|
|
|
|
July 2022 E-News Vol 11, #7
In this issue:
SCOSA NEWS AND EVENTS
SCOSA DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
By David Burdick, Ph.D., FGSA, FAGHE
Happy Summer! July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for Stockton and SCOSA. With impressive teamwork involving staff, faculty fellows, and others involved with SCOSA, we have successfully submitted our annual report to Marissa Levy, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. We had an excellent year, meeting or making substantial progress on most of the 10 goals we set for the year, obtaining significant new funding for our programs from Atlantic, Cape, and Ocean counties, including funding for a new Alzheimer’s Caregiver Education and Support Group Program in Atlantic County that we will implement in the coming months. We also successfully adapted to changing COVID-19 safety protocols in our older adult programs. Looking ahead, we have set 10 goals for the coming year related to governance, programming, messaging/marketing, and program registration. Once Stockton’s review process is complete for these reports, SCOSA will share a report with our readers.
STOCKTON AGE FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY (AFU) COLUMN
by Karen Rose, Ph.D., SCOSA AFU champion; adjunct professor, Psychology & Health Science
This month’s column highlights the national spotlight on the Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative included in an excellent article in the June issue of the Monitor on Psychology (American Psychological Association, 2022, June – click link to read). Stockton University joined the AFU global network in 2018 (1st in NJ) and participated in research designed to understand the challenges a university may face in becoming more age-inclusive that are described in the article.
Century Lives - Stanford Center on Longevity Podcast
Ageism is rife in the American workplace. According to AARP, a staggering 78% of workers over the age of 50 witnessed or experienced ageism in 2020, and many older workers are locked out of an opportunity to find work based on their age. It’s a growing problem. Not only are older workers a key source of talent in a tight labor market but our demographic course is already set: due to changes in longevity and birth rate, older workers will become much more essential to the economy in the coming years. If longer careers truly are our future, then American business must overcome its aversion to age. Click Here to tune into Season 2, Episode 6 to learn more.
GERO COORDINATOR’S COLUMN
by Christine Gayda-Chelder, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, and SCOSA service chair
A great way for students to gain valuable experience in Gerontology and enhance your resume for graduate school/employment is through volunteering in the community. Here are TWO ways to get involved:
- “Conversations to Remember” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative that is dedicated towards combating loneliness and isolation felt by senior citizens. Volunteer time is 1-2 hours per week. The website for this program is at https://conversationstoremember.org.
- Save the Date for The South Jersey Shore Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday October 22, 2022 on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Join Team SCOSA! More details to follow.
GWEP STUDENTS PRESENT CASE REVIEWS
As part of the New Jersey Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (NJGWEP) student rotation at Rittenberg Manor in Egg Harbor City, three students recently presented by Zoom health risk assessments and care plans for some residents, as well as a report on various activities offered (see picture) to program leaders from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Stockton University. Presenters included Cassandra Lazetti, Mariela Maldonaldo (pictured from left at bottom) and Aysha Hai. With this group, Stockton has now placed 24 students in the program at Rittenberg Manor, Benedict's Place (Pleasantville), and Northgate at St. Steven (Pennsauken).
Student rotations will continue through 2024 and SCOSA hopes to expand to addition senior housing sites in collaboration with the Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (SCCESL) and other partners. SCOSA faculty fellow Sreelekha (Lekha) Prakash, MD, assistant professor of Health Sciences, and faculty collaborator Megan Foti, associate professor of occupational therapy, will continue to assist with SCOSA's involvement in NJGWEP. The NJGWEP experiential learning opportunity aligns with Stockton’s curriculum, which seeks to educate students in the social determinants of health through collaborative learning and their practice in individuals, communities, and populations. SCOSA is one of several sub-award recipients on this project led by SCOSA Advisory Board member Elyse Perweiler, MA, MPP, RN, co-director of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine’s New Jersey Institute on Successful Aging.
GET FIT SENIORS UPDATE
Kathleen McLaney, OTS, Joanna Pitera, OTS, Joan Perks, PhD, RN, Mary Kientz, OTD, MS. OTR, & M. Alysia Mastrangelo, PhD, PT.
