About three years ago, Charlie stepped up to help organize the league to create a local opportunity for older men to hav
IN THIS EDITION Heart of the community...................................... 1 Free healthy recipes............................................. 2 Age-proof your house......................................... 3 A free program sponsored by Mountain States Health Alliance for people 60+. Helping you be active, stay healthy and have fun!
Should you take vitamins?................................. 3 Stories are good medicine.................................. 4
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY:
CHARLIE MATTIOLI
Charlie goes to bat for senior fun, fitness and fellowship. Charlie Mattioli of Elizabethton might not be swinging a bat this season while he recovers from surgery, but thanks to his efforts to coordinate Northeast Tennessee’s only softball league for seniors, 72 men aged 60 to 79 enjoy playing some serious slow pitch softball several times each week from April through October. About three years ago, Charlie stepped up to help organize the league to create a local opportunity for older men to have fun, stay fit and enjoy fellowship with each other. With the support of the Johnson City Senior Center and the Parks and Recreation department, the TriCities Senior Softball League soon attracted members from as far away as Knoxville. “We’re very informal and play a few times a week,” he says. “We have players of many different skill levels.
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Some guys haven’t played in more than 20 years, and others play often. Our largest group is the 70 to 74-yearold bracket.” As coordinator of the TriCities Senior Softball League, Charlie organizes teams and schedules games. To keep the competition fair, regional games are played by age brackets: 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75-79. Players can play down a bracket but never up. The standard rules have been altered to make the games more senior-friendly and to reduce the chance of injury. For example, unlimited player substitution is allowed and pitchers stand behind a screen for protection. “We’ve had a lot of cooperation and support from the community and the players,” says Charlie. “Our group appreciates just being out there, being active and enjoying the fellowship of others.” Want to join a team or see a game? Visit TricitiesSeniorSoftball.com for registration information and the current game schedule.
Charlie Mattioli
Upcoming Events & Classes
Hearing Screening
Wed., July 6, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Johnson City Health Resources Center
Blood labwork
Sat., July 9, 7 – 10 a.m. Indian Path Medical Center (register in lobby)
Blood labwork
Call for appointment. Tues., July 12, 7 – 8:30 a.m. Kingsport Health Resources Center 423-857-7491
Cook to Reduce Inflammation class Call to register. Wed., June 29, 12 - 1 p.m. Johnson City HRC, 423-915-5200 Thurs., June 30, 12 - 1 p.m. Kingsport HRC, 423-857-7981
Jonesborough Days Festival June 30 – July 2 Jonesborough
Independence Day Extravaganza Sat., July 2, 4 – 9:30 p.m. Downtown Abingdon, Market Pavilion
Independence Day Celebration Mon., July 4, 5 – 11 p.m. Johnson City, Freedom Hall Civic Center
Bluegrass on Broad Concert Every Thursday, 7 p.m. Kingsport
Cruise-In Vintage Car Show Every Saturday, 5 - 9 p.m. Elizabethton
Jonesborough Storytellers Guild Every Tuesday, 7 p.m. Jonesborough
Get free healthy recipes from Holly Clegg
Holly Clegg
Heart & Soul is proud to partner with nationally known best-selling cookbook author and healthy cooking expert Holly Clegg. You may have even seen her on the Today show, Fox & Friends or The 700 Club. Her cookbooks are unique because they are collections of recipes that address special health issues such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and even menopause.
Every issue we will feature one of her simple, tasty, pantry-friendly recipes complete with nutrition information and diabetic exchanges. Heart & Soul also will sponsor monthly cooking classes at the Kingsport and Johnson City Health Resources Centers where registered dietitian Crystal Rush will demonstrate and serve samples of Holly’s healthy recipes. Be sure to sign up for the first one, Cook to Reduce Inflammation. See class details in the June Events column on page 1. For future classes, check the monthly HRC calendar available at both the HRC locations.
Does your favorite recipe need a healthy makeover? Send it to us, along with the reason it’s a favorite, and Holly will provide a healthier alternative to some select recipes we will include in future issues. Be sure to include your email address or phone number. Send recipes to
[email protected] or to Heart & Soul Recipe Makeover, 303 Med Tech Parkway, Suite 280, Johnson City, TN 37604. If we print your recipe, we’ll send you a free cookbook!
Pick up a Healthy Cooking Class Rewards Card and when you’ve attended 10 classes you will receive a free cookbook. If you can’t wait, I Love Books bookstore in Kingsport Town Center is offering 25% off of all Holly Clegg cookbooks to Heart & Soul members. For more recipes and for information about Holly, go to HollyClegg.com.
HEALTHY HOME COOKIN’ ,,
Salsa Chicken
Makes 6 servings
Arthritis-Friendly
With this recipe, lean chicken breast rich in protein helps repair tissue and promote a healthy immune system as well as fight fatigue often associated with arthritis. As a bonus, note that ½ cup of salsa equals one serving of vegetables. Serve with rice to soak up the extra sauce.
