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January 2014

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 2

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Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 3

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RSVP Volunteer WorkLocal seniors stay active by offering their services to the community through RSVP Page 4

Taking PrecautionsTips for seniors when being solicited for donations Page 6

In the WorkforceSenior Dorthy Sherratt has been greeting YMCA patrons for 25 years Page 7

Staying HealthyNewton YMCA provides opportunities for local seniors to stay healthy Page 5

Volunteer OpportunitiesVariety of volunteer opportunities are available for seniors Page 9

Watch for Warning SignsStay on the lookout for early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease Page 10

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 4

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RSVP is a great way for seniors to stay active, serve the communityBy Ty Rushing

Daily News Staff Writer

The Retired Senior Vol-unteer Program in Jasper County is preparing for an-other big year of providing its services to citizens.

RSVP Coordinator Denice Fischer said the program is continuing to grow but could always use more bodies to increase the amount of free services it of-fers the community. There are currently 62 active mem-bers, and RSVP reported 4,832 hours of volunteerism in 2013. This was an increase of 33 percent from 2012.

One of its most rapidly expanding programs is Jas-per County RIDE.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds. With last year’s number, we had a 56 per-cent increase in the number of riders we transported,” Fischer said. “Generally, we provide rides to medical or other general appointments, and sometimes that might be the grocery store. We trans-port in town or (around the) county — it just depends on where the client needs to go.”

In order to qualify for the RIDE program, you must be

a veteran, be elderly or dis-abled or meet the low-in-come standard. Fischer said they are currently averaging between 11 to 12 riders a week.

“We get a lot of support from Skiff (Medical Center).

They do mileage reimburse-ment for us, which is huge,” Fischer said. “We would not be able to continue the pro-gram without their support.”

RSVP’s RIDE program is also supported by the Jasper County Office of Veteran’s

Affairs.“On July 1, we started

collaborating the VA office, because he (Chris Chart-ier) only had one volun-teer transporting for him,” Fischer said. “We have a lot more, and if he can’t trans-

port someone through his driver, he refers them to us.”

Qualified ride seekers may contact RIDE at (641) 787-3078.

Submitted PhotoRSVP volunteers Butch Hedberg, Violet Bakalar, Verneil Knott, Sue Anderson and program coordinator Denice Fischer showcase the items RSPV collected as a part of its 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Service Day Project. RSVP members collected donations at local stores from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20.

RSVPSee Page 6

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 5

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YMCA continues to offer healthy

activities for seniorsBy Zach Johnson

Daily News Staff Writer

The Newton YMCA is continuing to pro-mote happy healthy living for seniors in the Newton area. The YMCA partners with two insurance com-panies, Silver Sneak-ers and Silver and Fit, to bring many services and specials to seniors.

The YMCA has a special discount rate for both membership and daily rates for se-niors ages 62 and older. All day Thursday is Se-nior Dollar Day at the YMCA, which allows seniors to use the facil-ity for only $1.

“Many of the se-niors who come to the YMCA enjoy racket ball and pickle ball as regular activities,” YMCA Marketing and Membership Director Jessica Lowe said. “We also offer water aero-bics classes and line

dancing classes, which are a favorite of the se-niors as well.”

The YMCA offers many classes featured for seniors. Chair Yoga and Stretch is offered Mondays and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m., in the aerobics room. The class is a special style of Yoga that adapts Yoga posi tions and pos-es through creative use of a chair. The chair re-places the Yoga mat and becomes an extension of the body. Poses are done on a chair, or the chair is used for sup-port. The class is for all skill levels.

The YMCA also of-fers a program called Silver Sneakers MS-ROM from 8:15 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the aero-bics room. The program helps seniors move to the music through a

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YMCASee Page 6

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 6

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Another one of RSVP’s big offerings is its free tax service, which starts on Feb. 4.

“This year, we are changing things up and do-ing appointments-only this year,” Fischer said. “We did a survey, and (participants) liked having set times where they could come in and meet with a preparer. Plus, it ’s less stressful on our volun-teers. When you know you have 20 people out there waiting, you feel a little rushed when you are trying to do a return.”

Tax services will be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on the Newton DMACC Campus, with soon-to-be-announced dates in both Bax-ter and Colfax. To make an appointment, contact RSVP at (641) 792-6433.

