NYPL Blogs: Blog Posts by Subject: Older people

Harnessing the Power of Music

Hailley Fargo, Community Outreach Intern — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:39:01 -0400

Oliver Sacks once said in his book, Musicophilia:

"The power of music whether joyous or cathartic must steal on one unawares, come spontaneously as a blessing or a grace..."

Music has incredible power. People today listen to music all the time, walking down streets and sitting in subway cars. We can't escape music.

For many of us, certain songs have this mystical power of throwing us into the past to a certain time and place. It might be a wonderful memory or a memory we would rather not remember. Regardless, we begin to understand that our brain and music have a pretty special relationship.

I myself am fascinated by the connection between our brain and music. I've read Sacks's Musicophilia and also enjoyed Daniel Levitin's book This is Your Brain on Music. So when the Music & Memory Drive came up as a potential intern project I could work on, I immediately picked it up.

Music & Memory is a non-profit organization founded by Dan Cohen. He realized that people with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia responded well when they were given iPods with their favorite music from their younger years. Some of you might know the Music & Memory clip that went viral (see below). It's fondly known as the Henry clip and shows a man who becomes animated, alert, and alive when he is given his iPod. The clip is amazing, no matter how many times you've seen it. To watch Henry transform, all because of a few songs, is incredible.

Cohen (and others) realized areas of the brain that are responsible for memories and have been affected by Alzheimer's or dementia can be stimulated when music they once loved is played. They created this organization and collect used iPods every day for Alzheimer's patients across the country.

The Kingsbridge Library in the Bronx and their Teen Advisory Group (TAG) decided to start a drive of their own. The kickoff occurred last Friday (March 22) and I was there to see it begin. We had several teens there and they took an interest to this program. I'm hoping these teens can be the movers and shakers for this project and help to put this drive into high gear.

From now until May 31st, the Kingsbridge Library will be collecting gently used iPods that will be used by the residents of Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center. I hope that once the drive is over, the TAG group and others will head over to Kingsbridge Heights not only to donate the iPods but also to volunteer there and help put music on these iPods and talk to some of the patients.

If you are interested in making a donation, finding out more, volunteering once the drive is over, or becoming a part of the team, please contact the Kingsbridge Library.

Kingsbridge TAG Update: We’re Starting an iPod Drive!

Andrea Lipinski, Kingsbridge Library — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:35:07 -0400

Do you have a gently-used iPod that you'd like to donate to a good cause? Because the Kingsbridge Library's Teen Advisory Group is going to be collecting used iPods on behalf of the Music & Memory program.

Music & Memory is an organization that uses iPods to create personalized playlists for the elderly and infirm, helping to improve their quality of life. You can learn more about how this program works at the Music & Memory website, where you can see videos that show how people's spirits can be lifted by the music from their past.

If you'd like to donate an iPod to the cause, from March 22nd through May 31st you can bring your donations to the Kingsbridge Library [291 W. 231st Street, Bronx NY 10463]. Our donation drive will begin with a kickoff event on Friday March 22nd at 4pm. Any iPods that are collected through our drive will be used by the residents at the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center.

If you'd like to learn more about the Music & Memory program, including how the program works, how to volunteer, and how to donate iPods if you can't make it to our drive, please visit musicandmemory.org.

Drawing People and Places: A Resource List

Corinne Neary, Jefferson Market Library — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:22:30 -0500

This Friday, teaching artist Josh Millis will begin his 10 session drawing class for adults 55+ at Jefferson Market Library. (This class is full, but check out the Creative Aging classes being held at other branches.)

Below is a list of artists whose work Josh will be showing to the program's participants over the course of the sessions. Take a look at some of the artists that the class will be using as inspiration, and please join us on May 17th for a culminating gallery show!

Balthus
Paula Rego
Alice Neel
Barkley Hendricks
Kehinde Wiley
Diego Rivera
Frida Kahlo
Picasso
Elizabeth Peyton
Edgar Degas
John Singer Sargent
Lucian Freud
Francis Bacon
David Hockney
Philip Pearlstein
Max Beckmann
George Grosz
Francis Picabia
Neo Rauch
Michael Borremans
Yue Minjun
Egon Schiele
Edward Hopper
Kerry James Marshall
Odd Nerdrum
Jockum Nordstrom
Jonas Wood
John Currin

This Lifetime Arts Program is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Westchester Library System, AARP Foundation, American Library Association, New York State Council of the Arts, and the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation

Job Searching in the Digital Age for Older Adults: Classes at OATS

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:12:10 -0500

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) presents Computer Classes for Older Adults at the Senior Planet Exploration Center at 127 West 25th Street.

Classes are free of charge and all those 60 and over are welcome to sign up.

Classes run for five weeks and meet every Tuesday and Thursday.

February 26th – March 28th 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

To sign up for classes, please stop in or call 646-590-0615.

Job Searching in the Digital Age

In this course students learn the skills and techniques necessary to seek paid or volunteer employment in the “digital age.”

Students will define and create goals for their own job search, learn how to present themselves safely and appropriately online, and how to navigate trusted online sources for job and opportunity listings.

Participants will be guided through complicated issues unique to older adults who are looking for employment — for example, how to earn an income without losing benefits and how to protect one’s self against ageism in the workforce.

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS): Mission and Vision

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of technology to change the way we age.

Technology can only reach its full potential when older adults hold a stake in its development and distribution. OATS training and support, online services, and community-building programs empower older adults to thrive as individuals and membes of society. OATS achieves extraordinary outcomes with older adults, improving their social engagement, health and well-being, financial security, and opportunities for social activism, creative expression and life-long learning.

