Portal Highlights

Ask Irma: Home for the Holidays with Parents and Adult Children

December 16, 2019 by Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Senior Nation is committed to offering resources to help us deal with the challenges and opportunities of aging. To that end, we are launching a new monthly video blog called “Ask Irma” hosted by Irma Toce, C.E.O. of the Londonderry on the Tred Avon in Easton, where we will be exploring on all topics related to aging.

There is no doubt the holidays bring an extraordinary amount of joy to families all across the country. As the family gathers from distances short and long, the last two weeks in December can be a fury of reunions.

But as Irma points out in this edition of Ask Irma, these experiences and expectations can be quite different for each family member.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. Homepage image from The Holly and the Ivy, a 1952 British drama film. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

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Londonderry on The Tred Avon Welcomes Larraine “Lari” Caldwell as New Board President

December 10, 2019 by Spy Desk

Larraine Caldwell

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is pleased to announce Larraine “Lari” Caldwell as the organization’s new President of the Board of Directors. Caldwell assumed her new role earlier this year following one year of previous service on the Board. She succeeded Pat Lewers who served as
President from 2017 – 2019.

As a residential cooperative community, the Board of Directors represents the residents and oversees the operations and programming within the community.

“It’s an exciting time at Londonderry as we look to our future,” Caldwell said. “Following the recent completion of our new Clubhouse and sale of all building lots, the Board and Leadership Team are identifying innovative ways to support and enhance our vibrant and active community with an emphasis on a holistic approach to wellness and aging in place.”

Caldwell and her husband, Dr. Craig Caldwell, moved to Londonderry in 2012. Caldwell is a retired Licensed Certified Social Worker and worked as a Probation Officer, Family Counselor, Mental Health Clinician and Supervisor of Adult Services with the Caroline County Department of Social Services. She is currently Vice-President of Care and Share, an organization that raises money for vulnerable adults and children who do not qualify for other forms of assistance. She serves on the Londonderry on the Tred Avon Board of Directors as well as on the board of the Friends of the Dorchester County Library. She is also active with the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester and the Dorchester County Adult Public Guardianship Review Board. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, sailing, traveling, yoga and spending time with her grandchildren.

“I wish Lari all the best as she begins her tenure as President,” said Pat Lewers, outgoing President. “It has been a busy and rewarding few years at Londonderry as we have accomplished so much on behalf of our residents and community, and I look forward to what’s next.”

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here.

Ask Irma: The Role of Adult Children with Aging Parents

October 14, 2019 by The Spy

After a professional career working with adult children and the care and of their aging parents, as well as going through that experience herself with her own in the Netherlands, Irma Toce seems particularly well qualified to talk about this unique change of roles and responsibilities for the “kids” in the family.

With many parents living well into their 90s, their adult children increasingly play a critical part in caregiving or providing much-needed relief to aging couples from the sometimes overwhelming challenges facing those in their later years.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

A Fit Retirement with Janet Pfeffer: Vickie Wilson

October 9, 2019 by Janet Pfeffer

Janet is perhaps Talbot County’s most popular exercise instructor of a certain age. With a long-standing following at the Saint Michaels Family Y, Londonderry, and the Oxford Community Center for her classes, she has seen inspiring examples of transformation with her friends and students as they move from a rewarding professional career to a physically fit and purposeful retirement life.

We are happy to report that Janet accepted a Spy proposal to seek out some of these fit and purposeful retirees to share their unique stories over the next year.

Janet continues this series with her friend Vickie Wilson. Vickie formally retired from the Talbot County School District a few years ago. In her conversation with Janet, Vickie talks about how she loves the title “retired” but, in truth, like many other successful retirements, she’s never been more active and engaged in her community.

This video is approximately five minutes in length.

Senior Nation: Talbot’s Community For Life

September 19, 2019 by The Spy

The idea of aging in place has long been a goal for many seniors. The familiarity and safety of one’s own home is a major motivator to find creative ways for people to stay put rather than the disruption of moving. And for years, and in many different parts of the country, communities have experimented with unique ways for seniors to remain rooted.

None was more prominent or successful that Boston’s Beacon Hill Village. The subject of a NBC News feature, as well as countless newspaper articles, Beacon Hill became the first of a movement to structure a program of helping neighbors live independent lives by offering handyman, transportation, technology, and other services.

That movement landed in Talbot County several years ago with the creation of the Talbot Village Connections. And now that organization has officially transitioned to become part of the new Maryland Community for Life program for Talbot.

The Spy spent some time recently with Stacey Woodworth, the Service Navigator for Maryland Community For Life – Talbot’s Service Navigator, and member Isabelle Bedell to talk about this growing organization and the unique benefits it offers for those wishing to age in place.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about Maryland Community For Life – Talbot please go here

Ask Irma: Harmonicas for Health and Welfare

September 10, 2019 by The Spy

Only a few years ago, the long-neglected ukulele had a burst of new enthusiasts starting to play this overlooked runt of the guitar family as their instrument of choice. And to our knowledge, this trend continues to this day.

But if Irma Toce has her way, the uku would make way for another neglected source of music, the American harmonica.

