How to recognize loneliness in seniors & what to do about it

(BPT) - Loneliness is a public health epidemic.It’s a condition that doesn’t show up on medical tests, yet it can be just as deadly as daily smoking. The growing crisis has an outsized …
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Collaborating together on the
‘Inside Senior Living’ docu-series explores aging
In an exciting development for the local television landscape, “Inside Senior Living,” a groundbreaking docu-series, has announced its partnership with PBS North. The series, set to …
Affordable senior housing in Longfellow
With affordable housing a priority at all levels of government, state and local commissioners and elected officials joined leaders from Ecumen – a nonprofit leader and developer  of …
Fond farewell
Thirty-five years ago, at Thanksgiving, I moved to Minnesota from my Philadelphia home. I relocated back to my hometown in time for Passover and Easter. In November 1988, the Twin Cities were cold …
Original collage by Susan Schaefer
10 guidelines for a strong, long and happy life
Some time ago, after suffering the shocking and unexpected loss of my still young husband, Martijn, while we were living in Europe, I experienced what is called traumatic grief. In addition to a year …
The soaring Bob Dylan mural attracts international visitors to downtown Minneapolis. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)
Gifts of season give reason to reflect
HyggeCertainly, the long, cold, dark Minnesota winters can spark a melancholia for some. Yet frigid temperatures and spare daytime hours can also create the mood to hibernate, as other creatures of …
News for Seniors
Help Your Grandkids Stay Safe: Keep All Medicines Up and Away

Help Your Grandkids Stay Safe: Keep All Medicines Up and Away

(NewsUSA) - September 10 is Grandparents’ Day! It’s a time to celebrate the special bond between grandparents (or great-grandparents and other caregivers!) and grandkids. You can show your …
Shoot for the Stars When It Comes to Medicare Advantage

Shoot for the Stars When It Comes to Medicare Advantage

(NewsUSA) - By Alan Stewart, SVP, Medicare Divisional Leader, Humana - If you’re one of the nation’s 58.6 million people with Medicare, you understand the importance of selecting a health …

Removing barriers of care for U.S. veterans who need surgery

(BPT) - During the month of November, we honor our nation's veterans for their hard work and dedication to protect everyone's freedoms. It's also an important time to recognize their freedom and …

The Big Plan to Make Open Enrollment Sign-Ups Less Confusing

(BPT) - With open enrollment in full swing, millions of Americans face the annual challenge of choosing the right health plan for themselves and their families. Questions such as “Is this …

Are you 65 or older? How to stay healthy with updated vaccines

(BPT) - You want to stay healthy, so you can keep doing the things you love. That’s why it’s so important to stay up to date on recommended vaccines, like the updated COVID-19 vaccine and …

Free Online Survey Alerts Older Adults to Risks of Falling, a Major Hazard

(NewsUSA) - (NewsUSA) - The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things. One thing that's still the same? Falling is NOT a normal part of aging. There are steps you can take to reduce your …

National Council on Aging Helps Community Organizations Deliver COVID and Flu Vaccines

(BPT) - The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, is helping community-based organizations across the country provide updated COVID and flu …

Skin science secrets for smooth winter skin: Insights from a chemist to break free from dry skin woes

(BPT) - If the dropping temperatures instantly make your skin feel dry and uncomfortable, you're not alone. Between the frigid air outside and overheated air inside, the winter months are loaded with …

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Arson fires at Stevens House
The Minneapolis Park and RecreaCon Board Park Police Department is asking for the public’s help in solving three recent arson fires at the Stevens House, located at 4901 South Minnehaha Park …
Fire Motor Operator Mary Mohn, Firefighter Bonnie Bleskachek, Firefighter Vicki Hoff and Captain Jean Kidd, who from 1992-1994 formed the city’s first all-women crew, in front of their rig, Engine 5.
MFD commemorates 30th anniversary of first all-women fire crew
Current and former fire department staff, city officials, friends and family joined together at Minneapolis Fire Station 5 (2700 Bloomington Ave.) on Sept. 23, 2022, to honor the four members of the …
Gary Schatzlein stands in Schatzlein’s Saddle Shop at 413 W Lake St., holding a saddle that needs to be repaired. “It has been hard to compete with online shopping,” Gary Schatzlein said. “Brands have made it harder for us to buy from them.” The horse behind him is one customers used to sit on and see if their apparel fit right. Now, the horse displays a “Do Not Touch” sign
WHERE PAST AND PRESENT MEET
Before Lake Street was a popular hub of Minneapolis, it was a rural area where farming was prevalent. There were rarely any streetcars or buses that rode up and down the street, but rather, horses …
Repairs coming to historic park buildings
The Ard Godfrey House, John H. Stevens House, and Longfellow House are scheduled for repairs this fall as part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate historic structures located in Minneapolis parks. …
It’s Cheatham Avenue now
Dight Ave is no longer named after a man who launched a crusade to bring the eugenics movement to Minnesota and wrote fan letters to Hitler. Instead, it has been renamed to honor John Cheatham, a man …

Feeling burnt out? Watch out for these symptoms

(BPT) - If long workdays leave you wondering if you're burnt out, take a closer look. While typical signs of work-related burnout can mean you're overdue for serious PTO, other symptoms may indicate …

