The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay, 2020-05-01 10:01:13

The Harbor Light - May 2020

MAY HARBOR LIGHT (for webF)

HarboTrhe Light

H a r b o r H e ro e s

k e e p i n g s p i r i t s u P I N U N C E RTA I N T I M E S

MAY 2020

M AY

A Special Message from President Harry Hobson

Right from the very onset to proceed. We will continue to all know some events in life are
of Coronavirus hitting test and re-test when necessary. out of our control, but what’s in
our soil, the nation was left to This is history in the making, our control is how we cope and
decide for themselves what and we applaud all our team ultimately how we react. I hope
news sources to watch and who members and residents for you continue to take inspiration
to trust. their continued support. This from Chaplain Dick Sparrow,
Plymouth Harbor, like many, Coronavirus will be studied Dr. Francis Battisti and Dr. Paul
chose to focus on medical for many years to come and Groen. Together we will weather
protocol and scientific data by because of you, Plymouth this storm.
way of screening and testing. Harbor will have the ability to
When an individual from an look back and analyze its own In closing, I also would like to
outside nursing agency tested data for whatever the future extend my deepest gratitude for
positive, we immediately began holds. the many generous donations
wall-to-wall testing of our team you have made to The Plymouth
members and residents in the As the nation slowly begins Harbor Foundation on behalf
Smith Care Center. This resulted its journey of healing and of our team members. Our
in six team members and one re-writing the playbook of Employee Hardship Fund has
resident testing positive. Since doing business, I hope you never been more meaningful
then, we have re-tested these continue to remain patient. to our team members and I
individuals a second and third During Florida’s early re- sincerely thank you on their
time, and I am very happy to opening phases, I ask that you behalf.
announce that all have tested continue doing your part by
negative. The team members practicing social distancing, Be well,
have all returned to work and wearing masks, washing your Harry Hobson
our resident to his apartment. hands and limiting your non-
Realizing we may not exactly be essential footprints out in the
out of the woods, we continued community. No one knows for
to collect data and thank each sure what the lingering effects
of you for participating in an will have on the world, but there
Independent and Assisted remains no doubt that these
Living resident-wide testing this behaviors have been extremely
past week. favorable in the fight to prevent
Knowledge is power, and this the spread of this virus.
data will provide us with a true
medical baseline from which Anxiety does not come from
worrying about the future, but
from wanting to control it. We

2 ­— The Har bor Light

H a r b o r H e ro e s

Compiled by Beth Watson and Emmalee Molay
In the midst of ongoing change, Plymouth Harbor's Harbor Heroes continue to
serve and bring the utmost joy to our community in these uncertain times. We

want to shine the light on them, so here's a look into some more stories!

Splash of color

Plymouth Director of Wellness Summer Rentsch recently brought lots of color to campus.
Harbor
The Har bor Light — 3
Director of
Wellness
Summer
Rentsch

went back to
her creative
roots with
her colorful
and inspiring
chalk drawings
around campus.
Careful to place
the portraits
out of the way
of sprinklers,

Summer's
splash of hope

was a great
addition to an
outdoor walk
— something
we wish wasn't

so easily
erased by rain!
Summer said

she felt joy
knowing how
the portraits
could bring

a smile to
someone's face!

Make it your own

Resident Barbara Chin has enjoyed the equipment Understanding that the need
she has purchased from the Wellness Center. to exercise independently in
our homes requires a level of
Familiar faces creativity and resources, the
Wellness Center recently began
offering residents the option
to purchase small equipment.
Options include exercise bands,
mats, balls, yoga blocks and
dumbbells up to seven pounds,
among other items. Wellness
Director Summer Rentsch has
been receiving and processing
the orders each week, as well
as personally disinfecting to
deliver equipment to resident
doorsteps. If you are interested
in purchasing, please contact

Summer at Ext. 377.