Aging Well in the Digital Age

Digital technology holds the promise of enriching our lives, strengthening our communities, and improving our health care and services. But for millions of older Americans, technology and the Internet are sources of anxiety and confusion-barriers to participation in the social and economic mainstream rather than resources for independent living. OATS is committed to maximizing the power of technology to help older adults live healthier, more connected, socially engaged lives.

To learn more about Job Searching in the Digital Age, please visit Job Search Central, Science, Industry and Business Library at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

Learn to Express Yourself Through Art: Free Courses for Midlife and Older Adults

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:32:18 -0500

Thanks to Lifetime Arts for securing funding and inviting our library system to participate, NYPL is once again able to offer free sustained art courses, taught by professional teaching artists, for adults age 55 and over. Seventeen branch libraries have received funding that enables them to host these classes, which will take place from February-November 2013, and which cover a wide variety of arts including: painting, sculpting, collage, memoir-writing/performance, drawing, and quilt-making.

Because of the great interest generated over the years, many of the libraries will be entering names of those who pre-register in a lottery to ensure an opportunity for all to partake. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Contact the libraries directly for more information on how to register.

Columbus Library: Collage for Your Soul, begins February 2
Mid-Manhattan Library: The Art of Making Poems: Creation and Craft, begins February 12
St. George Library Center: Drawing from Life’s Journey, begins March 1
Roosevelt Island Library: Experiencing the Joy of Color, begins March 1
Jefferson Market Library: Drawing People in Places, begins March 8
Mulberry Street Library: Drawing from Observation, begins March 16
Countee Cullen Library: Creating Artist’s Books, begins April 2
Kingsbridge Library: Writing Through Memory: Memoir and Storytelling, begins April 3
Bronx Library Center: The Colors of the Water, begins April 4
Kips Bay Library: Quilt-Making with Karen Fitzgerald, begins April 4
Riverdale Library: Exploration in Portraiture, begins April 8
St. Agnes Library: Using Writing and Drama to Share Your Personal Story, begins April 8
Inwood Library: Voz de la Guitarra, begins May 3
67th Street Library: Captured by Color, begins June 3
Parkchester Library: Sculpture 101, begins June 3
Spuyten Duyvil Library: Book Making, begins September 11

These Lifetime Arts programs are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Westchester Library System, AARP Foundation, American Library Association, New York State Council on the Arts, and the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation.

Aging Creatively at Mid-Manhattan Library: The Art of Making Poems - Creation and Craft

Jessica Cline, Mid-Manhattan Library, Art and Picture Collections — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:14:34 -0500

"She saw the moon, she saw the birds, she saw the little shoes, in summer, before swimming pools filled up — strong and empty and waiting"
~from The Shoes

Enter the world of teaching poet and published author Hermine Meinhard. From here, enter your subconscious, and write what you find. Ms. Meinhard will be there to help you along.

Mid-Manhattan Library is pleased to offer a free ten-week workshop with Hermine Meinhard, The Art of Making Poems: Creation and Craft, on Tuesdays, from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m., beginning February 12th.

The workshop will engage participants in a series of exercises that will connect them to their own process as writers and allow them to experiment with the elements of poetic craft. Participants will learn ways to access the intuitive mind, how to use a variety of materials, including objects, evocative language, and artwork, to enter into writing, and how to revise.

We will read and discuss the work of a variety of poets to introduce participants to the range and possibilities of poetry; and we will draw on the library’s Art and Picture Collections. Participants will read aloud and receive feedback about their poems. Each class will result in a draft of a poem.

The course will culminate in a poetry reading on May 7th, where family, friends and the public are invited to the reading and reception.

Registration is open to adults 55+, in person at Mid-Manhattan Library, 1st floor information desk, or by calling 212-340-0871. Space is limited to 12 participants who are expected to attend all sessions.

Creative Aging Continues to Bloom at The New York Public Library

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:05:26 -0400

In recent decades, much has been said about the demographic changes that New York City shares with the rest of the world. Yes, we are getting older!

One widespread response has been a surge of programs to promote creativity in mid- and later life. NYPL has happily participated in these efforts, especially since 2010 when we started partnering with Lifetime Arts Inc. to offer our first Creative Aging courses, which took place in six branch libraries. Each course was taught by a professional teaching artist and lasted a minimum of eight 90-minute classes so that the two goals of the project — mastery of the basics of the art, and social engagement of the participants — would be met.

In 2012, Lifetime Arts once again secured private funding and offered NYPL, as well as our sister library system the Brooklyn Public Library, the opportunity to host additional courses as part of Creative Aging in our Communities: The NYC Libraries Project. This allowed us to provide 15 courses, each now consisting of a minimum of eight two-hour classes, and each with a culminating event celebrating the accomplishments of the student artists who took part. Courses included: a continuation of the popular Roaring Chorus at the Richmondtown Library; A Village Vision: Watercolor Painting from Experience at the Jefferson Market Library; Exploring Your Life: A Class in Memoir Writing at Morris Park Library; Memoir and Performance at the Kingsbridge Library; Memoirs, Penned and Spoken at the St. George Library Center; and Drawing from Life Experience at the Mulberry Street Library.

How do we select which branches offer Creative Aging courses? As Lifetime Arts secures a limited amount of private funding for these courses, those branch libraries which would like to host a creative aging course are given the opportunity to apply in conjunction with a professional teaching artist. Lifetime Arts then convenes a panel of experts which selects the courses to be funded.