Get FIT Seniors is a community-based exercise and nutrition program aimed to educate and promote health and wellness among older adults residing in subsidized housing. Stockton University’s Get FIT Seniors was made possible through a grant from the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA). The program, which aligns with SCOSA’s mission and vision, runs for 8-weeks during the fall and spring semesters at local senior housing communities. Each session is developed and run by Stockton University’s occupational therapy and physical therapy students and consists of an exercise class and nutrition lesson. Students encourage participants to engage in a variety of physical activities for an hour, with modifications as needed, to promote maximal participation. A thirty-minute nutrition lesson following the exercise discusses various health and wellness topics, tries new recipes, and offer suggestions on how participants can implement healthy practices into their daily lives. Get FIT Seniors also facilitates social engagement as participants are encouraged to socialize with their peers and the students. The program has been well received by the participants.
In an aging society, programs like GetFIT Seniors can prolong independence, minimize symptoms of various chronic conditions, and promote overall quality of life among older adults. By engaging in physical activities, participants improve strength, endurance, and flexibility to enhance their performance and functioning while completing daily living tasks. For example, exercise can improve energy levels, balance, gait speed, and reduce the risk of falls. Participating in weekly GetFIT Senior sessions allowed us to use an interprofessional approach to gain rewarding experiences and create lasting bonds to spread health and wellness promotion in our community. We hope that this program continues its success fostering positive attitudes towards exercise and nutrition and providing motivation for improved health and lifestyle practices among the older population.
SPOTLIGHT on July SILL Classes
Join SCOSA in July for an interesting and informative SILL course, Disability in the Brothers Grimm.
SILL: Disability in the Brothers Grimm
Fridays, 7/8, 15, 22, & 29,2022 12-1pm
Instructor: Lauren Fonseca, MA
Online via Zoom Register HERE
This course will look at the Grimm Nursery and Household Tales through a disability studies lens. Our approach will include a discussion of narrative prosthesis, the practice of using disability to further a plot. Disability or deformity is often presented as an obstacle to "wholeness," a signifier of nefarious character, or a punishment for wrongdoing. This representation becomes problematic when we look at the Grimm's Nursery and Household tales as a socialization tool for 19th century middle-class German children. We will also look at the Brothers Grimm and their own battles with poor health and disability and how these experiences may have affected their fairy tale projects.
The oral tales the Grimms collected did not contain instances of disability at nearly the same frequency as the final Nursery and Household Tales. Cinderella's step-sisters kept their vision at the conclusion of the first edition, but had their eyes plucked out (as punishment) in the second and subsequent editions. We will look at possible explanations for that and other changes.
Lauren Fonseca is the Academic Support Coordinator in Stockton’s Tutoring Center. She has been teaching a general studies fairy tale course since 2015. With the addition of the Disability Studies minor, she saw an opportunity to explore representation of disability in fairy tales. When she is not busy helping students succeed, she enjoys playing piano, sewing, and spending as much time as possible on her boat.
August Preview: We are working on this course for August. Details will be provided on our website and in the August E-News.
Discovering French Language and Culture
This course invites adults to discover the pleasures of French as a foreign language and culture. Conducted online, in English and French, four one-hour sessions will introduce cognitive methods and techniques to approach a foreign language, with the adult in mind. Focus will be on the rich culture underlying French civilization, in addition to practical vocabulary and expressions in the context of travel, business, friendship, family, food, etc. Participants will be engaged in basic pronunciation, conversation and exercises geared for the beginner and the slightly exposed.
SCOSA Older Adult Education, Socialization & Recreation Programs
Reminders: Masks are recommended for all indoor programs until further notice. All guests visiting the Galloway campus must register for each visit. The registration includes a health pledge and the opportunity to register your car (and avoid parking tickets) here: https://go.stockton.edu/public/visitor/form
July, 2022—SCOSA Older Adult Education, Socialization &
Recreation Programs
The older adult programs offered by SCOSA are partially funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, through a grant by the Division of Intergenerational Services in Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. You may make voluntary donations to SCOSA. Such donations are not a fee and are not required. Any donations received will be used to develop and operate future programs. If you wish to donate directly to SCOSA please make your checks payable to SCOSA and send them to: SCOSA/SOBL, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205-9441.
Chair Yoga: Summer Session 2
Fridays 7/8, 15, 22, & 29, 8/5 & 12,2022 9-10am
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Join Lois for Chair Yoga, for modified poses that can be done while seated, which makes the poses accessible to more people.
Fridays 7/8, 15, 22, & 29, 8/5 & 12,2022 10am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Join Lois Allen of Lois Allen’s School of Dance to learn adult tap dancing, an exciting and social activity.
