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A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAPRIL 2016

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SENIOR LIVINGApril 2016 3

By ANDREW WILSONStaff Writer

ST. MARYS — Three small rays of sunlight are shining through the blinds onto a sign-in sheet on a white desk that Tom McCarthy sits in front of. He sits back in a black leather chair, preparing for the next client, employee, volunteer or visitor to enter the Auglaize County Council on Aging (ACCA) office.

When they do, he prepares a smile that is as bright as the sunlight permeating throughout the entrance of the ACCA building. “Good morning,” he said, “welcome to the Auglaize County Council on Aging.” McCarthy, 88, is a greeter for the ACCA, a volunteer position that the ACCA created three weeks ago after realizing the need to ensure that everyone who enters the agency gets a warm reception.

“We wanted to make sure that the people felt welcome when they come into the center,” ACCA Interim Director Bob Warren said. “We asked for volunteers and Tom stepped up to the plate and they love seeing his smiling face, a caring face when they come in. Tom always greets them and tells them where they need to sign in and the stuff that’s needed.”

McCarthy, who has called the city of St. Marys home his whole life, was

initially invited to come to the ACCA three years ago. Now, he boards the ACCA transportation bus around 9 a.m., depending on the transportation driver’s schedule. He is at the agency five days a week and is aghast at the liveliness of the senior citizens who visit the agency.

He sits at the table and greets anyone who walks into the agency for one or two hours until it’s time to play almost every senior citizen’s favorite game, Bingo. He plays Bingo and eats lunch at the ACCA before being driven home.

“It’s a pleasant morning when I get

here everyday,” McCarthy said. He hasn’t driven for many years after

being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 15 years ago. McCarthy was mowing lawns as a way to continue making money post retirement when, suddenly, he began falling while mowing. He visited a Parkinson’s specialist in Lima, who was able to tell that he has Parkinson’s disease prior to him setting foot in the specialist’s office. Although he has had the disease since that day and it is beginning to catch up to him, many clients at the agency are shocked when they learn of his diagnosis.

“I never get accused of having Parkinson’s,” McCarthy said. “But, the warmth and the attitude here, makes it so pleasant that the Parkinson’s doesn’t show (itself).”

He has had cancer twice. After his initial diagnosis, he was told he only had one to two years to live. He beat the odds, but was later diagnosed with kidney cancer. He now lives with only his left kidney, as his right kidney that contained a cancerous tumor was removed.

Prior to both of the cancer and Parkinson’s diagnoses, he worked for many, many years and has never had a job he didn’t love. In education, McCarthy has taught at East Primary School, taught fourth grade at Holy Rosary Catholic School — he was the first male teacher in the history of Holy Rosary Catholic School — as well as at McBroom Junior High School. He was also the principal of Noble School for 14 years and finished his teaching career at West Intermediate School.

“I was surprised that they took me (in) with open arms,” McCarthy said. “I spent 14 years there as principal, I think (it was) the longest rein as principal that they had had.”

In between teaching jobs, he worked at the Goodyear retail plant in Lima and later worked in the laboratory of the Goodyear plant in St. Marys, where

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he did research and development. When each school year came to end,

he traded his business attire for a bathing suit as he was tasked with maintaining the town’s swimming pool. McCarthy lived within walking distance of the pool and began as the assistant manager before getting promoted to the role of manager.

“I put 33 years in there, 33 enjoyable years,” McCarthy said. “They gave me a chance there to be in contact with the kids just like I was in contact with them at school. I always loved working with kids, (although) I love working with anybody.”

His fondest memory is when he saved at least one child from possibly drowning in the deep end. McCarthy happened to be looking outside from his office and noticed a teenage boy staggering over the pool. The boy eventually fell into

the water and wasn’t able to swim, but McCarthy, after noticing the boy on the bottom of the pool and bubbles coming up, promptly jumped in and pulled him to safety.

He retired from teaching in 1982, but continued working as a carry out at a grocery store and mowing lawns. He didn’t just mow lawns to make money himself as he donated half of the money he earned from lawn mowing to the Parkinson’s Institute to raise money for research.

He recently moseyed over to a piano that sits in the ACCA, picked out songs, including “You Are My Sunshine” and played them in front of the ACCA clients and staff, who applauded him when he was done. In that moment, he showed that no matter what limitations life throws his way, he will not stop pleasing the people of the agency.

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Maybe you’re looking to drop a few pounds per your doc-tor’s request or simply look-

ing for an indoor activity during inclement weather. Either way, join-ing a gym could be the answer you’re looking for.

