Community Update (9/15/24)
Roosevelt Island Walk, Thursday, September 26 at 11am
The autumn seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island begins at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 26. This easy community walk (on an unpaved nature trail) takes about one hour. You, your family, friends and nice dogs on leash are invited and RSVP is not needed. See below for details.
Page Turners Returns on September 26!
After a summer hiatus, Page Turners returns with new hosts Nancy Lowenthal and Pax Baker! Thank you to Beverly Cannizzaro and Donna Pastore for their long-time support of ANV’s Page Turners group. Share a book that you have read, and you think would be interesting for other people to read. Meet up on Zoom with your fellow bibliophiles, share opinions, and learn about new books to add to your reading list. Details below.
Falls Prevention Fair
Tuesday, September 24, 10am-12pm at Lubber Run Community Center
Learn from experts about fall risks and prevention strategies. Informational booths, activities, and screenings will be available, including fall risk assessment, balance and strength exercises, medication review with a pharmacist, home modification techniques, and blood pressure and vision screening. The fair is hosted in partnership with the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance. See below for more information.
Celebrate Communication 2024
Springfield Town Center, September 28
This free annual event for the deaf and hard of hearing community, Celebrate Communication, is returning to the Springfield Town Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 11 am to 3 pm. There will be 30 exhibitors who will offer information on a variety of topics relating to deafness and hearing loss. See below for more information.
Annual Survey
ANV will be sending out our annual survey to members and volunteers soon. Please take a few moments to share your feedback with us so your voice is part of our plans going forward.
Save the Date
The 2024 ANV All Hands meeting will be Saturday, October 26 from 10:00am – noon. More details will be provided in the October 1 newsletter.
Welcome
New Members
- Susan Barnes
- Elaine Feemster
New Volunteers
- Aidan Morrison
- Margaret Trone
Activities
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar at www.ANVarlington.org/events so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
Coffee and Conversation on Wednesdays at 10 am
- September 18: Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- September 25: Scams & Older Adults
- October 2: Medicare Open Enrollment
- October 9: Goodwin Living
Special Events
Weekly Groups
- Tai Chi
- Bocce and Boules
- Happy Hour
- Board Games
Monthly Groups
- Men’s Lunch Bunch
- Ladies Lunch
- Pop Up Picnic
- Page Turners
Educational Activities
Wellness
Village Voices
Also of Interest
ANV Activities
Coffee and Conversation: Wednesdays at 10 am
This ANV Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00am. Join our weekly conversations via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09
You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 929-205-6099. The meeting ID is 889 4857 7106 and the passcode is 872327.
Wednesday, September 18: The Impact of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in our community. As the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease impacts not only the individual but family members and caregivers as well. This presentation by Ashley Scott, Program Manager, and Michael Smith, Volunteer of the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area reviews the current data, signs and early detection strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease. Current treatments and research will also be shared. Finally, learn how the Alzheimer’s Association can assist community members who are impacted by the disease and how you can help to make a difference, too!
Wednesday, September 25: Scams & Older Adults. The movie Thelma portrays an older woman who was scammed out of $10,000 and the lengths she went to get it back. Although a comedy, it strikes at the core of many older adults’ fears about getting scammed. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Senior Policy Analyst, will review top scams including imposter scams, identity theft, credit card and gift card fraud, investment scams and tech support scams.
Wednesday, October 2: Medicare Open Enrollment. Medicare plan costs and coverage can change from year to year. Join us as Michelle Thomas, Program Coordinator of Arlington’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program, explains how to make the most of Medicare. VICAP, which is part of a national network, provides free, in-depth, one-on-one insurance counseling to Medicare Beneficiaries, their families, friends, and caregivers. Learn more by visiting this webpage.
Wednesday, October 9: Goodwin Living offers holistic services to seniors that range from community living tailored to all levels of physical and mental ability, in-home care, hospice care, brain health programming, and more. Home Health Marketing Manager Rachel Gilbert will speak about the services Goodwin Living offers our community.
ANV’s YouTube channel
If you miss a Coffee and Conversation speaker, be sure to check out ANV’s YouTube channel where we post some of our Coffee and Conversation speakers and other special events. Sit back and enjoy!
Special Events
Roosevelt Island Walk, Thursday, September 26 at 11am
The autumn seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island begins at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 26. This easy community walk (on an unpaved nature trail) takes about one hour. You, your family, friends and nice dogs on leash are invited and RSVP is not needed. The 11:00 am meeting point is at the landward end of the footbridge to the island. Access by auto to the island parking lot is only from the northbound George Washington Parkway. In addition, paid parking is available in Rosslyn on the street and in garages. The meeting point is a 15-minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro and bus stop. If the group is amenable, there may be a stop for coffee in Rosslyn afterwards. This is a rain-or-shine event; no rain date. Questions, call David Christian at 703-785-3434 or email daveycc910@gmail.com.