SILL: Disability in the Brothers Grimm
Fridays 7/8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022 12-1pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
This course will look at the Grimm Nursery and Household Tales through a disability studies lens. Our approach will include a discussion of narrative prosthesis, the practice of using disability to further a plot. Disability or deformity is often presented as an obstacle to "wholeness," a signifier of nefarious character, or a punishment for wrongdoing. This representation becomes problematic when we look at the Grimm's Nursery and Household tales as a socialization tool for 19th century middle-class German children. We will also look at the Brothers Grimm and their own battles with poor health and disability and how these experiences may have affected their fairy tale projects. The oral tales the Grimms collected did not contain instances of disability at nearly the same frequency as the final Nursery and Household Tales. Cinderella's step-sisters kept their vision at the conclusion of the first edition, but had their eyes plucked out (as punishment) in the second and subsequent editions. We will look at possible explanations for that and other changes.
Fridays 7/8, 15, 22, & 29, 8/5 & 12,2022 10am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Join Lois Allen of Lois Allen’s School of Dance to learn adult tap dancing, an exciting and social activity.
Greeting Card Workshops
Mondays 7/11 & 7/25/2022 11am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Join us for greeting card classes. We will make two creative greeting cards, suitable to send to your friends or family. Bring scissors, glue, and either colored pencils or markers to each class.
Caramel Popcorn Basket
Saturday 7/16/2022 10am-12pm
To Register, Call Niki 609-652-0366
Swan Bay Folk Art Center, 300 Sooys Landing Road, Port Republic
Caramel popcorn can be served in this 12" round basket with side bushel basket style handles.
Players and Playwrights Meeting
Saturday 7/16/2022 1-4pm
John F Scarpa Academic Center, Room 311 Register HERE
Players and Playwrights (P&P) is a collective of playwrights and readers (aka players) who meet monthly to read original plays. Performances are organized several times a year. Interested players and playwrights are invited to attend a meeting once before committing to join.
Knit & Crochet with Lois: Summer Session 2
Mondays 7/18, 25, 8/1, 8, 15, & 22/2022 10am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
This six-week class will teach you to knit and/ or crochet like you are a pro! You will learn to read patterns and make something for yourself, or as a gift.
One Stroke Painting: Summer Session 2
Mondays 7/18, 25, 8/1, 8, 15, & 22/2022 12pm-2pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
One Stroke Painting is sweeping the decorative painting world. It's fun! It's easy! It's quick! One Stroke is a multi-loading style of acrylic decorative painting that is very friendly to novice painters. It is equally usable on metal, plaster, glass, wood, fabric and ceramic surfaces. You will be excited too, when you find out for yourself how easy One Stroke is. Imagine, blending, shading, and highlighting all in One Stroke! Classes teach you to freehand various strokes and to build your own unique pattern.
Time to Tell
Monday 7/25/2022 10-11am
Online via Zoom Register HERE
Personalized instruction with monthly meetings to help you chronicle the stories of your life. Creative writing styles, including poetry and photographs, can also be used to tell your story.
Searching for an Echo: A Doo-Wop Musical
Wednesday 7/27/2022 10:30am-12:30pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Have you ever wondered how musicals are created, produced, and presented to the public? This is your chance to find out and participate in the process! Searching for an Echo chronicles the experiences of young people during the golden age of doo-wop who participated in the shattering events that shaped America in the 50s and 60s. LUNCH included!
EVENTS AND NEWS IN AGING IN SOUTH JERSEY AND BEYOND
Older Volunteers Sought by Hearts – Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Article to be submitted by Sharon Garland – GarlandGraphics@comcast.net as per conversation Dave had with Sharon on 6/16/22. TC sent Sharon an e-mail on 6/16 to follow-up on the Hearts.
New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) - “Aging Insights”
NJAAW celebrates Pride Month, join host, Dr. Cathy Rowe, and LGBT Senior Housing and Care's CEO/Managing Partner, Amy Simon for Episode 129, "Pride and Progress for LGBT Older Adults, Rights and Legislation." The show is available on NJAAW’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/njadvocatesforagingwell and their website at njaaw.org, as well as public-access stations across NJ (check local listings for channels and times). Aging Insights is also a podcast, listed as “Aging-Insights-NJ" on your favorite app or on the NJAAW website at Aging 129 1.
New Jersey State Rental Assistance Program Accepting Applications
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has announced it will be accepting pre-applications online from 9am on Monday, July 11th through 5pm on Friday, July 22nd for the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) Waiting List for Elderly, Families, Disabled and Homeless. Eligible individuals who submit their online applications during this period will be entered into a lottery to select 4000 individuals to be placed on the waiting list to receive assistance vouchers, which will help to provide housing stability to those in need. For additional information, complete eligibility requirements, and a submission link, please visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/. Applicants must have an e-mail address, but disabled individuals who need assistance can call 609-292-4080 and select Option 9 to request a reasonable accommodation.