The success of all of these classes, and the enthusiastic response of library staff witnessing them, has spurred us on to again join with Lifetime Arts — this time with several library systems throughout New York State — to participate in Creative Aging in New York State Libraries in 2012-2013. This will enable us to offer about 18 Creative Aging courses in 2013. Branches hosting the classes will be announced in January 2013.

How can you find out where and when upcoming courses will be offered? Do any — or preferably all — of the below:

subscribe to the NYPL’s Next Chapter blog channel
if you’re on Facebook, “like” the Next Chapter at the New York Public Library Facebook page
look at the Creative Aging in Our Communities series on the NYPL webpage
check out NYPL’s Creative Aging webpage
regularly peruse the rich Lifetime Arts website

One way or another, stay tuned!

Alzheimer's Disease: Find Out How You Can Help, or Get Help, During World Alzheimer's Month

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:54:38 -0400

More than 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimers, a fatal disease without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. With the help of NYPL, Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter would like to raise awareness about this devastating disease. September, World Alzheimer's Month, is your chance to join the global fight against Alzheimer's disease. Visit alznyc.org/worldalzheimersmonth for more information and show your support by wearing purple with a purpose on Alzheimer's Action Day —September 21.

We've asked Jed Levine, Executive V.P. and Director of Programs & Services for the Alzheimer's Association's New York City Chapter, to write a guest blog post on this important topic.

"Helpline. How can I help you?"

When our Helpline staff completes a call, this is what they hear: "I'm so glad I called." "I wished I had called five years ago." "Stefanie, (or Maggie, or Ann, or Matt), you are so helpful and kind." "You are the only one who really took the time to listen." "I left a message and you called back. In five minutes!"

From the beginning, the New York City Chapter was committed to having a human and a humane response to every person who called. We knew that Alzheimer's didn't go to sleep at ten, or take the weekend off, so our goal was to ensure that family caregivers had our support 24/7. In the first decades of the Helpline, dedicated volunteers supported the staff and answered calls from home on nights and weekends. As the calls got more frequent and the callers became more sophisticated, the questions required increasing expertise. Today, our Helpline is staffed entirely by professionals, including Amy Torres, who recently joined us to provide expert guidance on residential and other long term care issues.

In 2004, when the National Alzheimer's Association expanded their Helpline, we partnered with them to ensure that professionals would answer the phone. Today, if you call after business hours, a staff member at the National Contact Center in Chicago answers the phone, provides immediate assistance, and sends the Chapters a report so we can follow up the next business day with information and support.

One principle has guided the Helpline for over 25 years; the power of the human connection. When a family member or a person with early stage dementia is in need of guidance, information, or is in emotional distress, one of the most powerful tools is being able to talk about it with a caring, knowledgeable professional. Our Helpline staff has intimate knowledge of necessary resources that support caregivers and persons with dementia; from where to order incontinence supplies, to the intricacies of the arcane and ever-changing Medicaid regulations. Our staff is familiar with every caregiving challenge, and has the time and expertise the think through creative solutions. One recent example was a caller who was having difficulty getting her father to eat. A simple suggestion to use sweetener on his food solved the problem, and now he is eating, enjoying it, and gaining much-needed weight.

We know our Helpline staff is resourceful, practical, smart and caring, but their greatest gift is knowing how to listen. Family caregivers and people with the disease need to talk. Talking helps clear the air, gives breathing space, helps release some of the tension and worry family caregivers carry with them all the time; whether they are aware of it or not. Talking heals a wounded heart. Talking allows people to take the next steps. It's very hard to develop a care plan, if you are filled with feelings of fear, sadness, anger and guilt. Talking and being heard helps everyone feel understood and not alone. Too often, friends and family members pull away. Family caregivers feel there is no one to talk to, no one who will understand. We will listen. We will understand.

In addition to our 24-hour Helpline, we sponsor over 120 support groups for caregivers and people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in the five boroughs offered at various times. All the support groups are free of charge, just like any of our programs and services. We love the wonders of modern day technology and social networking and we've made sure that Chapter staff has every state-of-the-art technological resource available, but in the end, nothing replaces the power of the human-to-human, voice-to-voice connection. That is the true value of our Helpline.

If you need our help, give us a call today. If you know someone who is struggling, give them this number; 800-272-3900. We are here to help 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Our help will make a difference.

Boost your Budget with Help from a Food Program!

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:21:25 -0400

The following post was written by guest blogger Vanna Valdez, Benefits Outreach Worker, NYC Hunger Free Communities Consortium.

The New York City Hunger Free Communities Consortium (NYCHFCC) is a collaboration of New York City’s leading anti-hunger, nutrition, and aging organizations (AARP Foundation, City Harvest, Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Food Bank for NYC, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, NYC Department for the Aging, Public Health Solutions, and United Way of New York City). This project works towards the creation of a hunger free New York City, with a particular focus on aiding the especially vulnerable populations of households with children, the working poor, and senior citizens.

Food Stamps

If you need help buying food, you are far from alone. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are reaching out for help in this tough economy. For them, the Food Stamp Program (also known as SNAP) is a simple dependable way to buy food in times like this.

Many New Yorkers are eligible for Food Stamps:

Those who are working. Many low-income working people think that because they work, they cannot be eligible, but many are.
Those 60 years of age or older: If you live in a household with people 60 years of age or older, you may be eligible even if you have a higher income.
Those who are unemployed. Food Stamps can help you get by between jobs.
People with disabilities: You may qualify for food Stamps even if you receive SSI/disability benefits.
Immigrants: Many immigrants who were not eligible before can now get Food Stamps. If you are an immigrant who is not eligible, you can still apply on behalf of your eligible children. Applying will not affect your immigration status.

