Our senior issue 2023

Wrinkles aside, we seniors aren’t much different from the rest

Donna Mullins is a retired social worker for the state of Michigan who lives in East Lansing. She volunteers for the Lansing chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Over one-sixth of our country is made up of people over 65. I’m a member of that group. And I am one of the lucky ones. I have a pension, social security and retirement investments that give me an income that matches my working income.
Victor Lyons, 61, of Lansing, in the tent encampment he calls home.

Lansing is part of a national crisis of homeless seniors

Nearly two years ago, Victor Lyons was working as a roofer. During a job, he stepped on a nail. The wound became infected, and Lyons landed in the hospital. The infection took the 61-year-old man’s left leg, and he found himself struggling to learn how to walk again.
Prime Time Seniors Program participants learn to play ukulele.

Seniors socialize, find balance through East Lansing’s Prime Time

Older people in my family have a simple, uplifting mantra when it comes to aging: never get old. My grandmother quipped this for nearly 40 years before passing at age 92. And now my parents quote our ancestral adage, even though their retirement activities so far have included earning a doctorate degree and hiking the Appalachian trail, respectively.
“Older adults are at a higher risk for adverse cannabis reactions,” said Dr. Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and co-author of the study. “This is likely due to a combination of greater sensitivity and being unfamiliar with newer forms of the drug

Practice caution when using cannabis

According to research, the Baby Boomer generation has been rolling its own fair share of joints over the last few years. In the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1.4% of adults over the age of 65 reported using marijuana during the past year. In the 2021 survey, that number increased to a little over 7%.
Read the senior issue

The rise and fall of Kewpee Hamburgers

Courtesy of Gary Flinn
Author Gary Flinn’s new book, “Kewpee Hamburgers: A Mity Nice History,” tells the full story of one of the nation’s oldest hamburger chains, which still has a handful of locations throughout the Midwest.

Autumn Weston is the fourth-generation owner of Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shoppe, which opened in downtown Lansing in 1924. She recognizes this as an important milestone for both her family and the city as a whole.

Theater life provides enrichment for seniors

Starlight Dinner Theatre performs shows that cater to older audiences, such as its production of “Calendar Girls” in 2018. They tend to be classics with little cursing or sex, in comparison to the more cutting-edge, in-your-face works other theaters produce.

Bob Robinson has been active in the Greater Lansing theater community since the “early ‘80s.” He was a co-founder of Grand Ledge’s now-defunct Spotlight Theatre  alongside the late Len Kluge, who was also a theater reviewer for City Pulse. But at 75, Robinson’s life has changed dramatically.

Other news about seniors
Join the 'Five for Five' campaign this Gynecologic Awareness Month
(BPT) - Sponsored by GSKEvery five minutes, someone's life changes with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis[i],[ii]. This Gynecologic and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, GSK is encouraging spending five …
Experts offer tips that focus on the joy of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's
(BPT) - When you have a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, it's normal to worry about their well-being. However, adults with these conditions can continue living positive, fulfilling lives, …
How to protect your hearing from loss at any age
(BPT) - Taking care of your health is more important as you age, but one aspect of your well-being that's often neglected is hearing health. For many, hearing loss is ignored until its effects …
Jump on the Travel Trend Bandwagon: Make Memories, Not Debt, On Your Next Trip
(BPT) - From international bucket list trips to road trips to vacations with multi-generations to solo travel, there are so many travel trends worth exploring. If you’re eager to plan a trip …
Building a team of experts can help you save time and money
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Wellness facts about Epsom salt beyond the soaking tub

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5 ways to prepare for out-of-pocket health and wellness costs

(BPT) - According to McKinsey & Co., 82% of U.S. consumers consider wellness a top priority, with more than half saying they prioritize it more than they did a year ago.[i] However, rising …

Sharing First-Hand Accounts of Military Service

(Family Features) More than a century after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I, stories told by American veterans who served during this pivotal time offer fascinating insights into this period.

How to make home modifications for independence

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Top tips for worry-free travel any time of year

(BPT) - Travel is always in season, but don’t let the excitement of planning your next trip cause you to skip necessary safety precautions before you go away. Staying informed about where …

Stay Ahead of Medicare Fraudsters

(Family Features) Every day, criminals target older Americans with one goal - to steal their Medicare numbers and other protected health information.

Data shows nursing home inspection backlog is improving very slowly. Here's how it looks in your state.

Nursing Homes analyzed nursing home inspection data from the CMS to provide an update on the post-COVID-19 challenges to oversight.

5 Evolving Trends on End-of-Life Matters

(Family Features) One of the most difficult conversations many people have in their lives involves the end of life. While often uncomfortable to think about or discuss with others, talking about and sharing end-of-life wishes should be a common occurrence.

5 simple steps to transform your bathroom into a summer spa-like sanctuary

(BPT) - When faced with long, activity-filled summer days, do you find yourself retreating to the bathroom to get some peace and breathing room away from the kids, roommates and the stress of daily …

5 Things You Need to Know About Fatty Liver Disease

(BPT) - For nearly 25% of Americans living with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a more serious condition is silently progressing. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, is a dangerous form of …

Unlock better sleep: Treatments to overcome sleep apnea

(BPT) - Do you snore? You may be tempted to dismiss it as an annoying but nonserious condition. You may even have a family history of snoring or think of it as an unavoidable side effect of aging. …
Finding hope after tragedy through virtual reality: Emily’s story
(BPT) - In June 2023, an electrical house fire in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, set Emily Dorsheimer, 53, on a difficult health journey. She suffered severe burns to her leg, face and hands in the fire. …
How to say buh-bye to 'Ozempic face'
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Focus on autoimmune disease: One woman’s journey with Graves’ and thyroid eye disease
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From Exhaustion to Empowerment: Hannah Corbin's Health Journey
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Helping heroes RISE: Wounded vets get accessible smart homes
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Times have changed: How to reclaim your power over perimenopause
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10 ways to keep eyes comfortable during digital device use

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How a coalition of organizations is helping to Face the Fight

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2 in 5 U.S. Adults Over 50 Report Feeling Lonely: How Adult Children Can Help Their Parents Live Independently and Feel Less Isolated

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7 ways to make your parents' home (or yours) safer for aging in place

(BPT) - Aging in place, the ability to live at home safely as we age, is crucial for many of us. The Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan recently found 88% of …

5 of the most effective supplements to support longevity and healthy aging

(BPT) - Longevity is one of the buzziest trends in wellness today, with a multitude of treatments and influential biohacking gurus promising to combat aging, extend lifespan, and improve the quality …

Can you recognize the 4 Ps of a scam?

(BPT) - Have you ever received a call or message from someone claiming to be from a governmental agency like the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security, or even claiming to be your grandchild? …

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