Most of us have heard of the swallows Dick Sparrow, right, has been the
returning to Capistrano. Well, we have our Chaplain at Plymouth Harbor since
own birds in the Sparrows, who have returned 2016. He and his wife Mary Jane are on

to Plymouth Harbor. Rev. Dick Sparrow, campus for a temporary stay!
Plymouth Harbor's in-house Chaplain, has
temporarily moved to campus with his wife
Mary Jane. With the ongoing struggle of
having to stay in-place, the necessity of Rev.
Sparrow's resources and support made this
choice a no-brainer. "For us it's returning
again," Dick said. "We are grateful to be back.

We are so thankful to Harry Hobson for
offering us the guest room on the 19th floor."
Rev. Sparrow and his wife lived at Plymouth
Harbor for a year-and-a-half when Dick was
first introduced as the Chaplain. "Plymouth

Harbor took us in again, and we could not
be more grateful." If you happen to see Mary
Jane, alongside Dick, please make sure to say

hello and make them feel welcome!

4 —­ The Har bor Light

Ru s h to r e s p o n d

Smith Care Center team members, from It's no secret when COVID-19 hit our
left, Christina, Nancy, Jameria, Nicole and homeland, everyone began scrambling for
necessary PPE supplies. Plymouth Harbor’s
Lissette show off the donated masks! CFO Natallia Dziatsel was laden with the task
of finding PPE on the open market and in
one of her weekly calls, Natallia reached out
to our Brown & Brown Insurance broker Rob
Wagner. “It was late Friday evening, around 5
p.m. when Natallia and I talked,” Rob said. “She
sounded so desperate, and I felt so helpless.
Right off the bat I couldn’t think of any one
of my other clients that might be in the PPE
manufacturing business.” However, after
more thought, Rob reached out to ZENITH, a
Worker’s Compensation Insurance provider
and spoke with John Weber, whose Florida
office is located on Main Street in Sarasota.
Without hesitation, John picked up the phone

and called his CEO, Kari Van Gundy who
worked at their Los Angeles headquarters.
It seems that ZENITH naturally stocks such
PPE for when their employees are dispatched
to homes for inspection or various painting
tasks. Almost immediately, Kari instructed

her folks to ship the N95 masks sitting in
their warehouse to Plymouth Harbor at their
expense – 750 of them! With the time change
in our favor, the shipment was overnighted by
the end of their business day on a Friday and
arrived here on campus by Sunday morning.

“When Rob called me with this news late
Friday night, I just felt like crying,” recalled
Natallia “They could have sent them to any
nursing home in California and they didn’t,
they sent them to us.” Rob, John and Kari’s
reaction were all the same – they felt honored
that they could help us, even if having a small
part. From the west coast of Florida, to the
west coast of California we send our deepest
appreciation and thanks to Rob from Brown &
Brown and John Weber and Kari Van Gundy
from ZENITH who saw a need and stepped in

and took care of it!

The Har bor Light — 5

S e w i n g o n t h e h o m e f ro n t

Plymouth Harbor has been blessed to have so much help dealing with the constant need
for PPE. Many willing volunteers in our family have continued to sew and make masks

for our essential workers across campus — something we are so very grateful for! Some
residents, team members and former team members have been very busy!

Volunteers include, top row from left, team member Mikiton Herrera, resident Joyce
Fitzpatrick, former team member Dana Kulbersh and her mother Susana, former team
member Luis Arevalo; bottom row, resident Connie Sanders, Plymouth Harbor friend

Nicole Liriano and team member Elizabeth Goldsmith. Not pictured is resident Joan
Sheil. Volunteers Bert Adams and Lubov Shah are still making masks, too! If you know

of anyone else who is participating in this wonderful act, please let us know!

6 —­ The Har bor Light

taking EXTRA care

When news came that one of our residents tested positive for COVID-19,
our Facilities and Maintenance team sprang into action to install the

necessary Transitional Care Unit in our Smith Care Center. With the help
from a multitude of hands, the project was complete in about half a day and

has an extra room for designated nurses to limit exposure to the outside.

