Pg 5 - Fair Housing for Seniors n Pg. 12 & 13 - Game Pages Pg. 19 - Normandy 2019 n Pg. 21 - Senior Volunteer Fair PAGE PAGE PAGE 08 16 18 SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 n WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE 04 Cooking for One 08 Senior Perspectives Recipes 11 Ask the Provider: 16 Family Fun in Grand Rapids 20 Keith’s World: by Jackie O’Connor Cathay Thibdaue Let’s Get Physical Trailside Restaurant 17 Personal Thoughts of Caregivers & Staci Gerken by Thomas Foster, MD by Keith Sipe 05 Fair Housing Matters for Seniors by Jim Powers, LMSW by Liz Keegan 09 Going Back to School 12 Game Page 21 National Assisted Living 18 He Got the Music Genes this Fall Week 06 Older Adults as Caregivers by Anne Ellermets 14 Understanding Options to by Jackie Lindrup by Kendrick Heinlein Maintain Independence 22 A Caregiver’s Perspective 10 Authors of West Michigan 19 Normandy 2019 by Stephanie Hecksel by Rolina Vermeer 07 MMAP Open Enrollment by Tricia McDonald by Louise Matz by Bob Callery 15 Something to Think About 23 Making Your Voice Heard by Jerry Mattson by Tom Appel EDITOR & PUBLISHER WRITERS MEMBER OF Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Gil Boersma Information & Assistance Anne Ellermets Michelle Fields (616) 456-5664 or (888) 456-5664 Staci Gerken Stephanie Hecksel [email protected] | (fax) (616) 456-5692 Kendrick Heinlein website: www.aaawm.org Michelle Jackson MEMBER OF Mission: Michelle Fields Jackie Lindrup Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan’s 231-733-3523 Jerry Mattson mission is to provide older persons and persons [email protected] Louise Matz with a disability an array of services designed [email protected] Tricia McDonald Jackie O’Connor to promote independence and dignity in their Jim Powers homes and their communities. Kendra Schumaker Keith Sipe To advertise in an upcoming Cathay Thibdaue GRAPHIC DESIGN Vonda VanTil Senior Perspectives publications, Jay Newmarch Rolina Vermeer contact: CRE8 Design, LLC Sara Vlas Michelle Fields 269-345-8845 [email protected] Editor of the Senior Perspectives (231) 733-3523 COPY EDITOR [email protected] Bonnie Borgeson No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise COVER PHOTO reproduced without written permission from the publisher. CourtesyON THE Fredrik COVER: Meijer Gardens Glenn Rutgers softglowdigital.com Did you know that Senior Perspectives has a Facebook page? [email protected] Like us! www.facebook.com/SeniorPerspectives SENIOR PERSPECTIVES - KENT COUNTY 2 SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 Jackie O’Connor, Executive Director AREA AGENCY ON AGING OF WESTERN MICHIGAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Bill Routley ............................................................................. Chair Marilyn Burns ...............................................................Vice Chair Carol Hennessy .............................................................. Treasurer Richard Karns ..................................................................Secretary Cynthia LaBelle ...............................................Member-at-Large Robert Sundholm ...............................Advisory Council Chair REPRESENTATION Richard Cain .........................................Allegan Elected Offi cial Stuart Peet ......................................................Allegan Consumer Larry Tiejema .............................................Ionia Elected Offi cial Dennis Sitzer ...................................................... Ionia Consumer Carol Hennessy .........................................Kent Elected Offi cial Nancy Nielsen ....................................................Kent Consumer Betty Dermyer............................................Lake Elected Offi cial Marilyn Burns .....................................................Lake Consumer Ron Bacon ...............................................Mason Elected Offi cial Peggy Dittmer ................................................Mason Consumer Bill Routley .......................................... Mecosta Elected Offi cial Sharon Bongard ...........................................Mecosta Consumer Betty Kellenberger ..........................Montcalm Elected Offi cial Linda Weger ............................................. Montcalm Consumer Kenneth DeLaat............................... Newaygo Elected Offi cial Cindy LaBelle ............................................Newaygo Consumer Larry Emig ............................................Osceola Elected Offi cial Richard Karns ...............................................Osceola Consumer OPEN ......................................... Grand Rapids Elected Offi cial Page # where you found Jane DeVries....................................... Grand Rapids Consumer Sponsored by the caramel