PawSox Fans Love Their Team and Its Owner

Published in Senior Digest on July 2004

Seventy-six-year-old Al Beaulieu worked as a manager at Standard Bolt in Cumberland for more than 30 years. He’s been a baseball fan longer than 30 years. He’s been a baseball fan longer than that, however, attending games at McCoy Stadium since the mid-1940s.

After retiring in 1991, the Lincoln resident and wife, Carolyn, 81, became Pawtucket red Sox ticket holders. During the first three and one-half years of attending local games way back when Beaulieu says he probably missed just a few match-ups. Over his 13 years of having season tickets, Beaulieu says that he’s probably missed upward to 30 games. “It’s due to a total knew replacement,” he points out, not because of a waning interest in the sport he loves.

Over the years, in addition to attending games at McCoy Stadium this Pawtucket Red Sox fan has traveled to Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y., and Scranton, Pa., to follow his team.

While Beaulieu’s loyalties lie with the Pawtucket Red Sox, he’s backed off from the Boston Red Sox. “I used to be a great Boston fan, but they broke my heart to many times. Now, I root for whatever time is in first place,” he quips.

When asked about the legacy of PawSox, owner Ben Mondor, the man who brought Triple-A baseball to Pawtucket and put the city on the map, Beaulieu responds, “The guy is an outstanding gentleman. He took a club down in the dumps and turned it into one of the top teams in the nation.”

As to the his favorite games, Beaulieu quickly talks about the time he watched Tomo Ohka pitch a no-hit shutout at McCoy on June 1, 2000. “He’s now a   starting pitcher for the Montreal Expos,” Beaulieu said.

Branson Arroyo, who now plays for the Boston Red Sox, also pitched a perfect game at McCoy.  According to the team’s media guide, the statistical bible for Beaulieu, on Aug. 10, 2003, Arroyo pitched the fourth perfect nine-inning game in the 128-year history of the International League when he beat Buffalo, 7-0.

Over the years, Michael Pappas, the former executive director of the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, will tell you that “Ben Mondo always did everything first class.”

Pappas, 78, who served as the public address announcer at local Pawtucket Rd Sox games in the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, remarked how Mondor “rolled out the red carpet for his fans, making McCoy Stadium family-oriented and keeping ticket prices affordable.”

Mondor’s legacy will be his community out-reach, especially to nonprofit groups, Pappas says.  According to Pappas, Mondor has supported the Boys & Girls Club for years.  That support has included sponsoring a trip to the World Series for two lucky participants in the club’s baseball program.

Ray Dalton, 79, worked for the East Providence-based Getty Oil CO. for 42 years. Residing in the Darlington section of the city for 78 years, Dalton attended baseball games at age 5 at the old Pawtucket High School field.

He played baseball in junior high school and in the Pawtucket Boys Club Summer League. With his father loving the game, Dalton caught the bug, too. Since the early ‘40s, Dalton traveled to McCoy Stadium to watch baseball and has been a season ticket holder for about 20 years.  Before that, he bought blocks of 50 tickets for the season to get the best seats available. At the beginning of each season, he would determine which games he wanted to see.

Over the years, Dalton and his son Ron, 43, have made friends with several players who were on the PawSox’s roster.

“And when they returned as members of opposing teams, we always go out of our way to welcome them back to McCoy stadium,” the elder Dalton said.

“I’ve known Ben Mondor and Michael Tamburro ever since they came on board,” Dalton said. “They are No. 1 in my book because they run the team as a family organization and have kept the prices affordable.”

Dalton said ballplayers have told him that if you can’t play in the American or National leagues, McCoy is the next best place to play. “It’s because of the way Ben and Michael treat them when they are at McCoy stadium,” Dalton said.

Dalton was at McCoy on April 18, 1981, for the start of Major League Baseball’s longest game and he watched it end when it resumed a couple of months later on June 23. While this is one of his most memorable games, Dalton likes every game he attends. “It’s the best entertainment in the state because they keep the prices affordable and create a family atmosphere. This is the philosophy of the Pawtucket Red Sox Family,” he says.

Nine of the 15 seats in the row where Dalton sits are taken by his sone, granddaughters, sister, brother-in-law and nephews. “It is really a family affair for us,” he said.

Bridging Generations: Travel Can Bring You Closer to Your Grandchildren

Published in Senior Digest on May 2004

Once upon a time, seniors interests, hobbies or life experiences were major factors in choosing where to go on vacation.

Today, however, the type of households in which their children live is another element influencing vacation plans for active seniors.

Single parents and partners of two-income households, of which there are a growing number can find it difficult to take time off from work. So their parents often step up to the plate and take the kids in the household on vacation. Trips are merging generational lifestyles, giving grandparents and grandchildren time to get to know each other a little bit better.

According to a soon to be released Travel Industry Association study, a growing number of seniors are now traveling with their grandchildren, which also strengthens intergenerational bonds and relationships.