Ingredients: • 2 cups salsa • 1 cup nonfat sour cream • 1 (1-ounce) package low-sodium taco seasoning • 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders • ½ cup reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese • Chopped cilantro or green onion, optional
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an oblong glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In bowl, mix together salsa, sour cream, and taco seasoning. 3. Place chicken into prepared dish. Pour sauce over chicken and bake 45 minutes or until chicken is tender. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro or green onion, if desired. Per serving: Calories 238, Calories from Fat 19%, Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 85mg, Sodium 776mg, Carbohydrates 15g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Total Sugars 5g, Protein 29g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate, 3 lean meat
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Recipe from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC® Eating Well to Fight Arthritis
Should you take vitamins as you get older? Yes, says W. Andrew Clark, PhD, RD, a professor of clinical nutrition at East Tennessee State University. The body may not absorb as many nutrients from natural sources as it did at younger ages, so you may need supplements and vitamins as you age. Clark says to check with your doctor if you have diet concerns. But common supplement needs for people over 50 include:
How to age-proof your house With more people choosing to remain in their homes even as they develop mobility or health issues, it makes sense to make adjustments in your house to meet your changing lifestyle. “Aging in Place” is such a popular trend that now you can hire specialists trained specifically to identify living space changes that make it safer and easier to live in your home. Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) can be found through the National Association of Home Builders. To find one near you, go to nahb.org. In the search bar, type in “Find certified aging in place specialist.” Then, type in your city and state for a list of nearby professionals. You also can pick up a room-by-room safety checklist from the Health Resources Centers in Johnson City and Kingsport located in the malls. For more detailed advice, be sure to attend the Home Safe Home class at the Kingsport Health Resources Center on Tuesday, June 28 at 3 p.m. Professionals suggest you consider the following: Bathroom: Install grab bars, a high toilet seat and non-stick rugs/mats. Kitchen: Put commonly needed items at a level that doesn’t require stooping or reaching. Install easy-to-reach storage aids, such as pullout shelves. Wall ovens and raised dishwashers are helpful. Stairways/floors: Remove throw rugs around stairs or use non-skid pads. Light-colored carpet on stairs makes it easier to see steps. Bedrooms: Revamp your closet so storage is at different heights to eliminate storing items on hard to reach shelves. Entryways: Consider installing a gently sloped ramp over outside steps. Inside, make sure there are no step thresholds to create a tripping hazard.
Calcium - to avoid weak, brittle bones. If you need extra calcium, 1,200mg of calcium citrate daily is a good supplement to take. For maximum absorption, take 400mg in the morning and 800mg in the evening. Vitamin D – to absorb calcium. Sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D but may not be absorbed as easily after 50. Low levels can increase the risk of diabetes and impact other health issues. For low levels, the doctor may suggest a prescription dose or multi-vitamins. Cod liver oil also is a common supplement for Vitamin D. Fish oil - contains omega 3 fatty acids that can reduce the risk of heart disease and inflammation. Enteric-coated fish oil capsules insure the capsule breaks down in the small intestine – not the stomach, and can prevent “fish burps.” Supplements can be pricey, so to help people in our area stay healthy, Mountain States Pharmacy offers free vitamins to anyone 50 or older. No purchase is necessary. Just stop by and enroll to receive your free vitamins and pick them up each month. Find Mountain States Pharmacy locations at: • • • • •
523 State of Franklin Road, Johnson City Johnson City Medical Center lobby 1657 East Stone Drive, Kingsport Norton Community Hospital HealthPlex, Norton, Va. Regional Cancer Center at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Va.
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Stories are good medicine for people with memory loss Professional storyteller Anne Rutherford has seen firsthand the power of stories to unlock memory in people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Once when she gave a storytelling performance, a woman with memory loss issues was restless and unresponsive. As Anne told the true tale of a time when she got in minor trouble at school, the woman began to settle down.
1. Tell short, personal stories using vivid descriptions of sound, sight, taste, touch or colors. 2. Make sure to choose experiences the listener can relate to, like a funny happening at church or school. 3. As the teller, the more fully you “see” the story in your mind, the more powerful the impact on the mind of the listener.
“Afterward, she told me a vivid, touching story about how her dad supported her dream to become a teacher when no one else thought she could do it,” says Anne. “I think hearing my description of the classroom got her thinking of her own life.”
Telling jokes is another successful technique that produces endorphins in the brain, giving a feeling of well-being. Anne says to keep the joke simple, short, related to something the listener has in long-term memory, and repeat key words. Be sure to let the person know you are going to tell them a joke before you begin.
When Anne presents workshops about using stories to help people with memory loss, as she did recently at Jonesborough’s International Storytelling Center, she shares scientific evidence that proves hearing a story causes listeners to focus attention and feel better.
For some good jokes, visit the Oregon Tellers website at oregontellers.com. They graciously allowed us to share the one below from their book of jokes currently in progress. Try it out on someone you know!
She suggests three storytelling tips for people who live with, care for or visit with those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s.
What Fish? A man is walking from the lake carrying two fish in a bucket. The game warden walks up and asks him for his fishing license. The fisherman says, “I didn’t catch these fish, sir, they’re my pets. Every day I come down to the lake and let them get some exercise. When I whistle they swim back to me and jump right into the bucket.” The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license. The fisherman turns to the warden and says, “If you don’t believe me, just watch,” as he throws the fish back into the water. Some time passes and the warden says, “Now whistle to your fish and show me that they will come out of the water.”
Have a favorite joke to share? Send it to us at heartandsoul@msha. com or mail it to us the old-fashioned way: Heart & Soul, 303 Med Tech Parkway, Suite 280, Johnson City, TN 37604. If we print your joke you will win two free tickets to a performance of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild.
The fisherman turns to the warden and says, “What fish?”
Website: MountainStatesHealth.com/heart-and-soul Email:
[email protected] Call toll-free: 844-478-7685 (SOUL) 4
Our mission is to provide education and benefits that encourage and enhance the health and lifestyle of members age 60+ living in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