Senior Programs

Congregate Meals
Senior Centers are open to all older adults aged 60 and over, and offer health and wellness, social, and educational programming along with at least one nutritious meal (usually lunch) during the week. There are over 200 senior centers in New York City. Call 311 for more information.

Meals on Wheels
If you are unable to get to a senior center, case management agencies provide access to home-delivered meals, home care attendants, benefits applications, chore services, and other in-home supportive services. Call 311 for more information.

Food Assistance Programs

If there are times that you don’t have enough food for yourself and your family, even if you are receiving other assistance, one of over 1,100 food pantries and soup kitchens in New York City may be able to help. Food pantries provide emergency food that can be prepared at home. Soup kitchens serve meals on-site. Most of these programs are operated by not-for-profit, community or faith based organizations.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

WIC (The Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and other social services to participatants at no charge. WIC Offers:

Food vouchers
Nutrition counseling
Breastfeeding counseling
Food preparation, and recipes
Physical fitness activities

WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. If you live in New York State, HFCC can help you determine your eligibility for the WIC program. Your household income must be within the federal income guidelines for the program but, if you already receive food stamps, Medicaid or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), you automatically qualify. You do not need to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to apply.

School Breakfast Program

For children, eating breakfast regularly can boost test scores, improve concentration, and enhance learning among other rewarding effects. When schools participate in school breakfast programs such as Breakfast in the Classroom or Grab and Go breakfast, students eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast regularly. Only 24% of New York City public school students currently participate in the school breakfast program. All students are eligible for a nutritious and delicious breakfast that is convenient and a bargain! Breakfast is free to all students. To learn how your child’s school can start a Breakfast in the Classroom Program, call 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) email info@nychungerfree.org. Representatives speaking the following languages are available: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole and Russian.

How Do I Apply?

If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for benefits or to find a senior center or food program near you, please call: 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) or email info@nychungerfree.org. If your organization is interested in participating in this project, please call Vanna Valdez at 212-825-0028 x232, Marie Vincent at x220, or Xuya Fang at x205. There will be opportunities to participate on various levels, including but not limited to: receiving outreach materials to distribute to your client population hosting representatives from project partners to perform on-site pre-screenings and/or application assistance having your own staff/volunteers trained to do benefits outreach & pre-screening.

Visit us at our website http://nychungerfree.org This project, in partnership with United Way of New York City, has been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The contents of this blog post do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Drawing From Life Experience: Lessons Learned

Sherri Liberman, Mulberry Branch — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:30:01 -0400

Mulberry Street Library was very excited to receive a grant from Lifetime Arts this year to participate in their Creative Aging program. Lifetime Arts is an organization devoted to enriching the lives of older New Yorkers through both the visual and the performing arts. We received our grant to offer Drawing From Life Experience, an 8-week drawing class for older New Yorkers. The students learned the principles of still life and live-model drawing, using a variey of papers and drawing materials. The culminating event on May 12, 2012 was held in our Community Room, where the students displayed one matted artwork they created in the class. The students spoke about their artwork to an audience of friends and family, and reveled in celebration afterwards.

Drawing From Life Experience was an opportunity to collaborate with teaching artist and Mulberry Street Library patron, Jerilyn Jurinek.

What was your progression from artist to teaching artist?

In the seventh grade, a teacher who did not know me, based on the results of testing, informed me that I should become a teacher.

"Teacher!" I snapped "I don't want to be a teacher! I'm going to be an artist!"

Well. I told her!

But artists spend so much time and energy explaining themselves to themselves and to others, that teaching is complementary to creative work. Art is a dialog between the artist, the art community, the public and the canon of art practice. Life experiences are great for creating empathy with those who want to learn. Becoming capable of teaching is a process of becoming verbal enough to communicate effectively. Also teaching different populations of students develops the breadth of ideas and language to speak to all ages, and experience levels.

What is your Philosophy of Art?

While I am a lover of much art, I need to be nourished long term, by an art that is more than an aesthetic, decorative or conceptual, as pleasurable or even as intellectual as they may be. The art that fulfills something deeply human is a sacred, historic, and even anthropological experience. I need the figurative tradition, with its architectural and compositional devices. I am an action painter, somewhat abstracted in my representation. Regarding my oil painting "Crossing the Delaware River," author Peter Neofotis said "Indeed, once the painting amazingly becomes three dimensional, one is able then to understand that the colorful shapes are indeed figures on a terrifying, yet hopeful journey across a deep cold river."

How do you inspire your students to see?

This is tricky, sneaky, not self apparent. It usually means putting them off balance to get beyond linear minded-frontal lobe-left brain driven thinking. All people respond differently. You have a chance to see anew when your crutches are removed, obscured, confused, delayed by interjecting some unfamiliar, complex or thought- provoking task, rather than using only hand/eye coordination or formulaic, rule-following,"how to" conscious mind logic. What a mouthful. Yikes!

How do you explain the intersection of Libraries, Art, and Communities?

The library is the center of any self-governing citizen's life, because to be a self-governing citizen, you must be involved with your education. The book shared is the language of the culture. Whether that was Greek and Latin in the 1700 to early 1900s, or the mixed brew of today's English/American w all its influences, what we do, say and see makes community. Last year at the Mulberry Street branch, I had an exhibition, and instead of having an opening, I asked to have a reading of the Letters of Abigail and John Adams on Valentine's Day. This year I'm teaching drawing here with a grant from Lifetime Arts. I now have a production company that has a play — The Correspondence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. We will perform at several branches this season. I use the computers here, borrow books for research, and movies for entertainment. I run into friends and neighbors. I experience community and dialog. All my forms of expression blend in my life at the library. I visit several times each week.

