brady. When Brady first came, he wanted to know a little bit about me and I just started talking,” Chavez said. “He asked me if I minded if he wrote a book about the interesting stories I had been telling him.”

Volunteers who seek knowledge from the experiences of the elderly find a unique opportunity to actually feel the lessons being taught.

“You do gain a lot from them when they are talking about their lives. They have a different attitude about life, and the important things in life,” Petersen said.

At the same time, whenever someone engages the elderly in sharing their stories, and when they take the time to listen to them, they’re validating the worthiness of that individual’s life experiences.

“It’s usually takes a visit or two and then it doesn’t feel like I’m volunteering anymore. It doesn’t feel like I am working, it’s just visiting with a person who really appreciates your time,” Petersen said.

The inspiration to write Chavez’s life story, or oral history, came to Petersen after his initial visit with her. She was down, emotionally, but he said he noticed a drastic change once she began talking about the stories of her past.

Completely absorbed in her storytelling, Chavez becomes animated and descriptive. At one point, she beautifully sings a song in Spanish, stopping intermittently to translate it into English. At times she laughs; at other times she cries, but the clear sparkle in her eyes signifies the overwhelming pride she holds in the precious memories of her life.

“Brady told me I have wonderful stories and I told him that’s my life, the stories. I’ve had a good life,” Chavez said.

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Seniors find fun downtown without breaking the bank

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by James Williams

With today’s economic situation, some senior citizens who live on tight budgets have had to cut back on activities like entertainment in order to afford necessary items, like food and medication.

Library

Librarians at The City Library downtown read stories to preschool children every Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

This doesn’t need to be the case. Downtown Salt Lake City offers many free activities for seniors during the day.

For seniors who enjoy art, the Salt Lake Art Center offers free exhibits. The art center is located at 20 S. West Temple, with most exhibits done by local artists. One recent exhibit focused on scenic photographs of Salt Lake City’s Jordan River. The exhibit highlighted the beauty and serenity of the area’s natural environment.

According to the art center’s Web site, hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Friday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

During the summertime, seniors can enjoy Utah’s largest farmers market at Pioneer Park,  300 S. 300 West. According to downtownslc.org, the market features fresh produce from more than 80 Utah farmers.

The market is free and open on Saturdays beginning in June from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. It is also open on Thursdays beginning in August from 4 p.m. until 8p.m. Both conclude in mid-October.

There is more to do at the market than purchasing freshly grown produce.
Seniors can stroll through the park, socialize with other people and listen to featured musicians from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

However, seniors don’t have to wait for summertime to have fun and socialize downtown. Activities are scheduled during winter, too.

Seniors who are more adventurous can take advantage of the senior discount at the ice rink at the Gallivan Center and skate for $3. Those who do not feel up to skating can use it as an opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren; bring them to the rink and watch them skate.

According to the Gallivan Center’s Web site, the ice rink opens for the season in mid-November.

Seniors who have younger, preschool-age grandchildren might be interested in Story Time for Preschoolers, a program offered by the The City Library. Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m., librarians read stories to the youngsters. After the story, seniors can head to the adjoining Hemingway Café for lunch with their grandchildren.

Another popular place downtown is Temple Square, which offers free activities during the summer and winter to people from all religious backgrounds.

“There are movies, tours, concerts and restaurants,” said tour guide Amy Crandall. “All of them are free except for the restaurants,” she said.

According to a Temple Square visitor’s pamphlet, free tours of Temple Square are available in more than 30 languages and begin daily at 9 a.m. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes, Crandall said.

In addition to the free tours, seniors can enjoy a free 30-minute organ recital at Temple Square, which takes place Mondays through Saturdays at noon in the Tabernacle.

Seniors who visit Temple Square might also enjoy a trip to the adjacent Family History Library.

“The average patron is a 64- or 65-year-old woman with no children at home,” said Daniel Poffenberger, who serves as both a genealogist and statistician at the library. The  library averages about 850 patrons every day, he said.

The library is open to everyone, but library officials ask guests to come prepared with some background information, such as a name and birth date of a loved one, and have a goal of what they would like to learn.

First-time guests take a 10-minute orientation class. Afterward, guests are assigned a library staff member who will demonstrate more research techniques, answer questions and provide additional assistance.

The library is the largest of its kind in the world, with more than 2 million rolls of microfilm, 10,000 books and 50,000 digital books, Poffenberger said.