The Har bor Light — 7

STILL SHINING

We would like to once again
thank Plymouth Harbor
President/CEO Harry

Hobson and his wife Nancy
for their generous gift of

light as we continue to stay
indoors. The spark of joy
the display brings when
looking out your window is
a constant reminder we will
get through this difficult
time together, as a family!

Residents Sarah and George Pappas, left, and Carlotta and Dick Cooley

8 —­ The Har bor Light

RED symbolizes our first responders, WHITE for our
essential work force and BLUE for our medical professionals

Residents Karl and Ricky Newkirk

Photos by residents Susan Mauntel and Kay Showker; VP of Philanthropy Beth Watson

The Har bor Light — 9

SPREADING THEIR WINGS

Residents in Plymouth Harbor's Starr to the wild and let their wings spread far and
Memory Care recently said goodbye to a few wide. While the butterflies didn't want to leave
small friends in a big way. their cozy little homes at first, they eventually
warmed up to the outside world — flying away
After raising five butterflies from for someone else to see!
caterpillars in each of the Lido and Ringling
neighborhoods, the residents released them Goodbye, beautiful friends!

At left, resident
Florence Collins
attempts to coerce
a butterfly to fly
away. At bottom
left, resident Joey
Dubois looks at
a butterfly on the
flowers. At bottom
right, a butterfly rests
on a bush after being
released.

10 ­— The Har bor Light AROUND CAMPUS

JUST A REMINDER

As a reminder,
all internal
communication
for independent
residents is at
the newly built
mailboxes next
to the Tower
elevators. The only
items that will be
behind the Tower
Front Desk will be
the spare apartment
key, packages and
medication. Thank
you!

CONSERVATION TIP

If you are following The Har bor Light — 11
hand washing guidelines to
combat COVID-19, you
should be lathering for a
minimum of 20 seconds
for five to 10 times each
day. Please turn off the
water while you lather
and you can help save a
great deal of water. Since
there has been very little
rainfall in Florida this
winter, conserving water is
especially important.

AROUND CAMPUS

The Spirit of Philanthropy

In times of need, The Foundation Steps Up

DcaythfaltCgypfaCtderssIssPwmonattOaatstaioooooehhetauheoeeaolnnrpslnaieonOoButlwerysueealygratroocaamlvvddpeoiaunevttmtelmoVarvemmetnheahhrrehewwrsotnrspg-.,cbiuIrIfGaiuuthdyebptcpcciorapoDblcglaeeNbtshhslagunntetnrmercatayarvirtshirutluuxaio-seeeiamahhoaoeiponoimotoeetcvnn1nceahotcantsiermraletosfueartettuhehoieg9stetginfatuoheahetmmhrhRsitinuiertrtdedlenrb.dsoolodprnutwHseslitaeeioooewmdtetrsaitribaasl,dnnrrltttrlnmriefysrfoaseascepntmy.linoodsaeweteyeaesielnhusnroayfmhd,ytcyFgvraesolenbroitioedrpdiutsdoseehucigtskyuepgohudit.uuprece,mneeinhotopreri,e.onnhnt,daafsertg,cdtsy AucttiddietbdsnsihheoxeeeunmsBaeeannsAcprrealoemiseicspaJFncsbiscueostoriragp.loiittrineauuvlprlmnnteetiiwnshltticeefeootydodetaooanenafiosasarsstde’trynfssetsatierosohdyddgnrliwiueonbeesiiotvftraiuucmfottiieshhrtncieneougtr,nlt beupsCiSvpLtwTFPhmiaomhvnaueavaierelunirtriildasiiqneywcnotndhlsuhhgw,luhdeeemaetiasaanemaiClolsspolnvttnvaniiiodwnaeerdocrceAedeigno.netsweMsdhTttnrlCfdslorwheohineietssiarssibueoiecmnystliurldihcttntbotteenhhegerrneee.ytws iTtpdtwawoamrfrnliheenlhoirnmsiisesleittudeaoeootihhdseadstrrFeoriibsaniettavestothhgecnioeytmhPupeaeeitfsnpeainlsn.iinaasrrogurddKdioit.nvrntdlssfeasocchoeositeficvhsfeiorracaotpooemasilarZaridnnestnnOesloitngtw.aaOpgsciMletl