3 hearing health strategies for older adults

(BPT) - As people age, our hearing tends to decline for multiple reasons, including repetitive exposure to loud sounds and genetic factors. In fact, hearing loss ranks as the third most common …
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Jennifer Polzin
Tubman raising funds to add pet shelter
Tubman, an innovative organization dedicated to providing support and resources to individuals and families affected by domestic violence and trauma, is raising funds to add a pet shelter. Tubman's …
Lyle James takes Honey, a two-year-old bulldog, out into the run next to the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control building at 212 17th Ave. N. James can't have pets at his condo and he volunteers several days a week at the shelter. He is also a carrier for TMC Publications CO. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Not the pound you think you know
The Minneapolis city animal control facility isn’t the grim place many picture.“For a long time, this place would have been called a pound with all the negative aspects that …
Linda Featherstone
CANS FOR SAM
Longfellow residents Linda Featherstone and her husband Frank Forkins have helped neighborhood cats and dogs to have healthier and happier lives for the past 25 years. Working with pet owners who …
Volunteer Gail Frethem plays with Tupelo at the shelter. (Photo by Penny Fuller)
FELINES FIND 'FUREVER' HOMES
Longtime Feline Rescue volunteer Nancy Miller writes monthly newsletters and works as a shift lead. “I love this work because I see first-hand the difference that volunteering makes in the …
Annika and Leah
Free helping dogs
Can Do Canines announces that there is currently less waiting time than normal for clients who need one of the following types of assistance dogs: Mobility Assist Dog, Hearing Assist Dog, Diabetes …
Working together at Leap Pediatric and Adolescent Care are (left to right) Dr. Julia Joseph-Di Caprio, office manager Tanjerae White and assistant lab supervisor Crystal Johnson. “I am proud of this because of the Black women I am here with,” said Johnson. White has been in the medical field for 26 years, working her way up from medical assistant to office manager. She’s excited by her own growth and that of the two women she’s working with. She said she is proud to represent “people of our color.” White added, “I think this will help a lot of young people.”
A personalized approach to health care
When your physician looks like you and understands your culture, studies have shown your health outcomes are better.Knowing that, Dr. Julia Joseph-Di Caprio, a Black physician, decided to open Leap …
Something under the hood is not immediately apparent or obvious. This column will uncover stories that span the neighborhoods covered by TMC Publications. | Susan Schaefer is a widely published independent journalist, creative writer, and poet. Her articles appear in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, PBS’ online magazine, Next Avenue, Next Tribe, and beyond. She was columnist and features writer for Minneapolis’ Southwest Journal and Minnesota Good Age magazine.
Warming up for winter
Ever been accused of having a thin skin? When it comes to maintaining proper body temperature, this old adage is no joke. As we age, our metabolic rate decreases and our skin literally thins. Often, …
Suzy Messerole (left)  and Tana Hargest of the Subversive Sirens practice at the Phillips Aquatic Center. “We do a lot more than just spread joy,” Messerole stated. “Community is a very big part of our strategy.” The group practices on Saturdays. (Photo by Terry Faust)
Subversive Sirens imagine a better world
The world of queer synchronized swimming is very small. But the Subversive Sirens, a non-binary synchronized swimming team out of Minnesota, is making a big splash. (Forgive the pun.) Advocating …
Jessica and Steven Willman, with (left to right) Adon, Sophie, Jack and Ollie. Two children were adopted after being fostered.  (Photos submitted)
FOSTER THE FAMILY
What do you do when a foster child you have raised for several years is suddenly going home to her birth parents? How do you react the first time the school principal calls you in to discuss a …
Most plants should be pruned in the late dormant season, generally around January or February. The exceptions are those that bloom early in the growing season on last year's growth. (Photo submitted)
Best time to prune most plants is late winter
As fall turns to winter, you may be looking at the bare, brown branches in your yard and wondering when to cut them back. Overall, the answer is not yet! But there’s lots to think about before …

Discover the hidden culprit of aging and how to turn back time

Discover the hidden culprit of aging and how to turn back time
(BPT) - Aging is a natural part of life, and you can see it in the lines on your face and gray hairs on your head. However, while you may focus on the external signs of aging, the truth is that …

Painting a real-time picture of patient health: A new monitoring approach

(BPT) - If you or a loved one needs surgery, you may worry most about what happens during the surgery itself. But as healthcare providers are aware, the most vulnerable times for patient care are …

4 menopause myths, debunked by new science

(BPT) - Menopause is a natural transition every woman goes through. Yet, it remains misunderstood and often misidentified.A groundbreaking study of more than 32,000 women may revolutionize this. The …

Tips for staying active after age 65

(BPT) - It’s common to hear people say they feel overwhelmed by the idea of being physically active, and that they have no idea where to start. That sense of pressure can be discouraging and …

Focus on your sight and health to ward off vision loss from diabetes

(BPT) - An often silent condition that can steal vision, diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that may have no noticeable symptoms in the early stages and is the leading cause of …

Did you know Medicare Advantage plans change every year? Here's what you need to know

(BPT) - Whether you're enrolling for Medicare for the first time or you've had it for years, it's important to know that Medicare Advantage plans — which include more benefits than Original …

Comparing Coverage Options During Medicare Open Enrollment Could Save You Money

(Family Features) If you're enrolled in Medicare, it's important to remember Medicare Open Enrollment is open through Dec. 7 each year. It is the time for people with Medicare to compare their prescription drug and health coverage options for the upcoming year.