Today’s economy does not mean seniors need to remain at home with nothing to do. There are numerous things that seniors can do for fun downtown and not break the bank.

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Staying active into your senior years

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by Evan Frank

  • Watch a slide show on how Jane and Lowell Frank stay active.

Staying active for some people can be a difficult task. Remaining energetic into your 60s and beyond can be a lot more difficult.

“We’re beat,” Jane Frank said shortly after coming into her home. “We were raking leaves all day.”

Lowell Frank chops wood in the yard during the early morning.

Jane, 79, has worked part-time cleaning homes for three days a week for the past 15 years. She said iit may be about time to retire, though.

Her husband, Lowell, 80, keeps busy with several different activities. When he was in his 60s, he was an avid sailor with his wife. They participated in a race two or three times a week and once every weekend.

“It kept us physically active and mentally sharp,” he said.

In addition to burning leaves, mowing the lawn and trimming trees, Lowell now stays active by going to the local airport and tending to his plane. When his sailing days came to a close, he became more interested in flying. Keeping an airplane has kept him busy for over 20 years.

“You have to tie down the plane so it doesn’t get away from you,” he said. “I wipe it all down before I go out, then clean it up again when I’m done.”

Keeping active, according to Jane, is important at this point in their lives. But there are other things necessary to staying active.

“It’s what you do at the beginning of your life that’s the most important, rather than later on,” Jane said.

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2006, the leading cause of death for adults 65 years and older was heart disease. Heart disease is just one of many problems older adults have to worry about.

The Salt Lake County Healthy Aging Program helps people who are 60 years or older have healthier lifestyles. Michaelene Waters, a health educator for the Healthy Aging Program, said there is an enhanced fitness class offered to older adults. Most of the programs are held between two and three days a week. Waters says the purpose is for elderly people to be “able to do things better in life.”

“There’s good feedback from the classes,” Waters said. “Doctors are pleased and seeing improvements.”

The program consists of a warm-up focusing on one’s balance. Strength training with weights is another important part of the program. During this section, the class works on major muscle groups, including deltoids, triceps and biceps. Average weights consist of three pounds with no weights being heavier than five pounds. Staying at a level that helps seniors maintain their heartbeat is part of the endurance section.

Before a senior can participate in the class, permission from a doctor is required.

Though the minimum age requirement is 60 years old, Waters says the average age of participants is around 75.

“The social aspects of the class are important as well,” Waters said. Having the seniors stay socially active can help improve their mental and emotional health, she added.

Seniors aren’t the only ones who enjoy interacting with each other. “One of the instructors likes to end on a joke,” Waters said.

Lowell and Jane have been married more than 50 years and continue to keep their acre and a half of land in good condition.

“Our company holds one-hour presentations at local senior center or churches,” said Kathy Hoenig, a health educator at the Healthy Aging Program.

Topics such as healthy eating and being prepared for winter are covered during the presentations.

However, one of the most important parts of the presentation is fall prevention. According to the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, falls can result in hip fractures, head injuries or even death.

A Colorado State University study showed that falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 or over. The organization was established to help improve practice and develop sustainable fall prevention programs. Approximately 9,500 deaths in older Americans are associated with falls each year.

According to the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, an elderly person is more likely to fall if they are 80 years or older, or if they have previously fallen. Fear in not wanting to fall again can cause an individual to stay away from physical activity.

A workshop designed for healthy living with chronic conditions is also offered at the Healthy Aging Program. Hoenig said the workshop is six weeks long and offered to people who live with any long-term health problems such as asthma, arthritis and pains.

“It gives people strategies and the tools to help them positively manage their health problems and conditions,” Hoenig said. “In the fall, flu clinics for senior centers are offered.”

There are also medicine checks where pharmacy students will meet individually with seniors.

During the session, the seniors can ask questions about their medications, as well as have their medications looked at and checked if they are current or expired.

Taking information classes can help keep seniors aware of certain health risks.

Spreading the word out to seniors is critical in making sure people know what options are available. The Healthy Aging Program advertises on radio and television and in newspapers, local valley journals and even in the doctor’s office.

Whether it’s raking leaves in your backyard or attending classes at the Healthy Aging Program, there are a number of ways to stay active and fit.

