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April 2022 E-News Vol 11, #4
In this issue:
SCOSA NEWS AND EVENTS
Dr. Kathryn Brzozowski, SCOSA Research Scholar, is conducting research on the impact of public sharing of information on older adults. The means of sharing will be the creation and publication of podcasts. No technical knowledge is required. Registration is via a survey link below. Not all will be selected, so don’t start composing just yet!
Stockton Age Friendly University (AFU) Column 
by Karen Rose, Ph.D., SCOSA AFU champion; adjunct professor, Psychology and Health Science
This month’s column is devoted to a discussion of the longevity dividend: what it is, initiatives designed to achieve it, and calls to become involved.
One pillar of the Age-Friendly University movement is to increase understanding of the longevity dividend, defined as the sum of health, social and economic benefits that result from slower aging. First discussed by Jay Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois (Articulating the Case for the Longevity Dividend), the longevity dividend begins with a premise that if the course of aging could be slowed, then the incidence of chronic diseases associated with age would also slow, thereby increasing quality of life in later years. Individuals could remain active, social, and employed for longer periods, benefitting not only the individual, but also a national economy that depends upon the productivity of its citizens.
How do you slow the course of aging? Certainly, research has shown that lifestyle variables such as diet, mental (learning challenges) and physical exercise, and a strong social network are important. With that said, the size of the longevity dividend depends not only on individual actions, but also on broader community systems that include where an individual lives, spends their time, traverses, and what community resources are available to them.
The good news is that recent movements including the World Health Organization’s ‘Age-friendly Cities Framework’ that identifies eight interconnected domains of urban life and AARP’s ‘Livable Communities’ initiative support changes with the longevity dividend in mind. For example, AARP’s call for proposals designed to encourage the development of livable communities includes goals to create vibrant public spaces, affordable housing, transportation and mobility options, and in the process, to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. (See Philadelphia Example)
Such efforts are encouraging but they require the resolve of a broad array of community stakeholders: community members, local community groups and businesses, municipal governments, and political leaders. Listen for initiatives coming to your area and consider becoming involved. The outcomes of your work could be far-reaching and provide dividends that enable individuals of all ages to thrive----communities need our years of learning and experience.
TES Report by Michaelle Cooke
Last Fall I learned about “Hurricane” Hawkins, a woman who set the first track and field world record for the female 105+ age category in the National Senior Games. Her story can be found here. I found myself thinking “why not me?” I’m not 105 yet, but I figured that one has to train for at least 30 years or so to attain the lofty goal of setting a world record in the 105+ age category.
There are several ways to qualify for the National Senior Games, especially during the pandemic. The most straightforward way is to qualify at a State Qualifying Game where the top 4 finishers in most sports are qualified. I discovered that the New Jersey State Games were scheduled for September 11– 12, 2021, and quickly signed up.
In all three of my events – 50M, 100M and 500M – there were three or fewer participants, so I qualified for all three! I’ve signed up for the same three swimming events at this year’s National Senior Games being held in Ft. Lauderdale from May 10 – 23, 2022. I’ll be sure to report the results in the June SCOSA Newsletter.
Meanwhile, make your plans to participate in the New Jersey Senior Games in 2022 (www.njseniorolympics.com). They’ll be held from September 9 – 11, 2022 in Woodbridge, NJ. Check out the list of sports at ngsa.com, I’m sure there’s one for you.
Learn about others and yourself this spring by taking a SILL class. Discover clues about why you turned out the way you did or about why your teenagers and grandchildren are behaving the way they are. Find out why psychology is important in today’s world and how to cultivate a growth mindset.
Friday, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15; 9:30am - 10:30am
Connecting with the Teenagers in your life: Psychosocial Development in Adolescence
Professor Kaite Yang
Online via Zoom
Tuition: $45 for all 4 sessions; free for Atlantic County and Ocean County residents 60 years of age and older
Adolescence is a time of biological change that rivals the speed and intensity of growth in the first few years of life. Included in this growth is brain development at the cellular and structural levels, with implications for cognition and behavior. This course will present an overview of current research on psychological development during a person’s teenage years. Topics of focus include brain maturation, cognitive development, social cognition, and risk-taking. We will explore the importance of social contexts in each of these processes of development.
Kaite Yang is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the Childhood Studies Minor at Stockton University. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at Princeton University and A.B. in Anthropology and Psychological and Brain Sciences from Dartmouth College. Previously, she worked in educational programming for children and adolescents as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Her research interests include social sensitivity, gender and depression, and multicultural learning. She teaches a variety of courses, including Adolescence, Psychology of Gender, Experimental Psychology, and Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination.