Beth Watson has been the Vice President of Philanthropy of The Plymouth Harbor
Foundation since 2019. Please feel free to call her with questions or comments at Ext. 398.

12 ­— The Har bor Light

Employee Hardship Fund

PtoaiAhHoehEntmude1hPwFNtvhcfacHhatFrltGwtdPplgbtmitiuoeehhhheoagkeooenlnxxs9llleanuaeeaeeanu.sOAaeaeoahyyyaaaanseaeeecpnahrinuuvtrrddTvalie9eiretrrrinmmmsiltnonpvyjnummerndddmigmhnteetberdehlnnop2trettieethe,swdagtfeypryhksssoociegruoooooresddrhalnots,oapdras;hhoytes,ommtibEttirhaoorarMruuuuhrcsaaaomoisnptnfmiolwPfauiidecutnuemoomaetovecairtpptuttlttturafyreeahgtprglolneciiihgkhasahhhsalanrsebsuyymevscerinootdrrmmoeeperiusrffhmhteieedom.aeemdtllFFtrfotlaeodnnHHHfniftiiiteoiliaicuhrsbadlshatnseCavsbbuuseothcmw“fqpr.iuoeaeohpfaaaeb,hiyrllrrwoececgiegGOueennnyleyrSutanxdodeswdrrrTemuineltleeeoidinieshrrelaoeteddiropbbblonfoVegmsauhindtyeissded.vf,ctgysecnnef,bh,ueooohogss,fIr.”stgeeceeeooicD-yattblobnieciolnfrrrTdhesyrndnpaadsnuuti’t-yyoreyfhonsrn,1etrsltedes.d9 ofHCattrab$mH$rfdfotb$TfhdhowutaaaTFf$thWtkEtwhaddwioooroooehhheeiovnnlnhhm1312rauiooneaiuarrrOoTaonrdehhlrrrrialqeeeeiailuytssddaresl5040areeuuhhregslrhtmmwsdVoiipimpoosuiataaisccdhlltnnta0,,0cm,icbFylssoecdieehl,srinItn00aeelasatsepuiysiiewDdtekmtodo,,seolresiioospnyttonba0000darpnmldhrvspowoigipyhapeyyuaeyncg-doenayfiagttsileel0000uChimle1ttnonrloeeomtiimorcchinpatooelenutgd,rys,hhternoi00yleOai9ooeecul,enawaiuofaditbymupmosrwuitdedtnnnpFxioreafoshhsnnenVsllfthipsnmrsna-uaafrAcohap’rutsonitgoosirfedetssbmieebsotddentiIontsyrrhotdc2tttheuessinlenDhrgierolcl’sedeieeieequngmngsehr1cihosrybeaa0eljnselmhatekdanmyt-trpdidoaddeiuseuaeo8aenarrircu2h1epaosslseeide.tnege,asybipwsevaaae1dctueott0nb9etafadntietatiesetsksroldtlrorr.geoer.etysn,t,h.edeess,ndce.nset $200,000

$180,000

$160,000

$140,000

$120,000

$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$20,000

$0

Current Total:
$76,600

tdfipHmttstoyttctcuahsaaoooehhuohonaaisfAasckeaner,pmaunrdthtprpiolemmdoithnhtlpbrdrerllhuhupseateotgaoouelbf.eghhonapmynniaprrmnsreIhsiiuftmg’khspouooswwersougeiounssfcicnyrmmtiwpohaa..lfehmoeoffeiivnenPeoonsPbsoatuesfaletalshrm,lemualaeaeeyronfneiaawrunriaovmsdennwsnorldlesdrlhetnegttaeosreoohotwehnusf,eiditprrhe, ptqdopdtoutyiohounolhurrmyeguproecemneioisFrnmncfosetonoeagi.ytacoutunoateaihntnlhutcdshebsdeutEehsheaospimxnatatetntpathirv.eoebtoweh3endobro9@tryw.8
THANK YOU!