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Senior pets find homes with senior citizens

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

by Gillian King

Imagine being in the final years of your life and not having a place to call home. Think of being completely alone without any family or anyone who loves or cares for you. Think of what it would be like to have no control over your own future. That is the predicament that homeless pets find themselves in every day, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay in this situation forever.

Organizations such as the Humane Society of Utah have an abundance of homeless pets awaiting adoption and the majority are senior pets. The society has come up with a way to help these seniors find a home, though. Placing Animals with Loving Seniors, or P.A.L.S., is a program implemented by the Humane Society that was developed to help find homes for the senior cats and dogs that fill the shelter.

Senior citizens, defined by the Humane Society as persons 65 and older, can adopt senior cats or dogs, age 2 or older, for a discounted adoption fee. Dogs are $25 each and cats are free. This helps raise the probability these animals will be able to find a forever home with a loving person.

The animals aren’t the only ones seeing a benefit from this program. Placing senior pets with senior citizens gives both parties the interaction and companionship they may otherwise be lacking. According to Amber Hansen, an adoption counselor with the Humane Society, many seniors are wary of the program because they don’t want to worry about chasing down a new pet or bother with cleaning up after it or having to train it, issues that may be less likely with an older pet.

“The program is a benefit to seniors because the animal already is who they are going to be,” Hansen said. She added that senior citizens often don’t have the energy or patience to adopt a younger animal, such as a puppy or kitten. Adopting a pet that has already been housebroken and grown out of its juvenile phase is a perfect fit.

Not only does the individual adopting the pet gain companionship, but there are also health benefits to having a pet.

“We have people come in with prescriptions (for a pet) from their doctors,” said Mary Rancipher, an adoption counselor with the Humane Society. She said people with conditions such as bipolar disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder often come in looking for companion animals at the request of their doctor.

“Having something they can focus their attention on and have love them unconditionally provides huge health benefits,” Rancipher said. She should know. She has her own companion animal to help her with her needs. When her pet went missing she described herself as going “nuts” without it.

The health benefits from owning a pet are well documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a person’s blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and feelings of loneliness can all be decreased by owning a pet.

Groups such as the Delta Society are dedicated to the ideal that animals can help improve a person’s health and emotional well-being.

“People are healthier and happier because companion, service and therapy animals enrich and positively impact their everyday lives,” their Web site states.

Whether it is at the behest of a doctor for health benefits or simply for a little companionship at home, the Humane Society’s P.A.L.S. program can help seniors find a senior pet that complements them and their situation. For more information on the P.A.L.S. program and for a complete listing of animals, visit the Humane Society online or in person at at 4242 S. 300 West in Murray.

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Affinity fraud increasing among the elderly

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

by Alexis Young

Often at home alone, and happy to talk to anyone willing to stay on the phone with him, Dale Alexander was not about to pass up the opportunity to make an effortless $8,000. As it turns out, he was the victim of a wretched scheme.

Alexander’s case illustrates something prosecutors call “affinity fraud.” It is a scam that victimizes members of tight groups, such as religious or ethnic communities, professional organizations or the elderly into putting money toward a deceitful investment.

Utah has seen an increase in affinity fraud cases among the elderly. “The number of complaints coming into the Division of Securities has certainly increased during the economic downturn,” said Keith Woodwell, director of the Utah Division of Securities.

“The con artist made the investment seem worthwhile” by guaranteeing the money and claiming that it was only a limited-time offer, Alexander, 75, said. “He confessed he had a big wad of cash in hand, and it soon could be mine.”

Alexander had to meet the con artist within an hour at a local McDonald’s with $8,000 cash. If he made it within that time frame, the con artist would match the $8,000.

When they met, the con artist snatched the money and ran like the wind. “I should have never fallen for it in the first place, but I didn’t dare go after my money. I didn’t know if he had a gun,” Alexander said.

Affinity fraud targeting seniors has become a serious problem. Both federal and state laws have recognized this problem, and there are now enhanced penalties for con artists who target seniors and convince them to invest their retirement savings. During the time of an economic downturn, senior citizens want to ensure the future of their retirement.

“The recession has had a negative impact on the savings of many seniors, making them more vulnerable to con artists who prey on the fear of declining stock portfolios,” Woodwell said.