Friday, April 1, 8, 15 and 22; 12 pm – 1 pm
Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Professor Erin Sappio
Online via Zoom
Tuition: $45 for all 4 sessions; Free to residents 60 years old or older of Atlantic or Ocean counties.
Register here.
The purpose of this course is to examine our mindsets and the ways in which our mindsets help or hurt us. The focus of this course will be on the development of a growth mindset, focused on tools to sustain energy and positivity. It is recommended that course participants obtain the following book: Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Instructor
Dr. Erin Sappio, PhD, NCSP is a Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Psychologist who has been working with children, adolescents, and adults for more than 15 years. She is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Stockton University. Dr. Sappio has a background in cognitive behavior therapy, applied positive psychology, and mindful meditation.
Thursday, April 7, 14, 21 and 28; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Psychology in Everyday Life
Professor Karen Rose
Stockton at Manahawkin, Room 2, 712 E. Bay Avenue
Tuition: $45 for all 4 sessions; Free to residents 60 years old or older of Atlantic or Ocean counties.
Register here.
Have you always wanted to take a psychology class but never found the time? Psychology in Everyday Life is designed to give you an introduction to a growing field that has become increasingly important in navigating a complex and ever-changing world. You will be introduced to work in biological psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and social psychology. There will be a discussion of psychology’s important findings and in-class exercises designed to demonstrate those findings. Join us for a lively and interactive discussion.
Instructor
Dr. Rose is Professor Emerita at Widener University and is currently an adjunct professor of psychology and health science at Stockton University. She has taught a variety of classes in the field of psychology with primary interests in developmental psychology. Dr. Rose’s research focus has been on understanding the development of memory, studying individuals from infancy to older adulthood. She currently works in the Stockton Center on Successful Aging championing the age-friendly university initiative.
Friday, April 8, 15, 22 and 29; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Exploring Child Developmental Influences That Make Us Who We Are
Professor Helana Girgis
Online via Zoom
Tuition: $45 for all 4 sessions; Free to residents 60 years old or older of Atlantic or Ocean counties. Register here.
Have you ever wondered how siblings in the same family can turn out so differently? This course will help to answer that question! We'll explore those influences and specific mechanisms that underlie our unique genetic codes and how this interacts with our individual experiences, which in turn affect our physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development that make us who we are today.
Instructor
Dr. Helana Girgis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stockton University and the Director of the Children’s Learning Lab, a cognitive development lab. She is a developmental psychologist, whose research explores how children think and learn about the world. Currently, her research examines how children categorize natural and processed foods, community’s influence on moral judgements, and development of knowledge for contagious and non-contagious illnesses. She received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas.
SCOSA Programs in Ocean County
SCOSA Older Adult Education, Socialization & Recreation Programs
Everyone's A Poet... They Just Don't Know It!
Monday 3/21/2022 1-3:30pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
We'll review a few poetry basics, learn some that might be new to you, try our hand at several easy exercises, and you'll find that you're a poet too!
March Walks in Atlantic County
Wednesday 3/23 & 3/30/2022 10-11am
Location Varies Weekly Register HERE
Meet Michaelle at 10am on Wednesdays for a walk. All levels welcome! The location varies each time (click on title for details). You can attend one walk or all! Let's get moving and take in some fresh air together. Please bring water and comfortable walking shoes.
John Patrick Joy and the Easter Rebellion 1916
Wednesday 3/23/2022 2-3pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
John Patrick Joy recounts his time in Dublin as a journalist who meets with the leaders of the Irish Movement for Independence as they secure the General Post Office (GPO) and challenge the British Empire for their right to create an independent and free Irish State.
Preserving Your Ancestor’s Textiles and Handmade Treasures
Thursday 3/24/2022 6:30-7:30pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
Presented by The Genealogy Center. Learn from an archivist the best practices to preserving your ancestor’s textiles and handmade items. Everything from Grandma's quilt, that old Christening gown, your dad’s letterman jacket and military uniforms. These textiles and handmade items need special care and consideration when it comes to preservation and storage.
SILL: Connecting with the Teenagers in your life: Psychosocial Development in Adolescence
Fridays, March 25, April 1, 8, &15, 2022 9:30-10:30am
Online via Zoom Register HERE
Adolescence is a time of biological change that rivals the speed and intensity of growth in the first few years of life. Included in this growth is brain development at the cellular and structural levels, with implications for cognition and behavior. This course will present an overview of current research on psychological development during a person’s teenage years. Topics of focus include brain maturation, cognitive development, social cognition, and risk-taking. We will explore the importance of social contexts in each of these processes of development.
Spring Walks in Ocean County
Saturdays, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, & 4/23/2022 10-11am
Location Varies Weekly Register HERE
Join Exercise Science Students at 10am on Saturday mornings for a scenic walk around Ocean county. Everyone is welcome to join! Come join us for any walk(s) that interest you. Let’s go enjoy the spring weather together! Please bring water and comfortable shoes.