VPBheictielhaPnWrtehasrtoisdopenynt of

The Har bor Light — 13

WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS!

Introducing your newest neighbors

SAM SEAGER & MARJE LIEBERMAN

Apartment T-414; Ext. 432

By Wendy Underwood New Jersey, to Appleton, E. Booker Elementary so now that they are
Biography Committee Wisconsin, to Atlanta. School, served as together, they spend
Along the way, he served guardian ad litem and every summer soaking
They are an interesting, on a school board, was volunteered at Children's up music and theater in
vibrant pair, happy to a member and president Services. the Berkshires.
be settled in their lovely, of a hospital board, and
flower-filled apartment in Sarasota, one of the Both are readers and They already had
overlooking Bird Key founders of the Sarasota enjoy opera, classical friends at Plymouth
and looking forward Executive Service Corp music and theater. Harbor before moving
to making new friends (now merged into the They spend summers in in. Catha Abrahams
here. Marje Lieberman Sarasota Community Massachusetts. In fact, and Marje went to
and Sam Seager have Foundation). He has a Sam often visited the high school and college
been partners since son in Boston, and two Berkshires as a young together in Brooklyn.
2008 and had been daughters in Chicago. adult, but not during the Now they are looking
neighbors enjoying next 35 years while his forward to meeting
retirement at Grand Bay Marje is vivacious job took him to other more of their interesting
on Longboat Key. After and attractive, born parts of the country. neighbors and enjoying
a move downtown four in Brooklyn, with Happily, Marje has the good life here in
years ago, they came undergraduate and owned a house in Lenox, their new home. Please
to Plymouth Harbor in graduate degrees from Massachusetts, for many let them know how
February. Brooklyn College. She years and is an active happy we are to have
and her first husband volunteer at Tanglewood, them!
Sam is a tall, lanky lived in Manhattan for
golfer, born in New York many years. With a life-
City, with undergraduate long interest in young
and graduate degrees children, she taught
from Harvard. He rose elementary school,
from an entry level ran an arts and crafts
position in a Kimberly- program at the New
Clark paper mill in York Foundling Hospital,
Massachusetts to the was involved in a
presidency of one of its corporate day­care center
divisions. His career took and sold real estate. After
him across the country, moving to Sarasota, she
from Mountainside, volunteered at Emma

14 —­ The Har bor Light WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS!