Falls Prevention Fair
Tuesday, September 24, 10am – 12pm
Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive
Learn from experts about fall risks and prevention strategies. Informational booths, activities, and screenings will be available, including fall risk assessment, balance and strength exercises, medication review with a pharmacist, home modification techniques, and blood pressure and vision screening. The fair is hosted in partnership with the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance. Bring a list of your medications and meet with a VHC Pharmacist to review your medications and identify fall risks. Free, no registration required.
Weekly Events
For more information on an event or to request transportation for an activity/event, please email Office@ANVarlington.org or call the ANV Office at 703-509-8057.
Tai Chi: Tuesdays at 9:30am
ANV Tai Chi practice meets outdoors every week, weather permitting. Meet the group in the parking lot at Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Arlington Arts Center) at 3550 Wilson Blvd. If the forecast is too hot or wet, we will meet indoors. If you are interested in joining this practice (not instruction), please contact Anita Wallgren at awallgren@gmail.com or (202) 674-5553 to get the weekly location email.
Bocce and Boules, Mondays at 6pm
Join weekly Bocce and Boules on Monday afternoons; games last approximately one hour. Bocce is played every Monday at the courts on the corner of N. Randolph St. & N. Glebe Road, weather permitting. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter parking garage for $1. All levels of bocce skills are welcome. Everyone gets to play.
Exception to 6pm start: Every third Monday of the month will be Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour. On these days, Bocce will start at 5 pm, followed by Happy Hour for $5 pizza at the Harris Teeter Wine Bar across the street. The next Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour is September 16. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.
ANV Board Games Day, Thursday, September 19 and October 3 at 2pm
Do you like board games? Join ANV members and volunteers for Games Day at Ballston Quarter Food Hall (lower level). Look for players at the tables near the elevators. Play games like Rummikub, Mexican Train Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Quiddler and more. We play every other Thursday at 2pm. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter for $1. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.
Happy Hour: Thursdays, 5–7pm
Join the ANV Happy Hour Group. The Happy Hour Group will try locations in the Ballston area. For more information and to know the weekly plan, contact Mike Murtha, Happy Hour Coordinator at dmmurtha@verizon.net. Mike will add you to his email list and let you know the weekly location on Thursday morning. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from Mike.
Monthly Events
Men’s Lunch, Friday October 11 at noon
The October location of the men’s lunch group will be announced in the October 1 newsletter. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from Tim.
Ladies Lunch, Friday October 11 at noon
The October location of the women’s lunch group will be announced in the October 1 newsletter. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count. If you don’t use email, please call the ANV Office and request a call-back from Roslyn.
Page Turners, September 26 at 11:00 am
Page Turners returns! Thank you to Beverly Cannizzaro and Donna Pastore for their long-time support of ANV’s Page Turners group. This month, they are handing the reins to Nancy Lowenthal and Pax Baker. Share a book that you have read, and you think would be interesting for other people to read. It can be something you are reading now, or a book you enjoyed in the past. Meet up with your fellow bibliophiles, share opinions, and learn about new books to add to your reading list.
Join the conversation via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89666785566?pwd=WFFpTlY2SkJMQlJjN0NWNEUraFhEQT09
You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 301-715-8592. The meeting ID is 896 6678 5566 and the passcode is 007241.
Pop Up Picnic in the Park (PPP) September 27 at noon
Our September PPP will be held at Clarenford Station Park, located at 1300 North Vermont St. Free curb-side parking is available just 30 feet from the picnic tables. This is an opportunity for ANV members and volunteers to meet for casual conversation, get fresh air, and discover a new neighborhood park in Arlington. Just bring your lunch and something to drink. No need to RSVP. For more information, contact John Thomas at Thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.
Educational Activities
Arlington Public Library Programs
The Library has curated events from the 55+ Program, Encore Learning and elsewhere to make it easy to find something that will pique your interest. There are craft programs, book clubs, and more. It’s worth 5 minutes of your time to click on the calendar of events and see what’s happening at your local branch of the library.
Of special note on Saturday, September 21, 11:00am – 12:30pm at the Shirlington Library: Caregiving 101, Creating a Plan with AARP. Registration required.
Until Help Arrives (UHA) Training
You are invited to attend the County’s Until Help Arrives training on September 19 at the Lubber Run Community Center. UHA is a free, 3.5-hour training that prepares you to be able to jump in as an active bystander in an emergency and support the wounded until professional first responders arrive. The training is an interactive course, mixing lecture and hands-on practice of essential lifesaving skills including bleed control, injury management, psychological support, and much more! Sign up for the September 19 course here. Participants should bring a notebook and a writing utensil. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that allow you to practice carrying and moving dummies as well as putting on tourniquets on one another.