The national travey study found that 17 percent of the estimated 93.2 million adults who took family trips in 2003, included grandchildren on those excursions, says Brian Kightlinger, director of Meredith Travel Marketing. The year before only 9 percent of the traveling adults brought along their grandchildren, he said.

Discretionary income combined with grandparents wanting to spend quality time with the youngsters are fueling the demand for intergenerational travel, says Kightlinger.

“With two parents working, grandparents are taking on a more active role with vacations,” he says.

Even the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) recognition of the emerging intergeneratioal travel niche was clear to see when the nation’s most widely recognized travel club launched its Ready, Set Travel! series.

When Helena Koenig became a grandmother 18 years ago, she created Grandtravel at her Chevy Chase, Md. travel agency to plan itineraries for seniors and their grandchildren. The travel agent combined 34 years of working in the industry with her new experience of being a grandparent.

Koenig says that Grandtravel’s goal is to “help grandparents create lasting memories for themselves and their grandchildren.” To encourage this bonding, no moms or dads are allowed on any of the 24 domestic or international trips, usually scheduled during Christmas and summer school breaks. When Koenig established Grandtravel in 1986, she offered three trips.

Banning parents from Grandtravel trips allows the oldest and youngest generations to get to know each other better. Koenig notes, adding that travel is a gr eat way for grandparents to transmit a “cultural inheritance” to their grandchildren.

Today, Grandtravel’s domestic offerings include the Grand Canyon, Alaska, Western Parks, New York and Dinosaur DIscovery. International offerings include trips to England, Ireland and Scotland, Italy, Australia, Southern Africa.

France, Peru, Kenya and Austria “Grandtravelers” can even take a Transatlantic passage on the Queen Mary 2 to London and Paris or to Ireland, Scotland and England.

Grandtravel trips can last from seven days to two weeks, costing from $ 3,000 to $ 8,000 per person.

For travelers who want to get to know their grandchildren better, only groups of 20 are booked on the company’s worldwide intinerary, says Koenig. These trips accommodate children of similar ages whenever possible.

Other companies are following Grandtravel’s lead. Disney Cruise Lines is placing a greater importance on appealing to multigenerational travel, says Christi Erwin, a spokesperson for the Port Canaveral Fla. company. “More than half of our guests now travel in multigenerational groups, says Erwin.

Responding to customer suggestions, Disney Cruise Lines has created several new areas to accommodate the interest of different ages within the teen and adult groups, says Erwin. The Stack is a new area for teens located in the ship’s forward (faux) funnel atop Deck 11, and on board programming is designed for specific age groups.

Erwin says at Studio C, considered to be the hub for family entertainment, grandparents and their grandchildren can attend dance parties and participate in sing-alongs and trivia-based games.

Day or night, the intergenerational travelers can even see first-run movies in the Buena Vista Theatre, says Erwin, who adds that the recently released Home on the Range just premiered at the theater.

At the larger Walt Disney theater, both old young can watch Disney movies, too, but also can attend special afternoon matinees of stage shows.

A daily schedule of events is delivered to every stateroom. “This type of programming gives grandparents more flexibility to plan the type of activities they want to participate in,” Erwin says.

Even with specific programming geared to children and family-centered activities, grandparent can slip away to recharge their batteries at the Quiet Cove pool, Cove Cafe lounge, Vista Spa and Salon or the Palo restaurant.

Costs for three-day ($ 409 per person), four day ($ 509 per person) and seven-day ( $ 829 per person) cruises included room meals and entertainment. Those prices exclude federal taxes and tips.

Established in 1975, Elderhostel, the nation’s first and the world’s largest, travel and educational organization for adults age 55 and over, views the world as it’s classroom. Each year, 200,000 seniors enrolled in over 10,000 programs offered by this nonprofit organizations in more than 100 countries.

Mary Harrington, Elderhostel administrator at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, will be offering eight Elderhostel courses from July to October, two specifically designed for grandparents and grandchildren.

Harrington says participation in this program usually ranges from 25 to 45 seniors. Ten slots are put aside for local commuters who wish to attend the program but do not need hotel accommodations.

From Aug. 5-9, Kayaking, Biking and Hiking long the Blackstone River (four nights) allows physically active hostelers and “grandfriends” ages 11 to 14 to explore sections of the 46-mile river. With a naturalist and a historian on the hike, both old and young participants will earn more about the plants and creatures that inhibit riverbanks and local Algonquian history.

No kayaking experience is necessary, says Harrington, stressing that instruction and guidance will be provided. Kayaking, biking and hiking trips are two to three hours long and moderately paced. Bikes, helmets and easy access kayaks will be provided, she says.

Harrington promises that history will come alive in the Elderhostel course, History as a Great Story: Colorfully Told and Not Just for Kids (five nights). Designed for children ages 9 to 12, the course sheds light on Ocean State’s dazzling history. Field trips will take the participants to an 1870 lighthouse and early 19th century coastal fort in Newport. Children will enjoy riding an 1895 carousel at Slater Park and even learn a little bit about the Industrial Revolution that started at Slater Mill in Pawtucket.