MEURIG "MIKE" WILLIAMS

Apartment T-514; Ext. 438

By Cerita Purmort in Wilmington, Delaware. it was thrilling to jog on the
However, most of his career path around the Imperial Palace
Biography Committee was as a scientist at Xerox and on country lanes in Chiba
Corporation, Rochester, New Prefecture. He is the holder of
"I was a rambunctious rather York, and as a technology 15 U.S. patents, a few based on
than a studious child," according administrator at Federal Express synthetic chemistry but mostly
to new resident Meurig in Memphis, Tennessee. His from the far easier "picking
Williams. As you read on, you main interest was investigating low hanging fruit" of copier
will see how that viewpoint has why two materials develop technology. His work has been
changed significantly. an electrical charge when featured in many professional
touched and separated which publications, including
Meurig will also respond is one of the basics of copier American Scientist.
to “Mike” and he is from the technology. A transition from
small town of Llandeilo, Wales. such scientific research to high In retirement, Meurig lived at
According to him, it is one of tech administration at Federal Lakewood Ranch for 20 years
the most beautiful and historic Express in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to Plymouth
towns in that country. Small boat was an important part of his Harbor. In addition to being
sailing was the perfect adventure career. While working there, a scientist, Meurig enjoys
for him in his youth and later, he had the opportunity to opportunities for discovering
squash became his sport. He spend a year in Japan, mostly "hidden talent" and has taken
received a scholarship to Jesus in central Tokyo. Meurig said drawing courses at the Ringling
College Oxford University, the School of Art and Design. He
same award that was held by
T. E. Lawrence of has started a novel but
Arabia. He received a declined to reveal the
bachelor’s, first class storyline.
honors, master’s and a
Doctor of Philosophy Longevity is important
in peptide chemistry, in the history of the
followed by a post- Williams family. His
doctoral position father was a Deacon
at University of in the Congressional
California, Berkeley. Church in Llandeilo and
The contrast between died before reaching
the United States the age of others in his
and depressed post family. However, Meurig's
World War II Britain mother lived 104 years
was an enlightening and his uncle lived 108
experience and he years. If these family
eventually became a statistics continue to
United States citizen. this generation, there
will be plenty of time to
Meurig spent a brief meet Meurig and extend
period of time at the a friendly welcome to
DuPont company Plymouth Harbor.

WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS! The Har bor Light — 15

GEORGE & JANET ALLGAIR

Apartment NW-310; Ext. 290

By Catha Abrahams New Jersey Jazz Society and has enjoy other activities, like biking,
Biography Committee an extensive collection of jazz sailing, kayaking and traveling.
CD--s. Although George hastens to say
Jazz — That's what brought he was never a "jock," and Janet
George and Janet Allgair together Both George and Janet are observes that he is actually a real
when they were both in medical anesthesiologists. He began his student with great focus and
school. He was at Temple college career as an Economics powers of concentration, he most
University School of Medicine, major and became interested in enjoys spending a lot of his time
she was at what was then called medicine while he served in the at physical activities.
Women's Medical College, and Navy. Janet was raised by a father
they met at a jazz party. Avid who encouraged his daughter Janet likes to garden and had
listeners throughout their lives, to "go for broke" educationally. her own garden outside her
they decided to buy in Sarasota They shared their specialty, and condo before she moved into
in part because they found an they shared in the raising of the Northwest Garden. In the
active jazz scene here. George their son and daughter while past she volunteered at the
has served on the Board of the they were a two-career family, Frelinghuysen Arboretum in
Jazz Club of Sarasota and the well before that was as common Morristown, New Jersey, where
as it is today. They also both the Allgairs lived for 40 years.
Locally, she was a member of
the Sarasota Garden Club and a
participant in the "secret garden”
at the Ringling Museum of Art, a
special project for SGC members
which she greatly enjoyed, not
least because it spawned many
gardening friendships. She is
already thinking about what she
will plant in her garden here at
Plymouth Harbor, should a plot
be available. Her other hobbies
are needlepoint, cooking and
baking, and the members of her
Colony have already gotten their
first taste of her prowess in the
kitchen.

Plymouth Harbor, the
Northwest Garden and the
Allgairs are going to be a
wonderful fit!

All biographies organized by the Residents Association of Plymouth
Harbor, Inc. Biography Committee and Chairperson Judy Stanford

16 ­— The Har bor Light WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS!

HARBOR FAITH

And people stayed home Plymouth
And read books Harbor's
And listened Chaplain Dick
And they rested Sparrow would
And did exercises like to reach out
to residents in
And made art and played hopes of finding
And learned new ways of being more wonderful
messages for
And stopped and listened his video series
More deeply "Setting Sail."
If you or anyone
Someone meditated, someone prayed
Someone met their shadow you know
would like to
And people began to think differently participate in
And people healed. the project, Dick
asks that you
And in the absence of people who draft a message
Live in ignorant ways that is between
two and five
Dangerous, meaningless and heartless, minutes. The
The earth also began to heal message will
be filmed and
And when the danger ended and run on Channel
People found themselves
They grieved for the dead 195 for all
And made new choices residents to see.

