Category Archives for People

Entering One’s 60s Marks a New Beginning  

Published in Pawtucket Times on October 13, 2003

During the turbulent 1960s, young protestors would say “Never trust anyone 30 years old.

Forty years later, the younger generation sees the benefits of successfully making it to age 30.

Last week, an article in a local newspaper even told readers – the twenty something crowd now celebrates their entry into their 30s. This life stage decade has now become a major milestone in growing older.

Aging baby boomers realize   they care entering their senior years when they receive AARP’s invitation to become a member. This little notification announces your chronological age is quickly tilting  toward your later years. Some would joke your senior years.

What about moving into your 60s. You’re still at the peak of your professional career, but five years shy of age 65, society’s milestone for moving into the rank and file of the retired.

Dr. Justin Aurbach, a Dallas-based endodontist, who also happens to be my brother-in-law, recently turned age 60. He told All About Seniors some of his thoughts about becoming a 60-year-old.’

While some become frail or face debilitating chronic conditions as they enter their early 60s, my aging brother-in-law is still in relatively good shape. He acknowledged that he can’t run a four-minute mile, but he never could at any age. But the 60-year-old plays a little golf, walks, jobs, and does a little light weightlifting. He’s a believer in vitamins and takes “lots of them.”

“Professionally, I believe I am on the top of my game and still improving. Not only am I technically better, but my years of life experience have made me wiser in respect to knowing what can and can not be done in my life,” Justin said.

Researchers have found that being plugged into a network of family and friends is a key ingredient to successful aging. Justin told me he has been very lucky to have numerous friends who have part of his extended family.

“They are the kind of friends who will go to bat for you when the chips are down.”

Family support is very important to Justin, who recognizes their positive support to him throughout the years.

“My wife has always been supportive of me both in my professional endeavors and personal goals,” he said, bragging about his three children and two granddaughters, he said.

Looking back over the years, Justin relives the ups and downs of his life. “There have been times of sadness, during my 60 years,”

he said, like the loss of his mother, common parental problems that he experienced while raising his children and failure to quickly achieve some of his professional goals. Looking at the glass half-full rather than half empty, he added. That’s just a small price to pay for all the wonderful things living brings to you.”

As Justin  looks into the next decade, he said he wonders if there is enough time to accomplish all of his personal and professional goals.

“I certainly keep forging ahead at a break neck race,” he said, noting new goals will always replace those that have been accomplished.

“Some of the accomplishments in science and technology, like the breaking of the sound barrier, the development of computers and nuclear energy, advances  made in medical technology leading to the advent of non-invasive texts, the near elimination of many dreaded diseases and a greater understanding of genetics and molecular biology have resulted in significant human lifespan,” Jusin said.

Justin noted being age 60 becomes even more wonderful when you look back on what you have accomplished.

But in your 60s, “It’s a time of excitement, fun and learning,” he said, urging others to never stop learning and gaining more knowledge.

At age 60, Justin firmly believes his life is just beginning for him.

He urged those turning this age to look at the vent with joy because you are coming into the “best part of your life.”

“Age is more than a matter of your chronological age, it is a combination of your attitude and mental state you have about your life,” he said.

For this writer, aging has always been like a bottle of wine, as you age you get better just like the wine.

For those turning age 60, exercise and eating a healthy diet, developing a strong support network, and continuing to learn and seek out knowledge is important. Now is the time to  take some time to reflect upon the ups and downs of your life and use the knowledge and wisdom gained to make better choices into your later years, the 70s and beyond.

Most important, share your newly gained insights with your children, grandchildren, and younger colleagues. Give them the gift of your hard-earned insights.

Justin said turning age 60 is like a new beginning for him.

“I feel like a newborn who is just beginning his trek into the wonderful world we live in,” he said.

Hopefully, all those entering their sixth decade will have that positive attitude about aging, too.

Mable Anderson was a True Advocate for Rhode Island’s Senior Population

Published in the Pawtucket Times on May 5, 2003

During her 7 years, Mabel Anderson wore many hats – teacher, dedicated wife to George, loving mother to her children Jon and Jane, state representative and writer of children’s books.

Mabel played a key role representing Pawtucket’s District 77. Once she was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly, she would eventually be re-elected nine more times. She rose through the Democratic leadership ranks and ultimately would for 10 years as speaker pro-tem, sometimes presiding over  House legislative sessions.

As a state representative, Mabel used her growing power and influence to advocate for the needs of Ocean State seniors.

Her efforts led to the passage of legislation that would add a grandfather clause to drug-coverage provisions of insurance plans. Under the newly enacted law, any physician authorized by the Department of  Health to prescribe medicine would be allowed to prescribe medication previously on, or not on, the insurer’s formulary if it was deemed “medically necessary.”

To many, Mable was a tireless worker on behalf of Pawtucket’s elderly population. Joan Crawley, director of Pawtucket’s Leon Mathieu Senior Center, said Mabel possessed a rare quality for a politician.

“She wasn’t swayed by popular opinion and she never stopped to see which way the wind was blowing,” she said.

Mabel always voted her conscience, always striving to represent seniors in her legislative district, Crawley noted.

According to Crawley, her advocacy on behalf of senior transportation was relentless. “She called me late last Thursday afternoon when she heard the hospital’s contract to provide transportation for the RIDE program was in jeopardy. Even though she was no longer a lawmaker, Mabel told me she was willing to champion this cause.”

Crawley said she had called her to discuss the transportation issue on Friday at noon, just a few hours before her untimely death.