Learn about more upcoming Creative Aging classes at New York Public Library branches.

All photographs taken by Greg Holch, Mulberry Street Library volunteer.

Celebration of "Memoirs: Penned and Spoken"

Donald Laub — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:29:11 -0400

For eight weeks a group has gathered at the St. George Library for a class called, "Memoirs: Penned and Spoken." They have exercised their writing skills, reflecting back on their lives and experiences, with a willingness to share with their fellow students. At the Celebration event they will be reading some of their work, and reflect on their lives and times.

All are welcome to attend.

Memoirs: Penned and Spoken is part of Creative Aging in Our Communities: The New York Public Library Project, a program of Lifetime Arts, Inc, which is generously supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, with additional support from the Laura Jane Musser Fund.

Resources for Senior Care and Senior Activism

J. Soucé, AskNYPL — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:40:13 -0400

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disease. Actually it can be viewed as a group of disorders that results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior and affects approximately 4 million Americans and as many as 15 million through out the world. Medical care, education and a support strategy can make the difference and help family and loved ones cope.

Alzheimer's Disease. (2004). In The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health. Credo Reference.

The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research.
225 N. Michigan Avenue #1700
Chicago, IL 60601
1-800-272-335-5886

Gray Panthers Project Fund
1319 F Street NW, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20004
1-800-280-5362
In New York, 165 West 86th Street
1-212-799-7572
http://graypanthersnyc.org
Work for social and economic justice and peace for all people.

Administration on Aging
Washington, DC 20201
One Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aging: 1-202-401-4634
Public Inquiries: 1-202-619-0724
Eldercare Locator (to find local resources): 1-800-677-1116
aoainfo@aoa.hhs.gov
The mission of AoA is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community-based services that helps elderly individuals maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities

National Institute on Aging
Public Information Office Building 31, Rm: 5C27
31 Center Drive MSC
Bethesda, MD 20892-2292
1-800-222-2225
Federal Government Social & Human Services Resource.
Find legal resources, support services nationwide and information about reporting elder abuse and prevention.

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Formerly NCCNHR National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform)
The Consumer Voice
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 425
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-332-2275 (phone)
info@theconsumervoice.org

These resource centers supports the continous development and operation of federally mandated nationwide long-term care ombudsman programs. The Consumer Voice can connect you to state and local resources that might be able to help. Citizen advocacy groups, ombudsmen, state agencies and other resources are available through this website.

USA.Gov: Government Made Easy
Find government resources for seniors on money, housing, health, consumer protection, and more. The site's resources can be useful for seniors and caretakers.

Senior Net
One Kearny Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
1-800-747-6848
SeniorNet is a nonprofit educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded to teach and access computer technologies to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Subject:

Older people -- Care -- United States.
Aging parents -- Care -- United States.
Caregivers -- United States.

My Library: Judy, Leo, and Noreen

Corinne Neary, Jefferson Market Library — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:37:20 -0400

Since April 5th, the Jefferson Market Library has been hosting a series of watercolor classes for twenty adults, all aged 55+. This course, led by teaching artist Josh Millis, is funded by a grant from Lifetime Arts. The participants have been working on paintings inspired by Jefferson Market and other Village landmarks. This week, I spoke with students Leo, Judy, and Noreen, all regular patrons of Jefferson Market, to find out what they are enjoying about the class so far.

What made you want to take a watercolors class?

Noreen: To see if I had any aptitude for painting — the verdict is still out on that! But, I am learning something new at each session.

Judy: The chance to do something I've never attempted before.

Leo: Curiosity, and to learn more!

Have you painted before?

Leo: I did paint, off and on when I was a teenager. I've just been getting back into it and learning new things!

Noreen: I've done Chinese brush painting, which is a totally different technique, and pencil drawing, at which I was awful!

What have you enjoyed most about the class so far?

Noreen: Finding out how to mix colors and how difficult it is working in watercolor. Gives me a new appreciation for all the art I've seen.

Judy: Having the chance to experiment in a totally non-judgmental atmosphere!

Thank you Judy, Leo, and Noreen!

If you would like to see the wonderful artwork being produced by these and other watercolor students, please join us for a gallery opening and reception May 31st from 3:30-5:30 pm.

Creative Aging in Our Communities: The New York City Libraries Project, a program of Lifetime Arts Inc., is generously supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, with additional support from the Laura Jane Musser Fund, and is administered in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library.

A Snapshot of Your Life: Memoir Writing

Joanne Conte, Morris Park — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:53:40 -0400

Memoirs are the stuff of memory, or more specifically, according to Webster's Dictionary, a narrative composed from personal experience. In other words, a memoir is written from a person's recollection of a life experience. It might not all be exactly as it happened but, rather, how the author perceived it to happen. Do you remember the controversial “autobiography" A Million Little Pieces by James Frey? Mr. Frey presented it as an autobiography which is a factual account of a person's own life. It was later determined after lawsuits and an embarrassed Oprah Winfrey, who highlighted his work on her show, that in fact this book was a partly fictionalized memoir. In fact, memoirs are all about the writer's perceptions, emotions and feelings about events, some of which might never have happened exactly in the way that they are chronicled.

Since March 7th about fifteen of the Morris Park Branch Library's adult patrons have been chronicling their life experiences through the auspices of Lifetime Arts. Each week, our participants gather to remember, reflect and write. The series which culminates on April 25th is taught by Frank Ingrasciotta, writer and playwright, author of Blood Type: Ragu and In Search of Roots and Branches. Although this series is already in progress, adults 55+ may enjoy one of the New York Public Library's other Creative Aging courses which are listed on our website and in the Creative Aging brochure available in most branches of the New York Public Library.