Chair Yoga
Fridays , 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, & 5/20/2022 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.
SILL: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Fridays, April 1,8,15, & 22, 2022 12-1pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
The purpose of this course is to examine our mindsets and the ways in which our mindsets help or hurt us. The focus of this course will be on the development of a growth mindset, focused on tools to sustain energy and positivity. It is recommended that course participants obtain the following book: Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
Knit & Crochet with Lois
Mondays, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, & 5/9/2022 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
Mondays, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, & 5/9/2022 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.
Understanding the Legal Needs of Aging
Wednesday, 4/6/2022 1-2pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
As we age, there are important legal documents that we should all have in place. This is especially true for older adults. However, people often wait to until a crisis to make legal decisions, which for some may be too late. While planning ahead for a person’s legal needs is ideal, it can be challenging to understand what legal documents are needed and where to begin. Join this American Society on Aging webinar to learn more about the legal needs of aging and proactively planning for these needs.
SILL: Psychology in Everyday Life
Thursdays, April 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2022 1:30-2:30pm
Stockton at Manahawkin, Room 2, 712 E. Bay Avenue Register HERE
Have you always wanted to take a psychology class but never found the time? Psychology in Everyday Life is designed to give you an introduction to a growing field that has become increasingly important in navigating a complex and ever-changing world. You will be introduced to work in biological psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and social psychology. There will be a discussion of psychology’s important findings and in-class exercises designed to demonstrate those findings. Join us for a lively and interactive discussion.
Greeting Card Workshop
Friday, 4/8/2022 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.
Classic Film First Friday: A Star is Born
Friday, 4/8/2022 1-3pm
Stockton at Hammonton or Online via Zoom Register HERE
Join Nick from Hammonton for the 1937 classic film, where a young woman comes to Hollywood with dreams of stardom, and achieves them only with the help of an alcoholic leading man whose best days are behind him.
SILL: Exploring Developmental Influences that Make Us Who We Are
Fridays, April 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022 1:30-2:30pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
Have you ever wondered how siblings in the same family can turn out so differently? This course will help to answer that question! We'll explore those influences and specific mechanisms that underlie our unique genetic codes and how this interacts with our individual experiences, which in turn affect our physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development that make us who we are today.
Oval Footed Basket
Saturday, 4/9/2022 10am-12pm
Swan Bay Folk Art Center Call Niki at 609-652-0366 to register
This basket is a 10"x 8" oval, sits on 4 feet , has a swing handle and would make a great small project basket.
Tour of Poetry
Saturday, 4/9/2022 11:00am-1:00pm
Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield Register HERE
During each session of this monthly program, an established poet will read original work, present an engaging lecture, and encourage participants to write & share something of their own. Participants will have an opportunity to have their poetry included in the Tour of Poetry Anthology.
VetWorks- Veteran's Services in Ocean County
Monday, 4/11/2022 11am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
Vetwork, a nonprofit organization, serves the Veterans of Ocean County, brave men and women who served from WWII, Korea, Vietnam up to Afghanistan and Iraq, here in the States and overseas. Directed by volunteers, many of whom served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, Vetwork serves Veterans who are unable to access the federal and state programs which are designed to meet their needs.
Time to Tell Memoir Writing
Thursday, 4/14/2022 12-1:30pm
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.
The Abuse and Trivialization of Holocaust Memory Confirmation
Tuesday, 4/26/2022 2:30-3:30pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
On the eve of Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah), join Echoes and Reflections for today's webinar will address how the Holocaust is being misused and abused in everyday references, to the point where it is losing significance. Presented by Yad Vashem educator, Yoni Berrous, we will explore the tools created by the International School for Holocaust Studies to teach about the Holocaust without trivializing it. Join us to see how we can use these new technologies to make the memory of the Holocaust relevant to our students.
Stockton Chamber Players
Thursday, 4/28/2022 6:30pm
Stockton Performing Arts Center Register HERE
Christopher Di Santo, clarinet, Ruotao Mao and Nancy Jan, violins, Ana Tsinadze, viola, Elizabeth Mendoza, cello Performing works by W. A. Mozart & Carl Maria von Weber .
Greeting Card Workshop
Friday, 4/29/2022 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.
Spamilton! An American Parody
Friday, 4/29/2022 7:30pm
Stockton Performing Arts Center Register HERE
Don’t miss this “convulsively funny” (NY Times) parody from the comic mastermind behind the long-running hit Forbidden Broadway. After tearing it up in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, Spamilton: An American Parody will stage a singing, dancing, comedy revolution at Stockton Performing Arts Center. The Huffington Post raves “you don’t have to see Hamilton to have side-splitting fun at Spamilton.”