RSVP has a number of other services it pro-vides, and it strives to be a program that can give seniors a chance to be active in their community.

“We’re federally funded, and we receive a lot of local support too,” Fischer said. “We just hope the funding will continue and that we can continue to strive to keep expanding.”

RSVPContinued from Page 4

variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement, and activ-ity for daily living skills. Hand-

held weights, elastic tubing with handles and a ball are offered for resistance, and a chair is used for seated and/or standing support. This class is for beginner to in-termediate fitness skill levels.

The Arthritis Foundation YMCA Aquatic Program is of-

fered to seniors from 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri-days. AFYAP is geared toward those with arthritis and other joint or muscle problems. Ex-ercises are done in the water to help alleviate pain and increase movement.

YMCAContinued from Page 5

Precautions seniors can take when solicited for donationsMetro Creative Connection

Charities often target certain groups of people when soliciting donations. Those groups may in-clude past donors and people who have recently at-tended charitable fundraisers. Such an approach can be very effective. It should come as no surprise that criminals posing as legitimate organizations tend to target specific groups of people as well.

Anyone can be fooled by a fraudulent charity, but such criminals tend to target seniors more than others. According to the Federal Bureau of Investi-gation, seniors often make attractive targets to con

artists because seniors are most likely to have sub-stantial savings, own their homes and/or have excel-lent credit. But there are steps seniors can take to protect themselves from fraud:

• Be skeptical of solicitors. If a solicitor or appeal letter claims that you donated in the past, don’t sim-ply take it at face value, especially if you don’t recall making such a donation. Get specific information about alleged past donations, checking that infor-mation against your own bank records and receipts.

SOLICITATIONSSee Page 8

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 7

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Kate Malott/Daily NewsAlthough it began as a temporary arrangement, Dorothy Sherratt of Newton now works five days a week at the Newton YMCA and enjoys being active during her time off.

Sherratt greets YMCA members for more than 25 yearsBy Kate Malott

Daily News Staff Writer

If you’ve been to the New-ton YMCA, then you know Dorothy Sherratt.

She’s a loyal worker, full of jokes, and she cares about the people that come and go at the Y. Whether she’s answering the phone, working conces-sions or checking people in at the desk, she’s always taking care of members and always in good spirits.

Dorothy is originally from Sully and graduated from Sully High School in 1941. She moved with her parents to Newton shortly after gradua-tion.

Dorothy met her husband, Colfax native Robert (Bob) Sherratt, shortly after moving to Newton and has lived here ever since. Bob passed away in 1992.

She and her husband had two sons, Glen and Tom, and one daughter, Sue, who

all continue to live in New-ton. Dorothy also has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who she loves to spend time with. No mat-ter what they’re doing, she and her family simply enjoy having a good time together.

This month, Dorothy will start her 26th year working at the Newton YMCA. She works five days a week from 5 to 10 a.m.

Dorothy started working for the organization in 1988 as

a lower desk secretary for what she planned to be a temporary arrangement, but she hasn’t left since.

“I just enjoy meeting new people, and I’ve made a lot of good friends here,” Dorothy said.

“She is a one-of-a-kind lady. I don’t think I’ll ever meet another individual like her,” YMCA Marketing and Mem-bership Director Jessica Lowe said. “I hope that when I’m her age, I’m still feisty, funny,

active and impacting lives the way she does at the YMCA.”

The respect, appreciation and sincerity between Doro-thy and her co-workers is evi-dent.

“I like all the staff I work with. They’re truly wonderful,” Dorothy said. “They know better than to ask me to work nights or weekends, because I just tell them no,” she joked.

SHERRATTSee Page 8

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 8

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When she’s not working, Dorothy also enjoys reading at home, playing bridge and using the facilities exercise equipment.

Every summer, from May to September, Dorothy goes to Minnesota, where she owns a lake house on the White Fish Chain Lakes. She and Bob got the house in 1969, and she has always enjoyed the weath-er there. One of Dorothy’s fa-vorite activities is fishing, and she has the pleasure of fishing at her leisure through the en-tire summer from her home near Brainerd, Minn.

On July 4, Dorothy will be celebrating a big birthday. She’s experienced a lot and seen numerous changes occur in her years.

“Things could always be worse,” Dorothy said about life in general. “No matter what you’re going through, things could always be worse.”