In addition, The New York Public Library features many wonderful published memoirs. Here are a few suggestions:

Twisted Head: An Italian American Memoir by Carl Capotorto – a reflection of his life growing up in the Bronx of the 1970s.
Day of Honey: A Memoir of Food, Love and War by Annia Ciezadlo – From Baghdad to Beirut Annia, a new bride, learns that food and friendship bind us together even in times of war.
The Tulip and the Pope by Deborah Larsen is a memoir of leaving life behind for the sheltered walls of the convent. This memoir is set in the 1960s when the author makes the decision to become a nun. At first she loves her new life, but at some point she realizes that she misses the tulips of her childhood and everything else she has left behind.
The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez is a memoir which recounts this straight-A high school senior's plan to fake a pregnancy in order to see if people's opinions of her would change. (Read more about Gaby's appearance at TeenLIVE)
Model by Cheryl Diamond - What would you do to become a model? Cheryl asks herself this very question in this riviting memoir about her quest to be a top model. At age 14, the author left her home, came to New York and lived in a run-down apartment chasing this dream.
Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers - this book gives us a picture of what it was like to grow up in Harlem during the 1940s and 1950s. Walter was an avid reader who hoped to one day write his own books. Read about the class struggles and obstacles that this respected young adult author endured to realize his dream.
Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir by Mary Higgins Clark recounts this famous mystery writers early life growing up in the Bronx. Drawing from her Irish heritage she began to write stories at an early age and never abandoned her dream of becoming a writer.
Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert is the interesting life ruminations by the child star of Little House on the Prairie. Apprently, Melissa and her co-star Melissa Sue Anderson did not carry the loving relationship they portrayed onscreen to the offscreen hours.
The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House by Melissa Anderson - Counterbalance your reading with Melissa Sue's side of the Little House years.
A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King - This book, just published, is an intimate look at the life of legendary singer and songwriter, Carole King who is soon to turn seventy years old.

All of these examples of the memoir genre can be obtained with a valid library card, and if you are interested in a memoir class and you've missed the current program, you might think about joining the Digital Memoirs class which starts on June 5 here at the Morris Park Branch. For further information, contact Mrs. Grace Tellez Cardona at 718-931-0636.

In addition, Lifetime Arts sponsors many other free classes for adults 55+ in other disciplines such as music, art and photography. To view a catalog of programs visit our website at www.nypl.org or the Lifetime Arts website at www.lifetimearts.org.

Effective Employment Strategies for Those 50 Plus

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:34:20 -0400

Coming of Age NYC and the New York Public Library are happy to announce the event:

Effective Employment Strategies for Those 50+

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 4-6 p.m.

A panel of experts will share essential information for job seekers such as:

Today’s Digital Job Search: Online Postings, Applications, and Social Networking Strategies
Crafting a Winning Resume
The Interview: How to Handle the Really Tough Questions
Key Tools and Resources: NYPL’s Job Search Central and Other Supports Everyone Should Know About

Featuring:

Renee Lee Rosenberg, career transition expert and author of “Achieving the Good Life After 50.” Renée Lee Rosenberg, MA, LMHC, Certified Five O’Clock Club Career Coach, Author, Speaker, Trainer, Facilitator, with over 20 years’ experience helping individuals: achieve positive career outcomes; cope with workplace stress; handle retirement issues. Her eclectic, results-driven creative approach assists individuals on all levels. Renée’s media appearances include: MSNBC, ABC Eyewitness News, and NY1. Interviews have appeared in: LA Times, Health and Wellness Magazine, AM NY,Washington Times, Chicago Times, NY Post, US News and World Report, Forbes.com, and Fox.com. Published articles include: “Achieving Success with Positive Thinking”, “Personality and Career Development", “The Emotional Roller Coaster of Retirement and Care Giving." Renée facilitates two career groups, maintains a private practice in NYC, and has a virtual phone practice. Her book Achieving The Good Life After 50: Tools and Resources for Making it Happen has helped many to navigate the retirement roller coaster.

Madeleine Cohen, Assistant Director of the NYPL’s Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL). Madeleine Cohen has an MLS from Queens College, CUNY, and an M.A. in Liberal Studies from the CUNY Graduate Center. She has worked for The New York Public Library for more than 20 years, in a variety of positions, including head of processing, head of information services, and her current position as assistant director of the Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL). As assistant director, she helps manage a variety of business services, programs, electronic resources, and technology. The business library has developed services focused in several areas including Job Search Central, Small Business Services, and Financial Literacy Central. Madeleine also works with small business groups, speaks at library and business events, and instructs in SIBL’s training programs.

Win Sheffield, career coach in private practice in New York. Win Sheffield offers strategies and guidance to support his clients to take their work to the next level or establish new careers. He coaches clients in delivering their message, runs workshops and delivers talks to many industry and alumni groups. His background includes Citibank, J.P. Morgan and PricewaterhouseCoopers in strategy development and management consulting. He has an M.B.A. from Boston University and an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College,. He has studied counseling at General Seminary and Myers-Briggs at the Jung Institute. For further information and to speak with Win, please e-mail: WinSheffield@WinSheffield.com Please see details of upcoming talks at www.WinSheffield.com

This is a joint program of Coming of Age NYC and the New York Public Library.

There is no prior registration for this event, and there is no charge. But do come early as seating is limited!