The large majority of fraud cases that the Division of Securities investigates involve some form of affinity fraud, or some kind of relationship between the perpetrator and the victim before the scam happens. Unfortunately, some affinity fraud cases do involve family members taking advantage of one another and the inherent trust involved in the family relationship.

“Older adults are notorious for scams, and family is most likely to scam each other,” said Scott Wright, director of the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program at the Center on Aging at the University of Utah.

According to national estimates, only 1 in 10 cases of affinity fraud are reporte

“Numerous seniors remain quiet when they have been a victim,” Woodwell said. “No one likes to admit to themselves or others that they have been taken advantage of. This horror is perhaps even greater for seniors who do not want to be seen as incompetent of managing their own financial affairs.”

The Division of Securities actively publicizes all major cases and has an ongoing investor education program. The division organizes public service announcements and works alongside the media to help educate the public. On a regular basis, the division staff speak to various community groups about how to recognize and avoid affinity fraud. In addition, a statewide tour began in fall 2009 to help protect people against identity theft.

To avoid becoming an affinity fraud victim, the Division of Securities has straightforward advice.

“If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is,” Woodwell said. “If you know someone through an existing social network, it is not a reason to invest with that person. You should check out an investment offer before you invest.”

The Division of Securities can help because it has access to national databases.  Staff check to see if the person making the offer is properly licensed as an investor and if he or she has a history of complaints or other problems.

Like Dale Alexander, many seniors are home alone and happy to talk to someone. The next thing they know, they are giving away financial information, only to be left penniless. If you believe you have been a victim of affinity fraud, contact the Division of Securities at (801) 530-6600 or file a complaint online.

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Seniors enjoy friendly world competition

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by Jenna Cannon

A hush fills the cool air with the silence of intense concentration. Two hands, worn with age, seem to feel at home as they knowingly grasp the steel club. A deep exhale and the club swings, sending the golf ball soaring over the lush, green course. The intensity dissipates and a broad grin deepens the smile lines on the golfer’s face.

James Newton

James Newton practices his golf swing at the Salt Lake Country Club.

James Newton, a 68-year-old Utah athlete, has just experienced his favorite pastime. He plays golf at least once a week to perfect his swing and improve his putting. He is preparing to compete in an international senior sporting competition known as the Huntsman World Senior Games.

“It’s always a great experience. I love being able to play all day and just have fun,” Newton said. He has been competing in the games for five years. His sport of choice is golf.

The Huntsman World Senior Games began in 1987. It showcases 26 different sports. Kyle Case, CEO of the Huntsman World Senior Games, said the games currently host more than 9,500 athletes. These athletes come not only to compete, but also to socialize and learn about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The Senior Games are held each October in St. George, Utah. According to its Web site, the theme of the games is, “To foster worldwide health, friendship and peace.”

The health aspect is the sporting events and health clinics. Each sport caters to the skills and abilities of the athletes. Some of the sports can be played with a partner or team, such as bowling and basketball. Other sports are solo activities; these include the triathlon, swimming and archery.

In addition to physical sports, the Senior Games includes two mental sports. These allow seniors to exercise their minds. They use their mental skills by playing bridge or chess.

A popular sport among the senior women is tennis. Elouise Jensen, a 77-year-old Utah athlete, is an avid tennis player. Sporting a freshly styled blond bob and a contagious smile, Jensen excitedly talks about the Senior Games. She prides herself in her 11-year involvement in the games. She loves to go down to the games with her girlfriends to play tennis in the warm southern Utah weather.

“We just have so much fun!” she exclaimed.

Jensen feels that participating in sports keeps her young and healthy. This is apparent with her jaunty stroll and radiating healthy glow. She plays tennis with a group of friends twice a week. This keeps her active and prepared to participate in the Senior Games each year.

Newton also believes that staying active keeps an aging person healthy. When he golfs he likes to walk the course instead of renting a golf cart. He will play an entire round of 18 holes without ever sitting in a golf cart.

“All that walking keeps me young,” he said.

In addition to the athletic aspect of the event, the Senior Games promotes senior health by offering a health clinic and healthy lifestyle lectures. The clinic offers health testing for various diseases and ailments that afflict the elderly. Health-care professionals present the lectures and answer questions from the audience.

Promoting senior health is just one feature of the Senior Games. Another is to emulate worldwide friendship and peace. Athletes from 20 different countries attend the games, bringing with them a sense of worldwide unity.

