All Posts in "Month: October 2024"

‘Asahel’ documents preservation of his historical photos

(Pictured: Asahel Curtis took this picture in 1929 of Galbraith Dock on the Seattle waterfront. The steamship Hyak Poulsbo (lower right) and the double-wing airplane ferry to Bremerton and Gorst in Kitsap County (middle) are tied up at piers. Downtown buildings are seen in the background.)

The race to preserve 60,000 priceless and fragile photographs capturing the diversity of Pacific Northwest life during the last two centuries is the subject of a documentary from Cascade PBS.

Most of the images—made by photographer Asahel Curtis from the 1890s to 1940s—have remained in boxes and unseen by all but a handful of people for the past 80 years. “Asahel: The Curtis Collection,” relating the Washington State Historical Society’s purchase of and ongoing effort to digitize the massive collection for free public use, is available to stream via the Cascade PBS app and at cascadepbs.org

“Every day is an adventure as we digitize images,” said Margaret Wetherbee, head of collections at the Historical Society. “What will we find? Steam engines, historical fashion, or signs for businesses long forgotten? These moments provide a glimpse into the lives of Washington’s past residents.” 

The images are fragile, captured on glass plates or nitrate negatives. Because they’re susceptible to combustion, the originals are at risk and must be stored in climate-controlled vaults. Each image is being scanned in time-consuming process to ensure the collection survives, Weatherbee said. 

During his career, Curtis often made images of everyday life in the Northwest: People at work in barbershops and flower shops, on the waterfront, in logging camps. He also produced photographs of the region’s natural wonders, including ice caves, mountain peaks, and coulees. 

The Curtis collection “is a gold mine of history and connection for the people of the Pacific Northwest and beyond,” said the documentary’s co-producer, narrator and historian, Knute Berger, who also hosts Cascade PBS’ “Mossback’s Northwest.” Public access to the photos “will likely change—and will certainly enrich—our view of the region and its people,” he said.

Asahel (pronounced “AY-shul”) Curtis, who died in 1941, is the brother of the even more famous photographer Edward Curtis, whose life’s work aimed, incorrectly, to portray Native Americans as people on the verge of extinction. While Edward Curtis’ portfolio is appreciated in some cases for its historical value, today it’s also criticized for distorted perspective and damaging impact. 

The Curtis brothers parted ways early in their careers and took different approaches with their work. 

“Connecting to our past is really about empathy and being able to empathize” with what people experienced and “to gain understanding of our own experience,” Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society, says in “Asahel: The Curtis Collection.” 

Cascade PBS is a public media organization serving the Northwest with Public Broadcasting
System national and local programming, independent news and investigative journalism.

The Senior Scene by — October 17, 2024 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

In retirement, personal finances and healthcare costs go hand in hand. A lack of preparation for one can expose a retiree to serious risks in the other, as illustrated by research jointly published in March by eHealth Inc., an online private health insurance marketplace, and Retirable, a platform offering products and services for retirement, investing, and financial planning.

About 520 responses to a survey from Americans 60 to 70 years old were collected. Key findings from the report include:

  • The cost of health care is the leading financial concern in retirement: Overall, 63 percent cite the costs as a top worry in retirement, ahead of running out of money (58 percent) and inflation (53 percent).
  • Worry about costs is cramping retirees’ lifestyles. Fifty-five say healthcare costs cause them to spend less than they would otherwise.
  • Only one-third have saved money specifically for health care costs:  33 percent of those currently retired saved any money specifically for healthcare costs they might face after retiring.

“Selecting the right Medicare health plan for your personal needs and budget is an incredibly important financial consideration in retirement,” said Fran Solstman, eHealth’s chief executive officer. “Affordable premiums are key, but it’s also important to look beyond premiums. By choosing a Medicare insurance plan that properly aligns with your personal health care needs, you can minimize or avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.”