Location:

New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building – South Court Auditorium

50+ Fitness Fairs: Free and Low-cost Activities to Get (or Keep!) You Fit

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:01:57 -0400

It’s official: Spring is here! As I peer into its etymology, I see the English word "spring" comes from the Old English "springan," which means “to leap, burst forth, fly up.” I have indeed been seeing New Yorkers bursting forth from their abodes in short sleeves and sandals, ready to enjoy the (even) warmer weather. Maybe the leaping and flying up will come later.

Three of NYPL’s branches will be hosting 50+ Fitness Fairs to share spaces and ways for New Yorkers to not only leap, but walk, hike, canoe, swim, lift weights, kayak, exercise, and enjoy nature right here in the Big Apple. St. Agnes Library will kick off the fun on Wednesday, April 11, followed by Mosholu Library in the Bronx on Saturday, April 14, and 96th Street Library on Saturday, April 28.

What’s happening at the fairs? A lot of organizations will be coming with — or sending — information, including maps and schedules of upcoming activities.

Find out what’s happening at:

There will be exercise demonstrations/workshops, giveaways, free raffles, inspirational presentations, and FUN!

See you there!

Winter Storms Can Be Hazardous to Your Federal Benefit Check!

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:58:37 -0500

I'd like to share an important message on behalf of Go Direct®, a campaign of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank from guest blogger Michelle Kloempken, campaign manager for Go Direct®.

With electronic payments, you can count on your money despite severe weather.

If you get federal benefit payments by paper checks, you should know that you are required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment method. By getting your money electronically, you will help save taxpayers millions of dollars each year. You must make the switch by March 1, 2013, but you don’t have to wait for the deadline. The winter months are the perfect time to switch and take advantage of the reliability and ease of electronic payments.

Ice, snow, and subzero temperatures can leave you trapped in your home and temporarily interrupt important services like mail delivery. If you rely on paper checks for your federal benefit payments, a winter storm can leave you without access to your money at a time when you need it most.

With electronic payments, your money won’t be slowed down by winter weather and you won’t need to leave your home to cash or deposit a check. To switch to direct deposit or the Direct Express® card, contact your federal benefit agency office, visit the Treasury Department’s Go Direct® campaign website, or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795. For direct deposit to a checking or savings account, you can also make the switch at your local bank or credit union.

Also, see this blog post on the topic from Rosie Rios, Treasurer of the United States.

LiveStories: A Writing Workshop for Older Adults

Ronni Krasnow, St. Agnes Library — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:18:18 -0500

In connection with the organization Lifetime Arts, NYPL will once again be holding some fabulous workshops specifically geared toward older adults. At St. Agnes Library, we will host a writing workshop called LiveStories: Using Writing And Drama to Share Your Personal Story. The workshop will be led by professional teaching artists Lauren Jost and Annie Montgomery, with whom I worked on a similar program last year at NYPL's Grand Central Library.

This year, the workshop has been expanded to 11 sessions, which will be held on consecutive Mondays beginning January 23, 2012. Over the course of the workshop, participants will learn to craft and edit stories borne of their personal experiences, and will also be instructed in dramatic techniques that can be used in sharing the stories with an audience. All supplies will be provided, and the workshop is completely free for all participants.

If you are interested in learning more about LiveStories, read the blog post I wrote about last year's experience. You can also watch a short video clip on the Lifetime Arts website from last year's presentation, as well as reflections from the participants.

Participants must be over 55 and willing to commit to attending all workshop sessions. Please call St. Agnes Library at (212) 621-0619 to register or to learn more about the workshop.

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your story!

Are You Experiencing "Care-grieving"?

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:29:16 -0500

To commemorate National Family Caregivers Month, I asked bioethicist, educator and author Viki Kind to submit a blog post. She chose an excerpt on the topic of "care-grieving" from her book, The Caregiver's Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can't. Also see Viki's website, Kind Ethics.

–Brigid Cahalan

Are You Experiencing "Care-grieving"?

by Viki Kind, M.A.

Does it feel like the caregiving never ends? Do you feel guilty because there just isn't enough time? Do you feel like you are drowning?

For caregivers, there is barely enough time to do all that needs to be done and at the end of the day, you are too exhausted to take care of yourself. I was the caregiver for four family members for many, many years. Sometimes I could manage just fine. But at other times I felt overwhelmed and unappreciated. Even when I knew what to do, I was still exhausted and worried all the time. All I wanted to do was to crawl into bed and just sleep. Even though I wanted to take care of the seniors in my life, sometimes it all became too much.

One of the reasons for this exhaustion is something that I call "care-grieving"—the grief that comes with caring for and caring about another person. Not only is caregiving overwhelming, frustrating and emotionally draining, it is also associated with profound grief.

So, why might you be care-grieving?

You may be care-grieving because your loved one isn't the person he or she used to be. You used to look to this person to support and nurture you, and now that aspect of your relationship is gone. Or maybe this was the love of your life and now you cry yourself to sleep at night because he or she is living at a care facility. And sometimes, your loved one may still be physically present, but the person you knew is no longer with you.

Your grief may be over the dramatic changes in your life. Maybe you had to quit work or your health is deteriorating. You may be responsible for your loved one's bills and the financial burden is growing. Or you may realize that you aren't being as good of a parent to your own kids as you used to be. For most caregivers, every free moment is spent worrying about the person in your care and your life is no longer your own. And the worst thing is, you feel guilty when you say, "I want my life back" or "I wish this would all be over."

Grieving the future.

You may also be care-grieving because you realize that your loved one is going to die, possibly soon. This is called anticipatory grief because we anticipate the loss and begin grieving before that loss is a reality. Sometimes this loss comes along slowly and sometimes it rushes toward us. Either way, it is painful and difficult. Unfortunately, oftentimes nobody will talk to you about this. People will tell you to stop worrying or to put on a happy face. But this grief is real and normal. Each day, as you witness the changes in your loved one's physical and mental abilities, your grief grows.