Benefits of Joining a Gym

Many gyms have discount programs available to senior citizens looking to stay in shape, making joining as affordable as it is fun. With regular senior programs and indoor swimming opportunities, you may find that your local gym is the perfect fit.

Find a FriendExercising by yourself is enjoyable

but having someone to talk to during workouts makes for a more engaging experience. Before joining a gym, ask your peers if anyone wants to sign up with you.

Don’t fret if no one is available. Gyms are great places to build new relationships with people. Don’t be afraid to ask other gym members about their workout routines and dietary habits. Most people are happy to share this information with others.

Pay Per Visit or a MeMBershiP?

Before signing up for a long-term contract, make sure you have realistic expectations of how often you’ll be using the gym to exercise or swim. If you see yourself as a sporadic user, your money may be better spent in other areas.

One experiment by the American Association of Retired Persons asked people to predict how often they’d go to a gym, then tracked their behavior. Subjects went less often than they thought they would. Some went more than 200 percent less frequently than they originally intended.

Ask yourself the following questions when considering membership vs. paying per visit:

• How many times per month am I going to make it to the gym?

• Is the cost of a monthly membership higher or lower than if I paid per workout?

• Could I cut down on the number of gym workouts and do some of the exercise — especially cardio — at home?

Analyze your answers and make the decision that best fits your budget and schedule.

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For many of us these days, finding ways to lower bills and expenses is a regular activity. Groceries and household items continue to rise in price, as do services such as Internet, cable and electricity.

It is up to us to make smart decisions when it comes to finances so we have enough money stowed away when the time comes to retire. In today’s landscape of rising prices, every little bit counts.

That’s why restructuring your credit card interest rate and terms is so important. You can put money back into your pocket simply by negotiating with a representative at your credit card company. In a matter of minutes, you could find yourself on the better end of an interest rate that saves you big bucks.

A 2014 survey by CreditCards.com found that about 80 percent of senior citizens who asked their credit card companies for a lower rate got it. The odds of a card issuer showing leniency on late payments also improved with age.

For instance, one-third of people

ages 18 to 29 received a lower rate for asking, according to the poll. That success rate reached 80 percent among those 50 to 64.

how to neGotiate your rate

By checking websites such as CreditCards.com, Bankrate.com and CardRatings.com, you can easily find standard rates for credit cards.

A quick scan of those sites in late 2015 found the average annual interest rate to be around 15 percent. If your rate is hovering around 19 or 20 percent, it could be worth a call to your credit card company to negotiate a better rate.

When it comes time to negotiate your rate, remember that these companies are trying their best to retain you as a customer. Be firm, but cordial in your request for a lower rate. Check to see if they are running any special rates for long-time customers with a record of paying on time.

For many of us these days, find-ing ways to lower bills and expenses is a regular activity.

Groceries and household items continue to rise in price, as do ser-vices such as Internet, cable and electricity.

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The vibrant pops of color. The bounty of fruit and vegetables. Gardens are so loved by many people young and old because of this special gratification that comes with planting something from seed and watching it grow into something so useful and beautiful.

health BeneFitsGardens are health-beneficial, not

only because of the healthy food they produce but because of the activity level required to maintain them. Seniors can get great exercise from planting and tending to their gardens.

While staying safe in the summertime heat can be a challenge, proper hydration and common sense can ensure that gardening gives you the right amount of physical exercise needed to keep your

body and mind in great shape.

low-Maintenance PlantsThe versatility of plants and produce

make it easy for gardeners of all levels of expertise get in on the action. If you’re not looking to devote too much of your time to upkeep — some plants require intensive year-round care — there are plenty of options at your disposal in terms of the plants that fit your plans.

Low-maintenance plants such as black-eyed-Susans or peonies grow rapidly and healthfully without too much of your time or attention. These can be great options for someone simply looking to brighten up a specific area of the yard. You can also choose planters that won’t require weeding for an even simpler growing process.

SENIOR LIVING April 2016

usinG containersUsing planters and other types of

movable planting options make it easier for you to do some of your work in the shade or even inside. You can handle chores such as pruning and trimming while out of the heat, helping you conserve your energy for watering your plants.

Find ceramic pots with holes in the bottom for low-maintenance plants. This allows the water to soak through the soil and out of the pot. Keeping plants contained to smaller areas such as pots and planters also helps avoid needing too much potting soil or mulch, which are oftentimes required to maintain larger areas.

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