The survey also revealed:

  • Most don’t think their money will last through retirement. Among current retirees, only 42% believe they will have enough money to last through retirement; among those not yet retired, that figure is 29%.
  • Non-mortgage debt is a hurdle for many: Overall, 46% of respondents have non-mortgage debt; among these, nearly 80% are in debt $5,000 or more.
  • Financial scams and identity theft worry many: 73% express concern about financial fraud and identity theft; 39% have had their identity stolen or been a victim of fraud.
The Senior Scene by — October 17, 2024 in Personal Finance/Consumers
Keep squatting for an all-body workout

By Michelle Crouch

Seated? Please stand (don’t use your hands) to give tribute to the one exercise that fitness gurus say stands out among the rest for healthy aging. Now be seated again. Consider that your first rep.

Yes, a great workout challenges all of the major muscle groups in your upper and lower body. But if you have time for only one exercise, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by doing squats — the classic move in which you slowly lower your bottom to seated level, then stand back up. 

“The squat is the most important exercise for seniors,” says Eric Daw, a personal trainer dedicated to older adults and founder of Omni-Fitt in Toronto, Canada. “When you have to go to the washroom, that’s a squat. When you get in the car, that’s a squat. Every time you sit down or stand up, that’s a squat. If you don’t do them well, it affects the way you live.”  

Squats strengthen all of the muscle groups in legs, including calves, quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, as well as muscles in the lower back and core. Those muscles provide the foundation for most activities of daily living.

Squats are the antidote to soft couch-cushion syndrome — those challenging moments when we struggle to get up from that deep, old sofa. They can also help protect joints, improve balance and prevent falls, says Denise Austin, for 40 years one of America’s best-known fitness experts and authors.

“Squats are one of the best overall exercises,” Austin said. “They strengthen the major muscles of the lower body we need to keep strong and also protect two joints we need help with on a regular basis — our knees and our hips.” 

Here’s how to squat:

1. Get in position.

Choose a spot where you can hold on to a kitchen counter, a table or another steady surface. That makes it easier to focus on your form without worrying about your balance, Austin said. Set your feet about shoulder-width apart or a little wider. (If you have hip issues, put your legs a little farther apart.) Toes should face slightly outward.

2. Lower into a squat.

Keeping your back straight, chest up and heels planted, push your hips back like you are sitting in a chair. Try to keep your weight evenly distributed on both feet, with your weight mostly on your heels, not your toes. Make sure your knees don’t extend forward over your toes, because that can hurt your knees. If you have knee or hip issues, you don’t need to do a deep bend. The coming-up part of the exercise is what really builds strength, Austin said.

3. Repeat.

Aim for two sets of eight to 10, at a tempo of two seconds down, two seconds up. Inhale on the way down and exhale on the way up. As you tire at the end of the set, make sure you’re not hunching over or letting your knees cave in. For the best results, do two or three times a week.

4. Get your arms in play.

As you start to build strength, try doing your squats without holding on to anything. For balance, let your arms rise parallel in front of you on the downward part of the squat, then drop them to your sides when you stand up, Austin suggested. Another option is to cross your arms across your chest. That can help keep you upright if you tend to hunch over, Daw said.

5. For a greater challenge, add resistance.

Once you can do two sets of 15 without feeling any muscle soreness afterward, you’re ready to add some weight. The easiest way is to hold a pair of dumbbells. “That’s how you build strength faster,” Daw said. Start with low weights and build up.

​Source: AARP. Michelle Crouch has covered health and personal finance for Reader’s Digest, the Washington Post and the New York Times.

The Senior Scene by — October 9, 2024 in Health & Fitness
Protein and fiber all day, every day

(Pictured: Vegetables are sources of much-needed fiber, notes Kristin Kirkpatrick.)

By Kristin Kirkpatrick

Consumers are becoming more savvy about getting the most bang for their nutritional buck. Protein and fiber remain at the forefront of food and wellness trends. Understanding the nutritional benefits of adequate protein and fiber can guide you toward making healthier dietary choices. Here are some ways to optimize both throughout the day.