Dorothy takes pride in working for the YMCA, the people she works with and the range of diverse programs it has to offer. Whether 3 years old, 30 years old or 103 years old, Dorothy enjoys the com-pany of each guest that walks in and out of the YMCA’s doors, and it’s obvious they enjoy her company as well.

“Dorothy? She’s the an-chor,” YMCA member Jeff Maki said. Jeff starting go to the YMCA with his dad, Dale, and has known Doro-thy for more than 20 years.

“We check up on her, and she checks up on us, and she’s not afraid to dish it out. If I start slacking, I’ll come in and she’ll say, ‘Haven’t seen you

awhile,’” Jeff laughed.Dorothy still works, fishes,

keeps an active social calen-dar and enjoys listening to live music, like one of her favorite polka bands at the Hessin Haus in Des Moines or a festival near her cabin in Minnesota.

She lives by the motto, “You’re only as old as you al-low yourself to be,” and that has kept her young.

“I’ve always enjoyed life, you know what I mean. Sure, we’ve had ups and downs, but then again, everybody does,” she said.

“She brightens every-one’s day at the Y with her welcoming personality and sense of humor. When she is gone in the summer, the Y just doesn’t seem the same in the morning without her.” YMCA member Nathan Un-sworth said.

SherrattContinued from Page 7

Though not all solicitors claiming a past history of do-nations are dishonest, this is one way that criminals attempt to create a rapport with potential victims.

• Don’t feel obligated to reciprocate a gift with a do-nation. Many charities send gifts, be it mailing labels or holiday cards, to prospective donors as a token of ap-preciation for past donations and as a way of encourag-ing future donations. No matter if the people behind those mailing labels or holiday ornaments are legitimate charities or con artists, you should not feel compelled to reciprocate a free gift with a financial donation.

• Send donations directly to the charity after inde-pendently confirming their address. When making charitable donations, those donations should never be given directly to solicitors. Donations should only be made after you have independently confirmed the char-ity’s address and mailed straight to the organization.

• Request personal information not be shared. Many charities share their donors’ contact information with other charities. Such actions are legal as long as no sensitive information is shared. However, donors can ask to opt out of having their personal information shared upon making a donation.]

SolicitationsContinued from Page 6

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 9

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Volunteering opportunities for retireesMetro Creative Connection

Today’s retirees recognize that an active retirement tends to be more rewarding than simply sitting around the house, and that attitude is reflected in the vast num-ber of retirees who volunteer with various nonprofit orga-nizations and other programs across the globe. The fol-lowing are a handful of vol-unteering opportunities for those retirees who want to give back and make the most of their retirements.

Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity is a

nonprofit organization that builds and repairs homes for

people in need. It has a pro-gram titled “Care-A-Vanners” in which volunteers typically spend two weeks traveling around the United States and Canada in rented RVs (retir-ees who own RVs may be able to drive their own vehicles) building and restoring homes.

Volunteers must pay their own way and bring along their own supplies, such as work shoes, gloves, tool belts, and some tools (power tools are typically provided by the local Habitat for Humanity chapter), and free or low-cost RV parking is provided by Habitat for Humanity.

Adventurous retirees who enjoy hitting the open road may find “Care-A-Vanners”

matches their love of travel with their desire to give back.

Work With ChildrenMany retirees, especially

those without grandchildren or who live far away from their grandchildren, find vol-unteering with children to be especially rewarding. The op-portunities to work with kids are numerous, and retirees can choose a volunteering oppor-tunity where their own life experiences come in handy.

For example, retirees who worked in the medical field might want to volunteer their time at a local children’s hos-pital, where they can assist families as they cope with a child’s illness and spend time

with the children themselves, whether’s it’s tutoring sick children, reading them stories or helping them understand their illnesses.

Retirees with considerable experience in the business world may want to work with a mentoring program that matches them up with career-minded youngsters.

Service VacationsRetirement is often seen

as a time to travel and see the world, and many retirees have started to combine that love of travel with service op-portunities. Globe Aware, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi-zation, develops short-term volunteer programs in inter-

national environments. Each activity aims to promote cul-tural awareness and promote sustainability in needy com-munities. Volunteers work to address issues identified by the host communities as particularly pressing, interact-ing with the local residents in ways that are often impossible on more traditional vacations.

