Silver Quill

JULY 2020

VOLUME 38,

NO. 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Red River Rainbow

Seniors 2

Silver Sneakers 3

Donations 4

Footcare Update 5

ND Senior Games 5

Nutrition 6

Fargo Menu 7

West Fargo Menu 8

Volunteer

Spotlight 10

Rural Cass

News 11

Face Mask Myths 12

COVID-19 Scams 14

MENU INSIDE!

Where’s my menu? Menus will no longer be mailed indi-vidually - you can now find the Fargo menu on page 7

and the West Fargo menu on page 8 of the Silver Quill newsletter, or online at

valleyseniorservices.org.

Our offices and senior centers will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. No pick up meals, Meals on Wheels, or transportation will be available on

July 3rd. Happy Independence Day!

Dear Friends – We have been notified by the North Dakota Department of Human Ser-vices/ Aging Services Division that our meal sites will continue to be closed for congregate dining through July 31

st. This decision was made

based on most recent guidance for the State of North Dakota regarding COVID-19. A decision will be made in July on whether we will be able to open in August. We will continue to provide takeout meals at all our sites throughout the region and home delivered meals for those that qualify. We look forward to the day when we will be able to re-open our centers for congregate meals and activities. Until then, take care of yourselves and please let us know if we can be of assistance in any way. And thank you to all who have continued being an active participant in our programs during this challenging time. Best wishes! Brian Arett, Director Valley Senior Services

Valley Senior Services

P.O. Box 2217

Fargo, ND 58108

www.valleyseniorservices.org

Directors: Becky Christianson

Jane Hazlett

Henry Kucera

Marlene Batterberry

Connie Elledge

SuZ Smith

Vince Dalke

Duane Fontaine

Director:

Brian Arett

Transportation Manager: Paul Grindeland

Outreach Manager: Bernie Johnson

Nutrition Manager: Shannon Lang

Metro Senior Ride Operations

Supervisor: Cindy Girdner

Dispatchers: Sharon Sondreal

Paula Thomas

MaryJo Fandrich

Resource Specialists: Patty Dahley

Jill McCall

Kassie Emanuel

Sheena Nelson

Karleen Wyum

Administrative Assistants: Em Janes

Chrissy Nelson

Kathy Watt

If you are qualified, your rights to receive the

services provided by this organization without

regard to race, color, religion, sex, national

origin, age or handicap are protected by

Federal Law. If you believe you have been

discriminated against, please contact: Brian

Arett, Valley Senior Services, P.O. Box

2217, Fargo, ND 58108. (701) 293-1440.

Statement of Identification - Silver Quill

Published Monthly by: Valley Senior Services, Inc.

2801 32nd Ave. S, P.O. Box 2217, Fargo, ND 58108

To receive the Silver Quill call 293-1440 or toll free 1-877-827-1916

or e-mail us at: info@valleyseniors.org

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You are welcome at the Red River Rainbow Seniors! If you are looking for a friendly and safe environment in which gay, lesbian and transgender seniors can meet and socialize, please consider joining the Red River Rainbow Seniors. It is an organization dedicated to providing advocacy, education, support and fun to the elder LGBTQ community in the Red River Valley. As a member organization of the F-M Pride Collective and Community Center, it provides opportunities to gather with monthly organizational meetings, happy hour socials, season-al dances, and several book clubs. In addition, AARP of North Dakota sponsors a social gathering each year at F-M Pride, as well as Lounge and Learn programs throughout the year. In November 2017 RRRS founded the oral history project, “Breaking Barriers: Harvesting LGBTQ Stories from the North-ern Plains,” preserving the stories of LGBTQ seniors who were largely a hidden minority who blazed new paths. More than 100 interviews have been completed with transcripts and recordings added to the Breaking Barriers permanent collec-tion, housed at the NDSU archives. You may wish to be inter-viewed to save your story for posterity. Learn more: You can email us at RRRainbowSeniors@gmail.com or check out our Facebook page @RRRainbowSeniors.

Valley Senior Services

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$100.00 and Above

We appreciate the many donations we have received and thank each and every one of you

for your support. All contributions can be sent to:

Valley Senior Services,

P.O. Box 2217 Fargo, ND 58108

Meals on Wheels America - $95,000.00

FM Area Foundation - $15,000.00

$500.00 - Keith & Paulette Trego in honor of Pete Trego

$175.00 - Ron & Pat Grimson

$100.00 - Anonymous

$100.00 - Brenda Ingram

$100.00 Bonnie Kavanaugh in memory of her mother

Anonymous

Beck, Marilyn in memory

of Curtis Kinney

Boulger, Jenice in

memory of Curtis Kinney

Kolle, Ernie & Ardelle

in memory of Marilyn Ruud

Malafa, Margarette in

memory of Gladys Erickson

and Duane Haagenson

Menschel, Sharon in

memory of Curtis Kinney

Montoyne, Jean in memory of

Curtis Kinney

Exciting News!

