Featured Stories
In This Issue
What's Age Got To Do With It?
Why do we grow old? What’s happening to our bodies with the passage of time? And at what age does a person officially become old?
Dr. Sanjay Gupta has some answers.
Ask Larry: Will I Lose My Job To AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an incredibly powerful technology that
is revolutionizing and changing how we work and play.
From Tennis Racquet to Surgeon's Scalpel
Read the fascinating story of Dr. Gerald Sydorak who escaped Nazi
Germany in WW II to come to America with his father.
Looking For Senior Independent Living?
per month. Independent, home-style living with meals included.
How Are You Doing Financially?
Is your money growing and secure? Take a free "money quiz" to find out how you stack up.
Is a Reverse Mortgage Right For You?
Need extra cash to pay off bills? Invest? Remodel? Travel?
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Senior Foster Pets For Seniors
Fostering and/or adopting a pet can be life changing for the person and the pet. Discover why senior pets make perfect companions for seniors. Visit: Silicon Valley Pet Project.
The Importance Of Physical Exercise
It is NO secret. Physical exercise is one of the most important things you can do to live longer and healthier. Learn more.
Be Kind To Each Other
Let me know what kind of stories you like to read in the Scoop, the leading digital publication and website for boomers and seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Feel free to share this issue with your family and friends. It's FREE.
For more stories and news about boomers and seniors, visit ActiveOver50.com. Larry@ActiveOver50.com.
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Why do we grow old? What’s happening to our bodies with the passage of time? And at what age does a person officially become old?
Those are some of the many questions that came to my mind when we started working on this season. Old age was considered by scholars and writers to start around 60 – which seems a bit out of step with our contemporary times when, after all, 50 is the new 40 or maybe even 30.
But even a 2009 Pew Research survey of Americans adults pegged that number at 68. (That was the average of all answers; tellingly, survey respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 put the number at 60, while those 65 and older said 74).
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Ask Larry
"Should I Worry About Losing My
Job To AI?"
--Jane, marketing/sales director
It's highly unlikely AI (Artificial Intelligence) will replace your job. Instead, it will make you more productive AND valuable to your employer. An incredibly powerful technology, AI is revolutionizing and changing the workplace forever.
AI can benefit marketing and sales directors by providing data-driven insights, enabling personalized campaigns, automating tasks, predicting trends and optimizing strategies.
It can enhance customer support with Chatbots, improve lead scoring, and aid in content creation. AI also assists in A/B testing, competitor analysis, and sales forecasting, making marketing/sale directors more valuable by driving informed decisions, efficiency and growth.
The AI revolution is no longer just a pipe dream—it is here and happening now.
P.S. As a journalist and publisher, I use AI for copy editing, proofreading, rephrasing, brainstorming and more. It's a valuable assistant. Try it. ChatGTP. Free.
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Got a question or comment? Ask me anything. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask someone who does. Ask Larry is written by Larry Hayes, A050 publisher. Email: Larry@activeover50.com. Visit:
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Tennis Racquet To Surgeon's Scalpel
The Dual Passions
And Journey Of
Dr. Gerald Sydorak
By Dr. Gerald Sydorak, M.D
I was born in Krakow, Poland during WW II. Luckily, it was one of a few major Eastern European cities that was not destroyed by the Germans or Russians. It still remains a pristine historical city.
My grandfather, Michael Sydorak, had come to the U.S. in 1911 prior to WW I. He remained here until the major depression of 1929 at which time he returned to Eastern Poland (what is now Western Ukraine).
He bought some land and property and settled to raise his family. Unfortunately, a serious malignancy shortened his life and he never returned to the USA. My dad was an accountant and somewhat of
a business entrepreneur.
When the Germans took over Poland, he was hired by a journal to handle their finances. As it turned out, it was an anti-Communist journal.
As a result, at the end of WW ll, he was on the list of enemies of the Soviet State and scheduled to be executed. Through some friends
in the anti-Soviet underground, he and I were smuggled in a furniture transport to U.S. held West Germany.
My dad got the position of assistant head for the U.S. YMCA-YWCA
for all Eastern European emigres, basically organizing and running teenage recreational facilities such as summer camps and also organizing sporting facilities.
I basically spent my early years in West Germany as an orphan without a mother traipsing from one ethic camp to another, often taken care of by sympathetic, doting women.
READ MORE to learn about Dr. Sydorak's dual life as a surgeon and tennis player.
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Ask Marilyn
"Is a Reverse Mortgage Right For Me?"
With over 15 years experience right here in Silicon Valley, I can help answer your questions about reverse mortgages.
Q: Will the bank own my home?
The bank does not take ownership of your home; they simply extend a loan to you. You continue to own and live in your home and are responsible for payment of property taxes, required insurance and if applicable, HOA fees.