  • Start the day off with protein. A quick review of the standard American breakfast reveals choices that aren’t always aligned with optimal fueling. Swapping the daily doughnut or sugary breakfast cereal can make a big difference in how you feel and your energy throughout the day. It may also help with weight management and brain power, as well. A 2024 study showed that protein at breakfast, for example, increased satiety and concentration. For more protein, consider scrambled eggs with veggies and cheese, yogurt with berries, a protein smoothie, or steel-cut oats with chopped nuts and hemp seeds. If you’re craving something sweet (like a breakfast muffin), consider Quest’s new protein-packed muffins as an alternative. They provide 10g of protein and fiber with only 2g of sugar – a perfect nutritional profile to fuel your best day.
  • When choosing carbohydrate-rich sources, make sure the source has fiber attached. The body recognizes food as either easy to digest ( candy and stripped grains) or hard to digest (whole grains and vegetables). Easy-to-digest food may put the body on a roller coaster of blood sugar and insulin, leading to the inevitable sugar crash and zapped energy. However, hard-to-digest food takes time and energy to break down. Fiber is the ultimate hard-to-digest food since the body can’t digest it, and studies show that it helps slow the reaction of sugar metabolism. Fiber may also help prevent type 2 diabetes, leading to better metabolic health. Get more fiber by snacking on nuts and seeds, adding beans and lentils as a plant-based source of protein, or focusing on cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens at mealtimes.
  • Optimize protein and fiber in drinks. Fiber-rich or protein-rich drinks can be a great way to sneak both into your day. You can obtain this by consuming protein shakes with added fruit, vegetables, and nuts to get that added fiber ,or by consuming milk or bone broth for protein without the fiber.
  • Don’t forget about plant-based options in your efforts to optimize protein and fiber. Variety is key when it comes to protein options. A 2022 study found that a variety of protein sources may help enhance health by reducing cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure. Plant-based proteins fit in well with vegetarian lifestyles and pack fiber in addition to protein. Examples include beans and lentils, quinoa, soy, and nuts and seeds. Some vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, also contain protein.
  • Consume protein before other macronutrients. Studies show that consuming protein before other macronutrients (alongside nutrients such as fiber) may help improve overall satiety and blood sugar control. To do this, consider having a few bites of protein before diving into the rest of the meal. For breakfast, this may mean having a few bites of yogurt or eggs before consuming whole-grain toast; for lunches and dinners, a few bites of chicken or tuna before consuming grains. You can also drink protein-rich snacks a few hours before meals.
  • Add protein and fiber as a garnish. Don’t limit them to meals, snacks and drinks. Consider adding these nutrients as garnishes to food. The best way is to add nutrient-rich nuts and seeds to foods. Add nuts to salads to boost protein and healthy fats, add seeds such as hemp seeds to yogurt, try roasted chickpeas or toasted quinoa on top of veggie bowls, or add nutritional yeast to pasta dishes.
  • Time your protein intake with your exercise regimen. Protein and exercise go hand in hand. Timing is essential to maximize benefits based on the type of exercise. For resistance training, studies show that protein after exercise is the ideal way to maximize muscle growth. Whey protein (found in dairy products such as milk and cheese) and supplemental protein sources (such as Quest ready-to-drink protein drinks) may offer a supportive means to better muscle growth. Some studies have suggested protein before resistance training may assist as well. Therefore, if you’re more likely to consume protein before rather than after a workout, you may still see benefits. Finally, studies show that consuming protein after workouts may also enhance calorie burning in addition to muscle growth.
  • End the day with protein. Consuming protein throughout the day helps optimize muscle maintenance, especially in older individuals. Why limit protein to just meals and snacks? That dessert you crave at the end of the day can also pack a protein punch.

Source: Brandpoint. Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian and author, has appeared on national television shows, including NBC Nightly News, TODAY, and The Dr. Oz Show.

The Senior Scene by — October 9, 2024 in Food, People