“It’s unbelievable. We get players from far off places like Romania,” Jensen said.

The assembly of so many athletes in one location fosters friendship and encourages socialization. Newton thoroughly enjoys meeting new people at the games.

“It’s fun getting to know people. I stay in contact with many of the folks and I even e-mail a fellow I met from Australia,” he said.

The competitors are able to socialize in venues other than on the field. Various activities are made available to the athletes and visitors of the games. These activities include opening ceremonies, a western dinner-dance, an international festival and a talent show.

The Senior Games gives the elderly a unique opportunity filled with competition, activities and learning. A games regular, Charmaine Halversen, 84, enjoys the socialization and the athleticism that the games invoke.

“My favorite part is the association and the element of delight in seeing what older people can do,” she said.

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Aging with flair

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by Jessica Calderwood

It all started with a red fedora and a poem.

The items were a 55th birthday present from Sue Ellen Cooper to a good friend in 1998.

“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me,” wrote English poet Jenny Joseph in her 1961 poem titled “Warning.”

Doris Isom

Doris Isom of the Jordan Jewels proudly displays her Red Hat scrapbook.

This poet’s wry words inspired Cooper and a group of five friends in Fullerton, Calif., to dress up in red hats and purple clothing and go out for tea on April 25, 1998.
Thus began the Red Hat Society.

Word spread, and soon thousands of local chapters consisting of 20 to 25 members began to dot the map. Women everywhere wanted to join in this light-hearted attitude toward aging. The poem has become the credo of Red Hatters worldwide.

Today, there are approximately 30,000 chapters in all 50 states and more than 25 countries. In order to wear the red hat and purple clothing, one must be a woman over 50. Those not meeting the age requirement wear pink and lavender. Leaders of the chapters are referred to as Queen Mother and members call themselves Red Hatters.

It is almost inevitable for us to reach a stage in life when loss becomes very prominent, whether it is loss of loved one, health, mobility or even enthusiasm for life. Linda Torres sees this in the lives of the people she interacts with every day. Torres is the Engage Life Director at Atria Senior Living in Sandy, Utah.

Doris Isom, 86, is Queen Mother to the Jordan Jewels, who consider the West Jordan Senior Center their home base. Isom began frequenting the senior center to ward off loneliness after her husband died six years ago. In response to the urging of the staff, Isom headed up organizing a chapter of the RHS at the senior center in 2006.

The Red Hat Society “provides an avenue for silliness,” Torres said.

Each member in the Atria Sandy RHS chapter embraced silliness to create their own Red Hat name, not required for Red Hatters, but still fun. “Sexy Savannah,” “Magical Millie,” “Bold and Beautiful Bernice,” “Ruthless Ruth,” “Whimsical Wendy” and “Witty Wanda” have enjoyed ice cream socials, facials, makeovers and a formal tea party with fine china.

“I think everyone likes to feel that they belong to something,” Torres said.

For Judi Freegardy, 58, that was the biggest reason she sought out the Red Hat Society in the little town of Payson, Ariz. Freegardy grew up in Phoenix and relishes the country life she now enjoys in Payson. The population difference is significant, with Phoenix at about 1.5 million and Payson a mere 14,000.

“I wanted to feel connected to my little community,” Freegardy said.

After hearing about the Red Hat Society in Payson, Freegardy knew she’d found her way to get connected. But she discovered neither of the two existing chapters was open to new members. Each chapter tries to keep their number around 20 to 25 so they can gather more easily.

So, Freegardy decided to put an ad in the newspaper inviting the women of Red Hat age in the community to gather for lunch at a local restaurant. She was floored when 72 women showed up.

Now years later, there are 10 to 15 chapters in the small community of Payson. Freegardy is part of a chapter of women who don their personalized red hats and go out to lunch every week.

To show her personality and love of gardening, Freegardy sports purple overalls with her red hat. “Embellishing your hat shows who you are in the tribe,” Freegardy said.

Doris Isom is especially proud of her elaborately decorated hat. Isom’s hat features a tiara, by virtue of her status as Queen Mother, and dangling purple beads trim the brim. She smiles as she recalled her reaction after affixing the beads; her hat reminded her of one of her mother’s lamp shades.

“Ninety-nine point nine percent of the girls in Red Hats reach out and volunteer for their community, we’re not just out being silly and having lunch,” Freegardy said.