Meals on WheelsRetirees tend to have their

mornings and afternoons free, making them ideal candidates to volunteer with programs such as Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization devoted

VOLUNTEERINGSee Page 11

Newton YMCA1701 S. Eighth Ave. E. in Newton

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The YMCA is a proud participant of Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit programs. Stop by and learn how you can receive a free membership

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Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 10

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Metro Creative Connection

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive, degen-erative disorder that attacks neurons and essentially robs people of their memory and language skills. Al-though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are therapies that can slow its neurological impact. Recognizing the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s can en-courage people to be-gin treatments that can stave off some of the more debilitating symptoms of this dis-ease.

Though it’s most common among the elderly, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. The Mayo Clin-ic says that the reasons behind the inception and progression of Al-zheimer’s disease are largely unknown. It is believed damage starts a decade or more be-fore problems become evident. Abnormal de-posits of proteins be-gin to form the amy-

loid plaques and tau tangles throughout the brain, and these forma-tions are the hallmarks of the disease. Once-healthy neurons gradu-ally begin to lose their efficiency and ability to function and com-municate with one an-other. As more neurons die, entire areas of the brain shrink. The hip-pocampus, which is the area of the brain essen-tial in forming memo-ries, may soon become compromised.

Millions of people in North America are estimated to have Al-zheimer’s disease and many others will be di-agnosed. The following are the most common early signs and symp-toms of the disease.

• Memory loss: Ac-cording to the Al-zheimer’s Organiza-tion, early memory loss can include forgetting important dates or re-peatedly asking for the same information. For-getting recently learned information and having to rely increasingly on

Early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

ALZHEIMER’SSee Page 11

Senior Lifestyles:: Friday, January 24, 2014 – Page 11

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memory aids is another po-tential indicator of Alzheim-er’s.

• Declining cognition: Impaired reasoning or judg-ment, trouble finding the right words and visual and spatial issues also may be ear-ly indicators of Alzheimer’s.

• Difficulty completing familiar tasks: Those with Alzheimer’s sometimes have trouble driving to a familiar location or remembering the rules to a favorite game. Peo-ple who were once good with numbers may now have dif-ficulty balancing their check-books, while those who love to cook may have trouble fol-lowing recipes.

• Time confusion: Another

indicator of Alzheimer’s dis-ease is losing track of time. One may have trouble un-derstanding something that isn’t happening in the pres-ent. Alzheimer’s sufferers of-ten forget where they are and how they got there.

• Misplacing items: Ev-eryone loses something at a point in time, but those with Alzheimer’s may put items in unusual places. They may sometimes accuse others of stealing when they cannot retrace their steps and find items.

• Decreased judgment: Decision-making abilities may be compromised. A per-son with Alzheimer’s may take unnecessary risks or give away sums of money.

• Mood changes: People with Alzheimer’s may suffer from confusion, suspicious

feelings, depression and anx-iety. A person may upset eas-ily or become anxious outside of his or her comfort zones.

Age and family history of Alzheimer’s disease are the biggest risk factors. The liklihood of developing Al-zheimer’s doubles about ev-ery five years after age 65, says the Alzheimer’s Orga-nization. In addition, those with a parent, child or sib-ling who have developed Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease than people with no such family history.

A physical and neurologi-cal exam, which may include blood tests and brain imag-ing, will be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Individ-uals can learn more by mak-ing appointments with their doctors.

Alzheimer’sContinued from Page 10

to delivering nutritious meals to those with limited mobility who are unable to prepare their own meals. The program delivers more than one million meals per day across the United States, and Canada has its own meal delivery programs as well. Many Meals on Wheels volunteers are retirees, who can decide their level of involvement upon volunteering.

Disaster ReliefDisaster relief programs may be less predictable

than more routine volunteer programs, but retirees often make great volunteers at disaster relief sites.

Unlike working professionals who cannot travel to disaster relief sites without ample planning ahead of time, retirees often find the flexibility of retirement allows them to pitch in when an unforeseen natural disaster strikes and volunteers are needed seemingly overnight. Many disaster relief programs need volun-teers who are certified in CPR or have other unique lifesaving skills, but even retirees without such skills can help by handling supplies or by comforting and assisting survivors of natural disasters.

VolunteeringContinued from Page 9

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