Wellness
Celebrate Communication 2024
Springfield Town Center, September 28
This free annual event for the deaf and hard of hearing community, Celebrate Communication, is returning to the Springfield Town Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 11 am to 3 pm. There will be 30 exhibitors who will offer information on a variety of topics relating to deafness and hearing loss such as tinnitus, vertigo, hearing aids, cochlear implants, ASL classes, captioned phones, apps, Cued Speech instruction, Relay options, Fairfax County services, support groups, deaf crafters, and AARP will be on hand with Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC) to offer a lot of good information about hearing loss as well. NVRC will have two exhibits – one for outreach and educational programs, and the other for hearing assistive technologies that can be helpful with the telephone, television, general personal amplification, and of course apps!
Enter the Mall through Front Entrance #1 for easy access to the lower level of the main entrance, next to the Lego store and Starbucks.
ANV will not be able to provide transportation to this event.
Some Dementia Updates by Joan Smith
Research on Dementia is booming these days. Daily in the newspaper and online I read of new discoveries or hypotheses on the prevention and treatment of various dementias. While there are several different types of dementia (from nutritional or chemical or other disease causes), these all require different diagnoses and treatments.
Here we focus on dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease of unknown causes.
I subscribe to a Medical newsletter that summarizes the most recent research results gleaned from various international medical and research journals; all of this research is deemed legitimate and vetted.
On July 31, 2024 Medscape updated the list of risk factors in dementia, building on the 2017 British journal Lancet report of 12 risk factors that were estimated to be responsible for one third of dementia cases. The update, a new report from University College London UK and published in Lancet Neurology cites reasons to take preventive action, as it “is never too early or too late to act” to make an impact. The report was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2024, and notes that almost 50% of global dementia cases may be preventable!
The original 12 risk factors include hearing loss, hypertension, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, lower levels of education, air pollution and social isolation. Whew, that is quite a list, but all of those conditions are preventable and/or treatable!! Add in untreated vision loss and elevated low-density cholesterol which are associated with 9% of all dementia cases.
Dr. Tara Spires-Jones, PhD, president of the British Neuroscience Association, says that while we cannot yet prove total causality, this research supports evidence that a healthy lifestyle—including education, social activities, exercise, cognitive engagement, and avoiding head injuries and harmful factors for heart and lung health—can enhance brain resilience and prevent dementia.
Village Voices
Village Voices is a place for ANV members and volunteers to share a poem, a favorite quote, a recipe, a restaurant or movie review, a joke, or a riddle. Submissions are welcome at any time by sending an email to Office@ANVarlington.org.
An ANV member recommends this movie that mentioned in the September 25 Coffee & Conversation. The movie, Thelma, portrays Thelma Post, a 93-year-old grandmother who loses $10,000 to a con artist on the phone. With help from a friend and his motorized scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her. Very enjoyable, you’ll like it! Available through Amazon Prime Movies.
Also of Interest
Aging Matters Radio and TV
Aging Matters radio is a weekly program, hosted by Cheryl Beversdorf, and features interviews with experts on topics impacting the lives of older adults, their care partners, and families. Every Tuesday at 3 pm, a new Aging Matters broadcast is posted on Apple and Spotify podcast sites. Aging Matters TV Show offers interviews with aging experts, including demonstrations of aging related subjects. Stories of Life programs feature interviews with older adults who have made a difference in their communities.
Arlington 55+ Program’s 70th Anniversary BBQ Picnic, Wednesday, October 2, from 12:00-3:00pm
Celebrate the 55+ Program’s 70th anniversary at a BBQ picnic at Lubber Run, 300 N. Park Drive. Register by September 20 (there is a $10 admission fee). For 70 years, this remarkable program has provided a vibrant and supportive community for older adults. To honor this special occasion, join an unforgettable BBQ picnic filled with delicious food, music by the DC Starlight Orchestra, exciting games, VIP guests and more! Reconnect with friends, make new ones, and celebrate the incredible community that has flourished through the 55+ Program. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the program, join for a day of joy, reflection and community spirit. Sponsored by the Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs.
Register by September 20. Once you have registered for this program, please remember to pay the $10 admission fee by visiting the Alliance website before the event. Register: #911899-10
Housing with Pride: The Case for Creating Affordable LGBT Affirming Housing
Clarendon Presbyterian invites you to Housing with Pride: The Case for Creating Affordable LGBT Affirming Housing in Arlington at Clarendon Presbyterian Church (1305 N. Jackson Street) on September 25. Former Arlington County Board Member Jay Fissette will moderate a panel focusing on key discussion points:
Challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders including discrimination in some retirement communities
Lower rates of homeownership among LGBTQ+ elders and higher levels of poverty
A high portion of LGBTQ+ elders living without family support
A regional and national lack of LGBTQ+ welcoming affordable housing and how we can address it
Personal stories of potential residents of this proposed community
This panel will raise awareness of the critical need for senior LGBT affirming affordable housing in Arlington and nationwide. Reception with light refreshments at 6:45 and Panel at 7:30 pm. RSVP requested.
Complimentary membership in Arlington’s 55+ Program is available as an ANV membership benefit. If you haven’t yet opted-in and would like to do so, contact our Member Services Director at 703-509-8057. 55+ Program offerings are posted in the quarterly catalogue available online.
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