That is especially true for the Jordan Jewels, whose activities are largely service oriented. A look through Isom’s lovingly compiled scrapbook shows the Jordan Jewels decorating the Children’s Justice Center of Salt Lake County every year for Christmas, volunteering for the county by making more than 200 scarves for the homeless and crafting quilts for Project Linus.

Isom fondly recounts cruising through West Jordan on the back of a Harley, her feather boa streaming in the wind. The Jordan Jewels join with the Bikers Against Child Abuse in West Jordan on its annual ride.

Simply put, there are no rules. Members show up if they want, there’s no pressure or dues. The RHS is women coming together to edify one another and embrace life and aging with humor and flair.

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“We have our health, why not?”

Posted on November 20, 2009 by comm5775

Story and photo by Jessica Calderwood

While many seniors are busy reliving old memories, Ivan and Faunda Danielson are continually creating new ones. The Danielsons, who both turned 80 this year, pass each other a knowing smile as they recount their travels and can’t conceal the gleam of anticipation in their eyes at the thought of their next adventure.

Faunda and Ivan Danielson happily dine on their Panama cruise in October 2004.

The Danielsons are not alone in their love for travel. Now, more than ever, retired couples are able to continue traveling well into their 80s with increased mobility, health and longevity.

“We’ve got our health, why not?” Ivan Danielson said.

According to a report released in 2007 by AARP and Focalyst, retired people are more likely to take long vacations of two weeks or more, vacation by recreational vehicle (RV), take a cruise and go on an organized tour.

Retirement may bring an excess of free time but not always an excess of funds.
Jeni Jones, travel agent at A Travel Center in Sandy, Utah, said, “Our older clients are definitely there for the last-minute travel deals,” which usually saves on airfare. Jones said retirees are able to drop everything at a much shorter notice.

It gets cheaper still if you have the right connections. For example, the Danielsons fly standby for free thanks to their son, who works for an airline. Flying standby requires flexibility and patience, both of which the Danielsons have in spades. The payoff is thousands of dollars saved on flights every year.

In spite of the endless possibilities flying for free gives them, the Danielsons said emphatically, and in unison, their favorite trip was, “our Panama cruise.” This would come as no surprise to Jones.

In her experience, her older clientele tend to prefer cruises and guided tours for their value and the peace of mind they offer. Customers like to know things are planned and taken care of for them. In the case of international travel, Jones said, it is especially important for older travelers to know they will have English-speaking tour guides. “Besides,” she added with a smile, “your room floats with you.”

This rings true with the Danielsons, who have been on seven cruises to date and plan to continue cruising in the future. Aside from their favorite Panamanian cruise in October 2004, they’ve visited the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico and seen Alaska three times.

Although a room on the waves is their favorite, a room on the road is the Danielsons most frequent travel option. They take great pride in their RV, which may have more miles on it than Forrest Gump’s sneakers.

It’s never a lonely road, though, as they are always accompanied by a coalition of longstanding travel comrades. Accumulated over the years, this group of friends and family began with Ivan Danielson’s fast friendship with a few members of his company in the U.S. Army Military Police. Tom Vincent and Wallace Berry and their wives were some of the first members of the travel group. Even after Berry died, the group still made it a point to include his widow, Marna, in their travel plans. On one trip, they met and adopted Dean and Dot Spackman, who soon will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Faunda brought in her twin sister, Frieda, and husband, Mel. Ivan invited his sister, Ina.

With each new member comes fresh ideas and unique interests. Together in their travels, they’ve performed the Swedish Polka, achieved the title of horseshoe champions and sat basking in the late afternoon sun in rural Tennessee in the company of an ill-behaved pet goat. The Danielsons’ photo albums proudly display their adventures from Death Valley to Montana to New York and Canada.

On such road adventures, they serve as their own tour guides. Make no mistake, they still have a detailed itinerary, carefully color-coded by Ivan’s brother-in-law, Chuck Iverson.

It’s true that retirement has granted them more time and freedom to travel, but the Danielsons have made it a point to travel throughout their lives. They have fond memories of cozying up in a tent with their four children in Yellowstone National Park. Faunda’s eyes widen as she recounts the time a bear got into their food.

It makes one travel weary just to page through one of the Danielsons’ albums, to which they respond, “You’re just getting started!”

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