You may also be experiencing grief over your own mortality. Maybe you just realized that when your parents die, it will be your turn next. I hated it when someone said to me, "Now that both of your parents are gone, you're an orphan." It wasn't something I wanted to hear said out loud. It reminded me of how much I had lost and that I was of the next generation in line to die.

All of these changes create a sense of loss. For many of us, the pain can be so intense that we try to deny it and run from it. But no matter what we do, grief will chase us. Whether we acknowledge our emotional suffering or not, it is draining and damaging. Care-grieving can become so overwhelming that it creates in us a desperation and need to runaway in order to survive. It doesn't mean you're a bad person if you feel angry or sad. You are normal and your grief is normal.

How to get the help you need.

Ultimately, you can't get around grief. You have to get through it. You have to experience it and allow the emotions to be felt and heard. You need to talk about it with people who can help you. This may be your family, but often we have to look to others for this support, as our family members may be grieving too. Please reach out for support from your friends, your extended family, illness-specific organizations and your faith community. You can also get help from local caregiver support groups, online forums, chat rooms and from anyone else who may be willing to listen. If it is getting to be too much, seek professional help. Care-grieving is normal, but ongoing suffering is not. Please reach out to get the help you need.

About Viki Kind, MA:

Viki Kind is a clinical bioethicist, medical educator and hospice volunteer. Her award winning book, The Caregiver's Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can't, guides families and healthcare professionals through the difficult process of making decisions for those who have lost capacity. Patients, families and healthcare professionals have come to rely on Viki's practical approach to dealing with challenging healthcare dilemmas. She has also been the caregiver for four members of her family.

Viki Kind also provided the following links to resources for caregivers—and care-grievers:

Dublin Welcomes the World: The First International Conference on Age-Friendly Cities

Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:44:23 -0400

You have no doubt heard that the world is getting older. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that by 2025, nearly 60 percent of the U.S. population will be 55 or older. And the age wave spans the globe.

But, do you know about the Age-Friendly Cities initiative? Conceived in Brazil in 2005 at the World Congress of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the idea — with the goal of "addressing the environmental and social factors that contribute to active and healthy ageing in societies" — quickly sprouted and grew. The concept became concrete in 2007 when the World Health Organization (WHO) published Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide after analyzing input from older people around the world to identify features of age-friendly cities. Worldwide interest led to formation of the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities in 2010, which almost 500 cities and communities in 14 countries had joined by September 2011.

Which brings us to: the First International Conference on Age-Friendly Cities, held in Dublin, Ireland, from September 28 through 30, 2011. The lead organizers of the conference were WHO, the International Federation on Ageing, and Ireland's Ageing Well Network, the last of which took up the gauntlet by hosting the conference in its capital city. The work of key individuals in these three organizations, along with an international advisory board, resulted in an atmosphere that was seriously productive while surprisingly light-hearted and stress-free. The conference aimed to advance thinking and action on the topic throughout the world, and to strengthen WHO's Global Network.

Ireland has a right to be proud: each of the Republic of Ireland's 26 counties is part of the network, and nine have become age-friendly counties. And New York City has reason to be proud as well: it was the first member of the global network of age-friendly cities. Upon accepting their certificate in New York City in 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared that, "An age-friendly city is a city for all ages." Ambassador James Joseph, who had served as the U.S. representative in a young South Africa, gave the first of the keynote speeches and presented a vision of older adults as the natural leaders of the world. Drawing upon memories of the older leaders who had mentored him while participating in civil rights activities in Alabama, Ambassador Joseph masterfully outlined the assets that can only be gained over the years one lives — emotional intelligence, social intelligence, moral intelligence, and spiritual intelligence.

On the first evening of the conference, September 28, history was made when the Dublin Declaration was signed by mayors and other representatives of cities and communities throughout the world — including New York City's Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs — in Dublin's City Hall. By signing, they pledged their commitment to participate in the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities. The magnificent setting, a stirring speech by Dublin's Lord Mayor Andrew Montague, the stately necklaces worn by the Irish dignitaries, the bagpipers, macebearers, and trumpeters all lent a regally festive air to the event.

Throughout the three days, plenary sessions and workshops provided attendees with access to leaders in the fields of urban studies, city planning, gerontology, sociology, social work, transportation, sustainability, psychology, anthropology, and public health.

The Global Village — pavilions showcasing initiatives happening throughout the world — were set up in a nearby hall. Several time slots were set aside for delegates to visit the Village to view the impressive work being done and to hear from those intimately involved. New York City's pavilion was a masterpiece of simplicity, featuring five jumbo-sized photographs of older New Yorkers with quotes elicited from them during the information-gathering of the pilot stage of NYC's Age-Friendly efforts. A binder with all relating products and publicity, including the list of 10 Ways to Make Your Library Age-Friendly, was available for perusal, and attractive postcards pointed to the age-friendly NYC website. Acknowledging the role of creativity in healthy aging, postcards featuring the Creative Aging art courses offered in 2010 (and to be again offered in 2012) in public libraries were handed out. These were arranged through the efforts of the New York-based organization, Lifetime Arts. Videos of NYC's first two Aging Improvement Districts, East Harlem and the Upper West Side, were shown continuously at the pavilion as well — and garnered great attention, especially when the background salsa music wafted through the room!

I think I speak for all of us who attended the conference from New York City when I say we were happy to share what has been accomplished here, stimulated by what is happening elsewhere, and filled to the brim with information and ideas for future directions.