Atlantic County Events and Opportunities
The Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore Virtual Programs in July
Nurse’s Roundtable: Travel Guide for Seniors, Wednesday, July 6 (10:30am to 11:30am)
Join Nurse Lori Pasahow and Village Community Specialist Tina Serota for an in-depth discussion about the best places to visit whether traveling by vehicle, train, ship or plane. We’ll discuss staying at a chain hotel vs. Vrbo or private B&B, group travel vs. solo travel, what to pack for an easier and comfortable experience. Plus, we’ll share information on how to handle illness or accidents in another state or country, over-the-counter drugs to pack, medication refills, and how to obtain COVID-19 information from outside of New Jersey. Bring your experiences, questions and feelings about senior travel. RSVP by July 1.
The Positivity Project: Morning Refresh, Thursday, July 7 (10:30am to 11:30am)
Start your day in an upbeat way! Explore positivity during challenging times with JFS Wellness Coordinator Mary Jean Arreola and Tina Serota. You’ll learn ways to boost your wellness – mind, body and soul. Topics include self-care, mindfulness, gratitude, meditation, and resiliency. RSVP by July 1.
The Village Movie Society, Tuesday, July 12 (10:30am to 11:30am)
Join Tina Serota for a discussion about the Oscar winning documentary, Bowling for Columbine, which was written, produced, directed and narrated by Michael Moore. The film explores the primary causes of the 1999 high school shooting and other acts of gun violence. We’ll take a deep dive into the nature of violence in the United States. The documentary is available on Tubi (free TV). RSVP by July 7.
BINGO, Wednesday, July 13 (1pm to 2pm)
Join friends and neighbors for an afternoon of BINGO games and prizes with Tina Serota. BINGO cards will be delivered to those who register in advance. This event is free for Holocaust Survivors and Village Members. For non-members, the cost is $5. RSVP by July 7.
Memoir Workshop, Friday, July 15 (10:30am to 12pm)
Experience the thrill of capturing your life’s adventures, history and ancestry at a Memoir Workshop led by award-winning author and Drexel University Professor of Creative Writing and Publishing, Harriet Levin Millan. You will need a laptop or pen/paper for the workshop. RSVP by July 11.
Comfort Cooking: Healthy & Delicious, Tuesday, July 19 from 10:30am to 11:30am
Join Bernadette Getzler as she takes you on a food journey using fresh ingredients. Cook your favorite summer recipes in new and inventive ways by substituting healthier options. RSVP by July 13.
The Positivity Project: Evening Retreat, Wednesday, July 20 (7pm to 7:30pm)
Join JFS Wellness Coordinator Mary Jean Arreola and Tina Serota for an evening retreat. Shed the cares of the day and prepare for a restful night. We’ll cover a wide range of topics including self-care, mindfulness, gratitude, meditation, and resiliency. Time to feed your mind and your spirit. You’re going to love it! RSVP by July 13.
Coffee Klatch: Hybrid, Thursday, July 21 (10:30am to 12pm)
Your world in 60 minutes! Join a fast-paced discussion on politics, technology, world events, the arts, religion, and more. Moderated by Tina Serota. Attend in-person at the Katz JCC Boardroom, 501 North Jerome Avenue in Margate or from home via Zoom. Mask encouraged for in-person. For Zoom, a link will be emailed to you. RSVP by July 14.
Evening Yoga with Candice, Monday, July 25 (7pm to 8pm)
Join Candice Martin for a Yoga class via Zoom. Find balance and tranquility while experiencing mental, physiological and spiritual rejuvenation. Burn off excess energy through gentle body movements, wind down to a deeper state of relaxation and prepare for your evening rest. RSVP by July 18.
Village Trivia Challenge, Thursday, July 28 (4pm to 5pm)
Test your knowledge and compete for the top prize! Trivia topics include science, geography, history, music, theater, movies and more. This event is free for Holocaust Survivors and Village Members. For non-members, the cost is $5 payable prior to July 21 to Tina Serota.
Unless otherwise noted, all programs are free to participate. You must RSVP to participate in any program by contacting Tina Serota at 609.287.8872 or tserota@jfsatlantic.org. A Zoom link or call-in number for each program will be e-mailed or provided to you.