Q: Do my children/family members lose their inheritance?
No, a borrower may designate an heir of their choosing.The heir(s) will inherit the home after the last surviving borrower passes away and may then choose to keep (by paying off the amount of reverse mortgage balance) or sell the home. Should they choose to sell, any remaining equity after paying off the loan (minus interest and fees) would be theirs.
Q: What is the lending limit of the HECM reverse mortgage?
As of January 1, 2023, it increased to $1,089,300. Which means it's very likely you can qualify for more money.
To learn more about reverse mortgages, feel free to call me today. 408.722.0010.
Marilyn Brown Ross Branch Manager & Reverse Mortgage Professional NMLS #453436/1221981
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Take The Money Quiz!
Playing The Money Game. By The Numbers
By Evelyn Preston, The Money Lady
“Financial Planning” is always a numbers game—let’s
play by matching short, general definitions to some numbers and percentages that pop up in our money lives.
Limited column space must leave broader explanations up to the reader. However, with this start, it’s easy to find more definitive info online in the library and elsewhere.
Numbers constantly fluctuate due to the economy and affect our everyday world. It can help to periodically check amounts of fees, penalties, bank and mortgage rates, all credit/debit cards and payment plans. Things change.
While numbers can be confusing, they shouldn’t be intimidating. It’s especially important to follow those numbers that apply to your lifestyle and well-being, especially as we age. It’s a jumble out there…be aware, ask questions, use basic math and you’ll win the game.
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Senior Shelter Dog Brings Companionship
To Senior Couple
By Karen Zamel
Making the decision to foster and maybe even adopt a pet takes time but it’s time well spent. Fostering and/or adopting can be life changing for a person and a pet.
It’s literally a life-saving decision at a time when shelters are bursting at the seams, scrambling to avoid euthanasia and calling loudly for help from the community. Senior pets, who make perfect companions for seniors, are especially at risk.
The good news is that there are many benefits to fostering! Here are just a few:
● You – and the pet – have time and space to acclimate; you can revel in the process of getting to know a cat or dog and figure out
the future, without the pressure of a permanent commitment.
● It gets a homeless pet out of a cage and out of harm’s way.
● It gives you a companion, an important purpose and the time to decide if you want a pet (and specifically that pet).
● The organization you work with will likely provide your pet’s food, medical or behavioral care, education, guidance and additional support while the pet is in foster care.
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For a Chuckle Or Two, Check Out John Donaghue's Latest Comics.
Under Cardiac Arrest is a comic series starring a quirky couple loosely based on John Donaghue's parents. Besides thousands of followers online, UCA has been translated into greeting cards, shirts, mugs and a book.
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The Importance of Physical Activity
Our body is made to do physical activity. The more we move, the more we benefit our health, strength and physical function. The greater the intensity of our physical activity, the more calories we burn. Calorie values also vary depending on the intensity of the activity.
As a reminder, it is always important to consult with your doctor before beginning a new physical activity program.
Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes per week, or 30 minutes 5 times per week, of moderate intensity physical activity. You don’t have to do it all at once. Even 15-minute sessions count and add up during the day. Example: a 15-minute brisk walk after lunch and 15 minutes after dinner add-up to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day. If you are trying to lose weight, aim for 300 minutes a week. Example: 60 minutes per day, five times a week.
What do different intensities of exercise look like?
Light intensity
These are activities done in everyday life. Your breathing and heart rate are almost at resting levels. While beneficial, they do not count toward your activity goals.
Moderate intensity
Your breathing and heart rate increase. You can talk comfortably but you cannot hold a tune to sing.
Vigorous intensity
Your breathing and heart are quite elevated. You cannot say more than a few words without having to take a breath.
Aim for moderate to vigorous intensity exercise as recommended by your doctor. The following are examples of moderate and vigorous activities which will help you meet your aerobic activity goals.
• Aerobic class
• Dancing
• Yard work
• Brisk walking
• Team sports
• Tennis
• Pilates
• Bicycling
• Hiking
• Martial arts
• Swimming
• Running/jogging
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose is the largest independent physician’s association in Santa Clara County. We have been part of the community for 40 years with more than 1,000 doctors in 460 offices, plus we speak 30+ languages. Call 888-988-8682 or visit pmgmd.com for more information.
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Discover Chateau-Cupertino
Senior Independent Living Community With a Flair
Senior living doesn't get any better than living at
Chateau-Cupertino whether you're in retirement or just ready for the next great phase of your life. Enjoy a home-life environment in your own senior apartment with three fresh served home-style meals daily.
Housekeeping and laundry services, all basic utilities, great activity programs, game rooms and transportation--all included starting at $3,400 per month.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cupertino is one of the best places to live in northern CA--home to world famous Apple Inc.
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Get The "Inside Scoop"
On Living Longer & Healthier
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