George Anderson, Mabel’s husband of more than 40 years, recalled his wife’s constituency work.

“Mabel worked hard to represent older constituents who were being ignored by the state’s bureaucracy,” he said.

Anderson remembered when Mabel was first elected and was relatively unrecognized. She would stand in line behind an older constituent. IF the person was not assisted, she would simply introduce herself as a state representative and any problems would be worked out, he said.

Often times, a quick trip to the grocery store turned into several hours. Anderson said, as constituents would come up to her along every aisle just to say “hello,” catch up or discuss problems.

And Mabel never forgot those close to her who needed assistance, Anderson said. When she went to Memorial Hospital to participate in a program to help her cope with arthritis, she asked her husband for a check. The amount just happened to cover the enrollment fee of two persons not one, he said, allowing a friend who was on a fixed income to participate.

Audrey Salvas, 67, a long-time Pawtucket resident knew who to call when she had problems.

“When we needed to find out something, all we had to do was call Mabel,” said Salvas.

Mabel quickly straightened out a drug problem in the Beverage Hill area, noted Salvas. She pushed to erect a fence around the Prospect Heights project, which ultimately reduced drug trafficking and noise.

Mary Francis Campbell, 89, a former educator and President of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council (PSCC), added that Mabel aways backed PSCC’s legislative proposals. “The Pawtucket lawmaker worked closely with PSCC in its 15 years of existence,” she said.

With a strong determination to remain independent, Mabel ultimately overcame a stroke she suffered in 1992 that temporary left her impaired  on her right side. Her love for public service gave her the needed energy to stay actively involved long past retirement, fighting for senior issues, the underdogs and for her beloved City of Pawtucket. It also enabled her to reach out the younger generations to develop new skills to learn.

Using the same veracity and gusto she used for all her other interests she held close to her heart; Mabel was not afraid to experience new things. With a passion for living, this former state representative was ready to enjoy and pursue new interests, such as learning how to use a computer to recalling her younger days on the family farm and turning these stories into children’s book.

The Best Of…Former Sen. Moss’ Advocacy Commitment Will Be Missed

Published on February 3, 2003

            Last Wednesday evening, former U.S. Sen. Frank Moss of Utah died.

            After he received his law degree in 1937 from Washington, DC-based George Washington University, Moss briefly worked on the legal staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

           Throughout his legal career, he would sharpen his legal skills by working in a variety of settings.  Initially, clerking at the Utah Supreme Court, he would ultimately win an election putting him on the bench of the Salt Lake City Municipal Court in 1940.

         During the World War II, he would serve on the Judge Advocate General’s staff of the U.S. Armory Corps in England.  After the war, Moss would be elected in 1950, reelected in 1954, to serve as Salt Lake County attorney.

         Two years after his unsuccessful bid for Utah Governor, in 1956, Moss would run for Senate and win, by less than 40 percent of the vote.

         Obituaries in newspapers stated that the liberal three-term Senate Democrat was best known for his environmental work that included the establishment of national parks and recreational areas in Utah.  Moss was also recognized for drafting a series of bill protecting consumers, ranging from mandating labeling on cigarette packages about the health hazards of smoking, banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to developing minimum safety requirements for automobiles.

           But for me and many of my colleagues in the field of aging, we will always remember Moss as being a true advocate for the nation’s elderly.

           Moss worked closely with President Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who would later become President, Hubert Humphrey and Claude Pepper getting Medicare and Medicaid enacted into law.

          Moreover, Moss will always be remembered for being the driving force behind the establishment of the Senate Special Committee on Aging in 1961.

          He also played a major role in establishing the House Committee on Aging with the late Rep. Claude Pepper.  The two special committees would later put the spotlight on aging policy issues, generating both the public and political will to bring about the needed policy changes.

          Throughout his Senate Career, in addition to authoring legislation that would require federal minimum standards for nursing homes and helping to create  the Medicare and Medicaid home health care benefits. Moss held the first hearing on hospice care and introduced legislation authorizing payment for hospice care.

           More than 40 years ago, the Special Committee on Aging, chaired by Moss, began to hold a series of hearing s on nursing homes.  It became extremely clear to his committee through its hearings, generating 1,300 pages of testimony, that both nursing home standards and enforcement by state regulatory agencies varied drastically.  Moss noted that these hearings helped to shape the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and that they also lead to series of reforms in 1967.

         Ultimately, a series of 30 hearings held between 1969 and 1976 eventually lead to the publication of a 12-volume report, entitled “Nursing Home Care in the United States: Failure in Public Policy.”

        In 1977, Moss, with coauthor Val Halmandaris (who at the time was responsible for research of the Subcommittee of Long-Term Care, but now serves as executive director of the National Association of Home Care) wrote “Too Old, Too Sick, Too Bad: Nursing Homes in America,” detailing the plight of America’s elderly.

       More than 10 years later, in a 1998 speech to the National Council on Aging, Moss expressed his concerns that American’s elderly were losing ground from all the gains they had achieved in the late 1960s and 1970s.  Congress has yet to enact a pharmaceutical drug program to put the brakes on spiraling drug costs.  Elder abuse is still running rampant throughout the nation.  Medicare expenditures are being slashed to nursing homes, home and hospice care.

        It is now time for Congress to get serious about tackling the multitude of problems thrust upon the nation by an aging society.  Moss’ advocacy comment to the nation’s elderly will be sorely missed, and his shoes will be hard to fill.

        Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket-based freelance writer who writes about aging, health care and medical issues.  He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.