And dreamed of new visions If interested,
And created news ways of living please contact
And completely healed the earth Dick at Ext. 587.

Just as they were healed.

This untitled poem was written by Kitty O'Meara, a retired teacher
and chaplain from Madison, Wisconsin, and was first published on

her blog called "The Daily Round" on March 16, 2020.

Dick Sparrow has been the chaplain at Plymouth Harbor since 2016. His page for The Harbor Light
entitled Harbor Faith runs monthly. Please feel free to call him with questions or comments at Ext. 587.

HARBOR FAITH The Har bor Light — 17

Staying HEALTHY in Florida
Loneliness — a health issue

By Elyse Rogers into challenging circumstances, as simple as low weight (preemies)
In today’s coronavirus- loneliness and isolation can be or colic. It was recognized even
environment, we’ve become scary. then, that infants needed social
concerned about many factors and physical contact to thrive. We
of healthy living. And that has Isolation, Loneliness, nurses and physicians did our best
included, and rightly so, the many Depression — Part of to hold the babies and talk to them
psychological factors that influence regularly. We all understood that
health. One very important “factor” Mental Health contact and social time with those
that has long been known but The topic of mental health is tiny babies was as important to their
has re-surfaced recently in these often ignored because too many future growth as the incubators and
coronavirus times is the detrimental of us think of it only when it electronic monitoring equipment.
effects on the body of loneliness and manifests itself as part of serious,
isolation. dysfunctional issues. However, Recognizing Loneliness
Many of us feel lonely or isolated when someone is just a tad in Oneself and Others
at times in our lives — 22% of depressed or acts a bit strange, we With close friends or family,
Americans do according to a survey tend to shrug it off. All of us can get recognizing loneliness may be fairly
conducted by the Kaiser Family “down” at times, and as for acting easy. But with other distant friends
Foundation (see chart). Certainly strangely, I don’t know about you, for acquaintances, it’s often not so
during childhood and adolescence but I’m sure my actions sometimes easy.
most of us have experienced “blue might seem strange to others — like Some of the signs of loneliness to
moods” or down times when we singing loudly to myself in the car look for in yourself or others:
feel that no one understands us or or careening forward to my parking • Hopeless outlook
truly cares about us. I remember a spot with no-hands on my Publix • Lost interest
popular ditty that was sung around grocery cart (when I don’t think • Fatigue
many a Girl Scout campfire — anyone is looking). It only gets our • Anxiety
“Nobody likes me; everybody hates attention when its becomes serious. • Irritability in men
me; I’m going out and eat worms: Still, those many lesser mental • Appetite changes
big fat juicy worms; long skinny….” issues can and do affect one’s quality • Emotional swings
I’ll spare you people who know all of life, particularly for seniors who • Suicidal thoughts
the versus the tedium of reciting are getting older. But it’s not only Combating Loneliness in
further (and for those who don’t the older population. Human beings Oneself and Others
know the verses, you really don’t are inherently social creatures Prof. John T. Cacioppo was a
want to know…) Suffice to say, that and thrive when part of a caring pioneer and founder of the field
most people have felt loneliness at community. Strange — we need of social neuroscience at the
some time during their lives. to be independent and confident, University of Chicago.
Feeling lonely or isolated is but we do best when we exercise He put his tips for recovering
never fun, but for most of us it’s a that option within the anchor of from loneliness in a small
transient stage. But for some people, a family, church or other social abbreviation “EASE” that anyone
especially those who are physically network. can remember:
ill or those who are thrown I remember many years ago
when I was working in the hospital Please see
nursery with babies who were HEALTHY, page 19
born with some problem — be it

Elyse Rogers has been a Plymouth Harbor resident since 2019. Her column for The Harbor Light entitled Staying
Healthy in Florida runs monthly. Elyse is a Registered Nurse with advanced degrees in nursing, education and
medical communications. Please feel free to email her with questions or comments at [email protected].