The Spy discovered this unique passion of Irma’s as we were setting up our camera for our “Ask Irma” question of the month. And as Irma started to talk about the physical and social benefits of harmonica playing for seniors, we make the quick decision to make this our September installment.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

To read about the health benefits for those impacted by various lung diseases please go here.

Senior Nation: Ask Irma on the Link between Dementia and Depression

August 2, 2019 by The Spy

This month: the important link between dementia and depression.

This video is approximately one minute in length. For information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here

After the First Decade: Upper Shore Aging’s Brookletts Place Celebrates Ten Years

July 25, 2019 by The Spy

As the Spy celebrates its tenth year of operation, it dawned on us that there were quite a number of enterprises on the Mid-Shore that started at the same time as the Spy.

Ranging from bakeries to nonprofit businesses and buildings, dozens of small businesses opened their doors amid a significant economic recession, relying on instinct and confidence that their services would be sought after, no matter the current business climate.With that in mind, the Spy has decided to interview many of these brave entrepreneurs and leaders over the next year for them to reflect on their experiences.

We continue with our chat with the staff, designers, and volunteer leaders who made Brookletts Place, Upper Shore Aging’s senior center for Talbot County, a reality ten years ago.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about Brookletts Place please go here.

A Fit Retirement with Janet Pfeffer: Peggy Ford

June 22, 2019 by Janet Pfeffer

We are happy to report that Janet accepted a Spy proposal to seek out some of these fit and purposeful retirees to share their unique stories over the next year.

Janet continues this series with her friend, Peggy Ford. Peggy retired from teaching after 38 years at Chapel District Elementary in Talbot County in 2014. In her conversation with Janet, Anne talks about how she maintains her intellectual interests, a fitness routine, including dancing lessons with her husband, John, and her volunteer work supporting the arts and now CASA.

This video is approximately five minutes in length.

Talbot Community Connections Holds Fourth Annual Senior Summit on Aging – Phil Burgess to be Keynote Speaker

May 23, 2019 by Spy Desk

Phil Burgess, PhD, an award-winning educator, businessman, and writer, will be the keynote speaker for the fourth annual Senior Summit, “Illuminating Your Life,” on Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Talbot Community Center on Route 50 in Easton, MD.

The day-long Summit for seniors, children of seniors, caregivers, professionals, and concerned residents will provide presentations and discussions on the issues that seniors face today, including health and wellness, technology, staying active, and transitioning in life. The event, sponsored by Talbot Community Connections (TCC) and the Talbot County Department of Social Services, helps to fund the unmet needs that are fundamental to the safety, security, health, and well-being of Talbot County’s children and adults.

Burgess, who has worked and lectured world-wide, has appeared on PBS, NPR, CNN, and CNBC, and his views have been reported in national and regional media – including “The New York Times,” “Wall Street Journal,” and “Christian Science Monitor.” He currently is President of The Annapolis Institute and a Senior Fellow, Center for the Digital Economy, University of Southern California. He writes a weekly column called “Bonus Years” – found in the Lifestyle section of the “Sunday Annapolis Capital.”

At the Senior Summit, Burgess will present “It’s Better To Wear Out Than Rust Out: How The New Longevity Is Changing Our Culture.” His presentation will discuss how the post-career, bonus years are as rich and dynamic as the years from 25-60; why the core value of continued social engagement is a key element in successful; and to review the implications of increasing longevity for aging individuals and the rapid growth of aging-in-place alternatives.

The Senior Summit will include workshops such as Rising Strength and Self-Defense, Body-Wise Gardening, End-of-Life Wishes, Increasing Resilience: Dementia; Scams, and Identity Theft, and Financial Exploitation; and Heart Health. In addition to break-out workshops, there will be the opportunity for participants to have lunch and to visit vendor tables to gather additional information on aging issues and services.

Talbot Community Connections (TCC), a nonprofit arm of the Talbot County Department of Social Services, has the mission to raise and distribute funds to help keep families together, support children in foster care, and support the elderly so they can remain independent, safe, and healthy members of our communities.

The cost of the Senior Summit is $15 for the General Public, including seniors, and $80 for Professional Social Work CEUs. A healthy continental breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee. Pre-registration is required by May 31. For further information, contact Kelley Werner at kelley.werner@maryland.gov or call 410-770-5908 or visit talbotcommunityconnections.org to download a registration form or to purchase tickets online. Registration forms are also available at the front desk at Talbot County Department of Social Services at 301 Bay Street, Unit 5 in Easton.

Platinum sponsors for the 2018 Senior Summit are the Talbot County Department of Social Services, the Talbot County Government, and The Star Democrat. Gold sponsors to date are the Talbot County Health Department, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, CareFirst, and Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Caption: Pictured is Phil Burgess, PhD, an award-winning educator, businessman, and writer, who will be the keynote speaker for the fourth annual Senior Summit. Talbot Community Connections and Talbot County Department of Social Services are hosting the fourth annual Senior Summit, “Illuminating Your Life,” on Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Talbot Community Center on Route 50 in Easton, MD.

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