Study Finds Caregiving Becomes Second Job for Many

Published in Pawtucket times on April 12, 2004

The demands of caregiving can seem like a 36-hour workday, Alzheimer’s researchers Nancy Mace and Dr., Peter Rabins tell us.

So true. A new study compiled by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the AARP that was released last week supports the researcher’s views – that caregiving can consume one’s life, often becoming a second job for many.

According to the 138-page report, entitled, “Caregiving in America,’ more Americans are now holding “second jobs” – functioning as the family caregiver.

The national caregiver survey, which was funded by MetLife Foundation, estimates there are 44.4 million adult caregivers who provide unpaid care to another adult. This care ranges from helping another manage finances, shopping for groceries, doing housework, and assisting others getting in and out of beds or chairs, getting dressed, getting to and from the toilet, bathing, showering and eating.

The study found unpaid care- provided by family caregivers – totaled $257 billion annually. Quite a sum.

Tshe caregiver study, released on April 6, paints a picture of the typical caregiver – 46 years old, married, has some college experience, and provides care to a woman age 50 and older.  The caregiver’s recipient is most likely an older female who is widowed.

The findings are based on a national survey of 6,139 adults, 1,247 of whom are qualified as caregivers. The margin of error for a sample this size is 2.8 percent, at a 95 percent level of confidence.

Almost six in 10, or 59 percent, of these caregivers either work or have worked while providing care, the study found. Moreover, 62 percent have had to make some adjustments to their jobs, from arriving late to work to giving up a job entirely.

Caregiving does not only impact the personal and working life of women, the study says, but it impacts men, too. Almost four in ten (39 percent) caregivers are men, and 60 percent of these individuals are working full-time.

In a written statement announcing the release of this study, the release of this study, Gail Hunt, NAC’s executive director, noted that the study found caregivers need more information and education. “Two-thirds of caregiver respondents says they need help or information on at least one of 14 activities or issues that caregivers commonly face,” she said.

The study’s findings indicate that three in 10 caregivers carry the heaviest load and are most likely to report physical strain, emotional stress and financial hardship as a result of their caregiving responsibilities, compared to caregivers who provide fewer hours of care and perform fewer  demanding tasks.

In addition, the study found caregivers who provide higher levels of care (most likely women) may find their responsibilities complicated by the fact they tend to be older and more likely to say their health is only “fair,” compared to younger caregivers.

Nearly eight in 10 people who need care are age 50 or older (79 percent), the study found. Caregivers say these older care recipients are afflicted with age-related health problems (15 percent), specifically heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s or other mental confusion ailments.

But younger recipients (ages 18-49) of caregiving often face problems of mental illness and depression (23 percent), the study added.

Caregiving may consume a person’s later years.

The study found the average length of caregiving provided is 4.3 years; however, three in 10 caregivers report providing care for more than five years.

Older caregivers (ages 50 and older), who tend to be caring for their mothers and grandmothers, are among the most likely to have provided care for 20 years or more. The survey found 17 percent of caregivers between the ages of 50-64 years and 18 percent of those over 65 have been providing care for more than a decade.

“I think people who are dealing with caregiving are unaware that many of their coworkers are dealing with the same thing,” AARP Board Member Jennie Chin Hansen claimed in the written statement. “This report shows just how common this  is,” she says.

Like the caregiver respondents of NAC/AARP’s caregiver study, tens of thousands of Ocean State caregivers juggle the demands of taking care of an older relative while taking care of their family and working a job. The study’s findings are just another reason why Gov. Doanld Carcieri and state lawmakers must adequately fund the Department of Elderly Affair’s (DEA) copay program and respite programs.

DEA’s co-pay program assists 1,500 frail seniors who do not qualify for the state’s Medicaid program, to partially pay for the services or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to assist with bathing, meals, shopping, laundry and light housekeeping. In addition, DEA’s co-pay program also provides subsidies for adult day care.

Last October, DEA’s freeze on new admissions to its co-pay program left more than 200 frail seniors  on a waiting list for home and community-based services. Although Carcieri has increased funding for DEA’s co-pay program by $ 200,000 in his 2005 budget, senior groups say this amount is still not enough. The governor’s increase in his budget is estimated to only serve 60 to 80 out of the 200 seniors currently on this waiting list.

DEA’s freeze on new admissions to its respite program, which enables caregivers to take a break from the grueling demands of taking care of frail family members, may adversely impact the health and wellbeing of caregivers who can’t take advantage of this program.

The freeze placed on the respite care program will continue for the rest of this fiscal year- nobody is sure how long the freeze for this initiative will last.

In years to come, we will see a growing number of Rhode Islanders  taking on the role of unpaid caregivers (a second job) to keep a frail family member at home. Lack of access to community-based services and to caregivers oftentimes will lead to placement in  a costly nursing home.

From a budgetary stance, Carcieri and state lawmakers may well want to adequately fund DEA’s co-pay and respite program because of the ultimate cost savings to the state budget. On the other hand, supporting a policy that assists caregivers to keep seniors independent and in their homes is simply the right thing to do.