2021 Senior Wellness Program
Matters of Aging
Presented on Saturday, April 10, 2021
Some portions of this program were recorded and will be posted on our website soon.
Topics for the Senior Wellness Program are centered on our physical and mental health as men and women.
Session One: Benefits and Some Hazards of Aging
- Women’s Break-out Group led by Maria Klement, M.D. and Christine Meyer, M.D.
- Men’s Break-out Group led by Peter Warrington, M.D. and Barry Jacobs, Psy.D.
Healthcare professionals led separate sessions and encouraged frank discussions among women and among men.
Session Two: We’re All in This Together
- Dr. Janice Cederstrom, Moderator, with all four health professionals from Session One.
In a second session we came together to discuss the many mental and physical health issues that are common to us as human beings, particularly as those issues apply to us a little more than a year in to COVID-19.
Almost 60 people logged in and participated in this experience!
2020 Senior Wellness Program
Saturday Program
Keynote: The Emotional Implications and Consequences of the Pandemic for Seniors
Barry Jacobs, PsyD, gave the keynote address: The Emotional Implications and Consequences of the Pandemic for Seniors. Dr. Jacobs is a clinical psychologist, family therapist and a Principal in the Philadelphia office of Health Management Associates, a national healthcare consulting firm. He and his wife, Julia Mayer, also a psychologist, have lived in Swarthmore since 1997. They are the co-authors of two books, including the recently published AARP Love and Meaning After 50—The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships and How to Overcome Them. Throughout the pandemic Barry has spoken to numerous groups around the country about the emotional ramifications and challenges of living in a COVID-19 world.
SSCA Overview and Messages from Our Sponsors
An inspiring video of all the programs that are offered by your Senior Association, plus some fantastic messages from our major sponsors:
Main Line Health
Plush Mills Senior Residences
White Horse Village Community
Swarthmore Borough
Senior Housing Options for Swarthmore
Two options were presented for new senior housing in the Borough. Watch the video here, starting at 1:31:00 on the video.
The Mayor of Swarthmore, Marty Spiegel, introduced our two speakers and moderated the discussion that followed.
Co-Housing
Lynn Gaffney, AIA, discussed Co-Housing. Lynn Gaffney is an architect, a LEED AP, and a certified Passive House designer. With her firm Lynn Gaffney Architect, she has 25 years of experience in residential, commercial, and institutional projects. An affiliate of the 500 Communities Program and founder of the Cohousing Opportunities Group, Lynn works nationally to design and foster Cohousing developments.
Downtown Mixed Use Development
Beth Murray discussed downtown mixed use development with market-rate housing. Beth Murray is a Lecturer in the Communication Program at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband Steve have lived in Swarthmore 25 years and raised four children here. Beth serves on the Swarthmore Centennial Foundation Board, and helped spearhead the recent initiative to envision Swarthmore 2030.
2019 Wellness Fair Speakers
Married, Single, or Partnered: Promoting Senior Connections
The Alice “Putty” Willetts and Irma Zimmer Keynote Address
Two distinguished, nationally recognized psychologists explore the satisfactions and the benefits that ensue when seniors find ways to develop and sustain interpersonal relationships.
Julia Mayer, PsyD, and Barry Jacobs, PsyD, are co-authors of the recent book, AARP Meditations for Caregivers - Practical, Emotional and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family. Acknowledged experts in the fields of family caregiving and family therapy, both speak widely on topics related to senior well-being.
Beyond Drugs: Berries & Potions & Other Notions to Maximize Health
A thoughtful introduction to integrative medicine, an approach to complicated health issues that have not responded to routine traditional medical treatments.
Robert P. Denitzio, MD, is Board-certified in integrative medicine. He practices family medicine in the Concordville office of Main Line Health, with an emphasis on the emerging field of functional medicine.
The Pleasures and Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering has been described as “Love in Action,” or “Everyone Helps, Everyone Wins.” This presentation explores volunteer opportunities for everyone, tailored to individual talents, time, and energy.
Sheila Bell, MSEd, enjoyed a long career teaching and supervising in several local school districts. Currently she devotes her creative energies to a wide range of diverse volunteer efforts.
Senior Fraud and Scams: How to Recognize, How to Avoid
Senior citizens in this day and age are subject to any number of efforts designed to cheat and exploit them. This presentation offers useful antidotes to these unfortunate practices.
Chelsey Price, MPH, serves as moderator for this presentation. She is Executive Director, Senior Victim Services, Office of the District Attorney, Delaware County, and Adjunct Professor, West Chester University. Presenting with her are Katayoun M. Copeland, JD, and Joseph A. Ryan.
Seniors and Technology: A Brief Primer on How to Make It Work for You
A user-friendly description of newer technologies in the fields of healthcare, communication and entertainment, and an overview of how best to access available support services.
Dan Snyder, MA, was an environmental scientist and research administrator at the Academy of Natural Sciences. A self-taught expert in contemporary technology, he has taught courses on the iPhone and iPad for the Wallingford-Swarthmore Community Classes.
No Place Like Home: Options for Senior Housing and Care
Where to live becomes a vexing, complicated problem as seniors grow older. This presentation aims to clarify the available options and offer suggestions about how to make a comfortable, satisfactory decision.
Linton Stables, CSI, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, was the chief of specifications for Perkins Eastman Architects, a firm with a specialty in senior living and healthcare. A member of Swarthmore’s Aging-in-Place Task Force and the Board of Directors of Senior Community Services, he is President of the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association.