Bay Atlantic Symphony: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sunday, 5/1/2022 2pm
Stockton Performing Arts Center Register HERE
Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and this most famous piano concerto of Mozart point to kinesis – rapid, and spritely. Yet, as in Shakespeare’s play, the Mendelssohn has not only frolic but the fearsome. And the central movement of Mozart’s 21st concerto is overflowing with pathos. Pianist Terrence Wilson has been celebrated throughout the world as soloist, chamber musician and recitalist. He has performed with the National Symphony in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Dallas and Philadelphia Orchestras and many others worldwide.
Conflicting Narratives from the Holocaust, Explanations Regarding the Holocaust and Mass Atrocity Crimes
Tuesday, 5/2/2022 11am-12pm
Stockton at Manahawkin Register HERE
In the decades which have passed since WWII, mankind has pondered the unspeakable evil of mass atrocity crimes and specifically the Holocaust and attempted to provide explanations. Are there evil men amongst us who choose to unleash this type of violence just because they can? Does humankind, when it operates in groups, hate other groups so terribly that it chooses to disappear them from the face of the earth in ways that are so diabolical and contrary to normal civilized behavior as to constitute crimes against the whole of humanity? Are there particular sets of historical circumstances which when they come together compel or at least explain atrocious human conduct? And finally, are all humans given the wrong set of circumstances capable of participating in or at least condoning by their inactivity this conduct? Dr. O'Meara, using the Holocaust as his primary cases study, reviews these multiple explanations with an eye towards reminding us how unfathomable and incomplete they all are and how further research can only help us to recognize this behavior and fashion ways to stop it.
Time to Tell Memoir Writing
Thursday, 5/5/2022 12-1:30pm
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.
Classic Film First Friday: The Last Time I Saw Paris
Friday, 5/6/2022 1-3pm
Stockton at Hammonton or Online via Zoom Register HERE
Join Nick from Hammonton for this 1954 film starring Liz Taylor, where an American journalist returns to Paris - a city that gave him true love and deep grief.
Non-pharmacologic Interventions for Cognition in Older Adults
Thursday, 5/12/2022 1-2pm
Online via Zoom Register HERE
In this practical ASA webinar for the multidisciplinary care team, Dr. Benjamin Hampstead will examine three promising non-pharmacologic treatment approaches—the effects of exercise, cognition-oriented treatments including cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive training, and neuromodulation. These methodologies apply to cognition in older adults across the “healthy” to dementia spectrum. Dr. Hampstead’s discussion will include evidence that supports or refutes these cognitive effects, complemented by data showing structural and/or functional changes in the brain that may predict and/or reflect treatment effects. The discussion will integrate dose-response and other vital treatment parameters.
EVENTS AND NEWS IN AGING IN SOUTH JERSEY AND BEYOND
Atlantic County News and Events
Friendly Visiting by CARING:
The Path from Social Isolation to Social Engagement
Atlantic County residents sixty years of age and older, living alone, home-bound or without access to the community, and who are not linked to services delivered in-person to the home will benefit from Caring’s new Friendly Visiting, which is hiring new visitors. The program will provide regular visits for conversation and social contact, as well as help with such activities as letter writing, reading, household budgeting.
A CARING social worker will complete a brief assessment and write a plan of care during an initial home visit. Subsequent visits will be made by Friendly Visit staff members who will implement the plan of care, observe for situations requiring intervention, and socialize with the client in their home. A brief report will be completed after each visit and forwarded to the social worker. The Friendly Visit staff will not provide assistance with personal care, homemaking services. client transportation, shopping, or banking.
The Friendly Visit program has opportunities for those interested in becoming a “visitor”. Minimum commitment is one hour per week. The pay is $15 per hour; training will be provided. Please contact Madelin Villanueva at mvillanueva@caringinc.org or 609-909-9111; or Fred Meineke at fmeineke@caringinc.org or 609-485-0424 for more information about Friendly Visits.
Cape May County News and Events
Ocean County News and Events
  
News and Events from Elsewhere in NJ
New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) 24th Annual Conference
Join us for our 24th Annual Conference! We will be back in person on Monday, June 13, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Click here to register. An early bird discount is available until Friday, April 1.
Inviting Submissions for Events in Aging in South Jersey and Beyond
We invite organizations to submit their event information for inclusion in our monthly e-news no later than day 18 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. Click here to submit items that will be published on a space available basis. 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.
EVENTS AND RESOURCES OF GENERAL INTEREST
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 a grant by the Division of Intergenerational Services, Atlantic County, 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.
Quick Links to Stockton Programs and Facilities:
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