Family Caregivers Needed
Caregivers are needed to participate in listening sessions about their experiences with respite services this summer. The National Center on Cultural Competence (NCCC) is seeking racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse family caregivers of children/youth and adults with disabilities, and older adults to participate. The information gathered will be used to develop tools to help respite providers, partners, and others provide culturally competent respite services. Small stipends are available for family caregivers who participate. For additional information contact Victoria Phillips, executive director at the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County (609) 652-3800 (extension 307), or by e-mail at vphillips@mhanj.org.
Ocean County News and Events
Ocean County Resources Directory for Seniors
The 2022 Resources Directory can be accessed at 2022 Resource Directory. The directory includes network providers and other important phone numbers throughout the County of Ocean.
Eligibility requirements for Senior Freeze Program Recipients Should be Eased
TOMS RIVER – Senior citizens that receive the state’s Senior Freeze Program reimbursement should not have to start all over again to meet program residency requirements if they move within the state. Ocean County Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari, Chairman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, noted that the eligibility requirements for the Senior Freeze Program require home ownership within a residence for three years and continued residency in New Jersey for a period of 10 years. “That three-year time clock is reset and starts all over again if a senior should move to a different home in the state,” said Vicari. “That should not be the case." This program provides important property tax relief to our seniors, disabled and our most vulnerable residents,” Vicari said. “So long as the person stays within the state of New Jersey, there is no need to make them meet the three-year requirement again if they have already done so.”
Known as the Property Tax Reimbursement Program, the Senior Freeze Program is designed to protect eligible senior citizens and disabled persons from escalating property taxes by locking in a fixed base property tax amount, paying the difference between that locked in amount and the increased amount when a tax increase is imposed. “Having to wait the three-years again to establish a residence is unfair if a resident was already a participant in the program prior to moving,” Vicari said. “This program provides important financial relief for many people already on fixed incomes. Our residents should not be penalized for moving so long as they meet all of the other eligibility requirements.”
Vicari noted that state legislators in Ocean County’s 9, 10, and 12 state Legislative districts have co-sponsored or supported proposed state legislation that would remedy the residency requirement for this program. “I applaud these efforts and I look forward to our residents being able to continue with this program should they move within the state,” Vicari said.
Ocean County is home to more than 200,000 senior citizens. Nearly 160,000 homeowners across the state received senior-freeze reimbursements during the 2021 fiscal year, ranging on average from $196 for new recipients to $1,348 for longer-term enrollees, according to state budget documents. “As prices on every day essentials like gas and food continue to climb, we need to make certain our seniors and disabled can access programs available to them that will help keep some costs stable,” said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners John P. Kelly.
EVENTS AND RESOURCES OF GENERAL INTEREST
Stockton Researcher Seeks Participants Dr. Helana Girgis from the Stockton University Psychology Program is recruiting adults (18 and older) for an online study designed to carefully examine the relation between personality traits, attachment style and our perception of interpersonal relationships. This will add to the small, but growing, body of research on those personality traits and attachments styles that can influence how we view relationships. The survey (which takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete) and additional details are available here: https://stockton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38xBp9ZiH5GHt1c Participants who enter their emails (separate from data) will be entered into a raffle with a chance of winning one of six, $50 Amazon gift cards. Please direct any questions to Helana.Girgis@stockton.edu.
Click on the link below to view the video, recognizing LGBTQ Month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qoarG9vHcc&t=6
Inviting Submissions for Events Columns
We invite organizations to submit their event information for inclusion in our monthly e-news no later than the 18th of each month for inclusion in the subsequent month’s Newsletter, which we anticipate e-mailing a few days before the beginning of each month. The E-News is also posted on SCOSA’s Web-Site under the Newsletters/Press Releases tab. Please submit items via e-mail to Patricia.Collins@stockton.edu. Items will be published on a space available basis and we reserve the right to reject items that are not consistent with SCOSA’s mission or deemed inappropriate for our audience. Please direct any questions to David Burdick, Director, Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA), at David.Burdick@stockton.edu or by telephone (609) 652-4311.
Some of the older adult programs offered by SCOSA are partially funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, through grants from Area Agencies on Aging in Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean counties of New Jersey. Voluntary donations to SCOSA supporting these programs are accepted.. Such donations are not a fee and are not required. Any donations received will be used to develop and operate future programs. If you wish to donate directly to SCOSA please make your checks payable to SCOSA and send them to:
SCOSA/SOBL, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205-9441.
Quick Links to Stockton Programs and Facilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