18 ­— The Har bor Light Staying HEALTHY in Florida

HEALTHY included an anti-depressant. humor
Both groups showed significant Medications for
Continued from page 18 improvement, doing about equally
well." Loneliness and Depression
E — Extend Yourself (start There are, as most of us know,
connecting with people again) In other words, people whose some medications for serious
only therapy was to read the book mental conditions or illnesses;
A — Action Plan (make a plan Feeling Good and follow the advice however, very few physicians are in
to meet people/do volunteer work, presented did just as well as those favor of medications for everyday
etc, Know that you don’t need to hit under medical care who were often issues or stresses.
off with everyone and that’s okay) on anti-depressants. To me, that’s A healthy lifestyle is often what
pretty good evidence, and it’s got to is suggested as the best long-term
S — Seek Collectives (try meeting be a lot cheaper and more available strategy for loneliness and/or
people with similar interests/ to everyone. feelings of isolation.
lifestyles/values)
Ways to Dispel Stress (Most Social Media
E — Expect (expect the best in of These Will Help Combat Can social media take the
the process and this will help you place of live family and friends?
with acting against the threat- Loneliness, too) Although it may be fun to have
assumption your brain has made There are many ways we deal many Facebook friends, and to post
up while it’s lonely) with stress and many are personal. comments on other’s timelines, it’s
Some ideas: not really a substitute for face-to-
Self-help Books for • Take time away to relax and do face communications with family
Loneliness and Depression enjoyable things — taking a walk and friends.
An older article in Psychology every day can help While we are temporarily
Today discussed the value of • Talk to friends — sharing “sheltering in place” right now,
self-help books and it seems that feelings with others Zoom, FaceTime and other
many professionals think they • Eat healthy and exercise — this digital media can be wonderful
can be useful — if not as main provides energy and builds self- aids to social engagement. But do
therapy, then as helpful guides for worth remember that they are temporary
those of us who feel the need for • Get organized — prioritize coping measures. When we get
guidance in our quest for personal and organize schedules and back to normal (or the “new
tranquility. responsibilities normal” as many are calling the
I found this quote from a • Don’t over-commit next few months) face-to-face
professional interesting: • Look on the bright side — contact should be happily resumed.
"John Norcross, coauthor of a keep a positive attitude, a sense of
professionals' guide to self-help
resources, asked more than 2,500
mental health providers to rate
the self-help titles their clients had
tried. David Burns’ Feeling Good:
The New Mood Therapy, came
out on top. Two autobiographies
that offer coping strategies for
mood disorders were also popular:
William Styron’s Darkness Visible
and Kay Jamison’s An Unquiet
Mind."
"Feeling Good has at least one
study behind it: in one small
2010 trial, doctors told depressed
patients to follow its advice and
compared them to a control group
of patients who received standard
medical care, which usually

Staying HEALTHY in Florida The Har bor Light — 19

facebook.com/PlymouthHarbor John M. Cranor III
@PlymouthHarbor Chair, Plymouth Harbor,

Inc. Board of Trustees
Harry Hobson
President/CEO

HARBOR LIGHT STAFF
Liz Clark

Administrator of Home Care
Joe Devore

Senior Vice President of Health Services
Emmalee Molay

Communications Coordinator
Gordon Okawa

Vice President of Marketing &
Community Affairs
Maryanne Shorin

Director of Resident Programming
Beth Watson

Vice President of Philanthropy
Tena Wilson

Vice President of Resident & Employee Relations

HARBOR LIGHT BIOGRAPHERS
Judy Stanford — Chair
Catha Abrahams
Ann Anderson
Sue Elliott
Lorna Hard
Kathy Hendricks
Beverly Koski
Cerita Purmort
Estelle Silbert
Wendy Underwood
Sallie VanArsdale


Click to View FlipBook Version