apple AAAWM ADVISORY COUNCIL Thomas Peelle .....................................................Allegan County Name _________________________________ Natalie Van Houten ...........................................Allegan County Norma Kilpatrick ....................................................Ionia County Address _______________________________ Kenneth Thompson................................................Ionia County I Spy City ___________________________________ F. Rob Deane MD .................................................... Kent County Harold Mast ............................................................. Kent County State _______________ Zip _______________ Stephen Wooden .................................................... Kent County It’s easy! Keith Vandercook ................................... City of Grand Rapids Simply fi nd the Phone _____________________ Nellie Blue .................................................................Lake County OPEN ......................................................................... Lake County caramel apple in this Robert Sundholm .................................................Mason County edition. List where you Mary Bechaz .......................................................Mecosta County spotted it, clip and return this Jerrilynn Strong .................................................Mecosta County Tim Reno .........................................................Montcalm County form for the chance to win Ben Witbrodt ..................................................Montcalm County a $20.00 gift card to Meijer! Adele Hansen .................................................Newaygo County Elsie Plank ........................................................Newaygo County Helen Taube ....................................................Newaygo County Return to: Senior Perspectives, I Spy, 560 Seminole Rd., Muskegon, MI 49444 Barbara Hazlett ...................................................Osceola County Mary Lou Proefrock ..........................................Osceola County Priscilla Kimboko Ph.D. .........Grand Valley State University LAST WINNER: DARLENE CHRISTY OF LOWELL Martha Burkett .......................Kent County Veterans Services The beach chair was found on page 21 in the beaches of West Michigan story. SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 3 SENIOR PERSPECTIVES - KENT COUNTY Cooking for One Can Be . Frustrating, Challenging, Monotonous I’m an empty nester and Mediterranean Chicken on Orzo and Snap though I have always Peas, Calabrian Shrimp with Zucchini and prided myself in making Rice, and Harissa Meatballs with Green good nutritious meals for Beans. the family, now I often The cost of the meals is about $12 each. That am making dinner for cost is much less than going to a restaurant one. I see great recipes for a sit-down meal. With two servings of in magazines and online each meal, I can eat one for dinner and take BY but they usually make one to work for lunch the next day. The in- JACKIE four or more servings. O’CONNOR gredients are good for about fi ve days in case I can freeze the extras, you don’t want to cook two days in a row. but then I seem to eat the same thing for several days. My other conundrum is the magazine recipe that calls for one teaspoon of a spice or special oil I don’t have in my pantry. I could go out and buy that product, but then it’ll sit in the pantry forever. So I decided to try one of the “Meal Kits” and rice or bread item. The box is completely delivered to your home. I select the type of recyclable and contains one to two ice packs meal I want from 30 different recipes. Each depending on the time of year. week two servings of two different types of meals are delivered to my front porch. The When I open the box, the fresh food inside is box includes all the ingredients for that meal always well-chilled. The meat is high quality including a main protein entrée, a vegetable, and the seasonings are measured out and and a starch such as potatoes, pasta, orzo, packaged for the recipe provided. Colorful recipe cards include step-by-step instruc- tions, and steps are written in order so that everything is fi nished cooking at the same time. You may have to do some washing and With most meal kits, you can skip a week chopping of the vegetables included, but the whenever you want or change the delivery only things you need to add to the cooking date because you are out of town. I really like process from your own kitchen are salt, pep- the variety, new recipes, and convenience. per, and olive oil. Some of the companies that provide meal kits are Blue Apron, Green Chef, Hello Fresh, The recipe cards tell you how long it should Home Chef, and Sun Basket. I understand take to make the meal and they have been that Amazon might be getting into the busi-