We are excited to report to you that we have been awarded several grants in the last two months to assist with our efforts at meeting growing demand for meals during these challenging times. • The first grant we received was from Meals on Wheels America COVID-19 Response Fund for

$20,000. • The second grant was from the FM Area Foundation’s Community Response Fund of Cass and

Clay Counties for $15,000. • The third grant was also from Meals on Wheels America COVID-19 Response Fund round two

for $75,000

The purpose for each of these grants is to help us to respond to increasing demand for nutrition ser-vices because of COVID-19. In the month of April we served 28,302 meals – an increase of 13.1% over the month of March! This represents the highest meal total we’ve ever served in one month in the history of Valley Senior Services. We expect those numbers to continue growing as we expand our nutrition services to assist senior citizens to continue living independently as late in life as possi-ble. We are incredibly grateful to these two organizations for the tremen-dous support they have provided for the seniors of southeastern North Dakota!

Thank You To Our Contributors!

Valley Senior Services

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Foot Care

Foot care provided by Sanford Home Care will be cancelled

through August.

Questions?? Please call 701-234-3204

We have unfortunately made the tough decision to cancel the 2020 North Dakota Senior Games due to COVID-19. We will miss seeing you this year but are looking forward to the 2021 Games! Stay tuned for more information on the 2021 games.

Website: ndseniorgames.com Phone: 701-551-5880 Facebook: @NDSeniorGames

North Dakota Senior Games Update

July 2020 6

(Continued on page 9)

Phytochemicals By Lane Lipetzky, RDN

Every time we eat a plant, we consume more than the vitamins, minerals and fiber. We also consume phytochemicals, which are chemicals produced by plants to help ward off disease and insects. So, why are phytochemicals im-portant for our health and in what foods do we find them? Why are phytochemicals important? The word phytochemical comes from the words plant (phyto) and chemical. They are com-pounds found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds whole grains and legumes that contribute to their color, taste and smell. Phytochemicals are what gives fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors, a hot pepper its spice, and some leafy greens their bitter taste. They might not be es-sential to our survival like vitamins and miner-als, but they do a lot to keep us healthy. Research is new, but studies have shown that phytochemicals could have promising health benefits. Some are known to increase the strength of our immune systems while others appear to help decrease our risk of heart dis-ease and cancers. Some have shown to be beneficial as antioxidants, decreasing inflam-mation and aiding in eye health as well. Antioxidant – A substance that protects cells and DNA from damage. What foods contain phytochemicals? Scientists estimate there are over 5,000 differ-ent phytochemicals, many of which have not yet been studied! All plant-based foods contain phytochemicals, most plants contain many. Broccoli, like many other fruits and vegetables, is thought to have over 100 different phyto-chemicals. All of which potentially have a differ-ent effect on our health. As mentioned before, research is still very new on this topic so we don’t know how much of an effect phytochemi-cals will have on each individual and how much someone needs to eat to see a positive effect. A few examples of relatively well-studied phyto-chemicals are: • Lutein – may help with eye health. It is

found in leafy green vegetables. • Carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene)– may

inhibit cancer growth, decrease risk of cardio-vascular disease and increase our immune systems. They are found in red, orange, yel-low and green vegetables.

• Flavonoids – may help slow tumor growth and decrease inflammation. They are found in berries, apples, onions and soy.

• Resveratrol – has shown to increase longevi-ty in some animals. It is found in red wine, grapes, dark chocolate and peanuts.

• Thiols – may help decrease LDL “bad” cho-lesterol. They are found in onions, scallions, garlic, leeks and olives.

• Isothiocyanates – are thought to protect us from certain cancers and cardiovascular dis-ease. They are found in cruciferous vegeta-bles like broccoli, cabbage and kale.

Examples from Harvard Health Publishing Fill up on Phytochemicals February, 2019 Tips to eating more Phytochemicals • Eat a wide variety of plant-based foods (fruits,

vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds) to absorb a variety of phytochemicals.

• When it comes to fruits and vegetables, eat the rainbow! Different colors in fruits and veg-etables may be different phytochemicals.

• Choose whole grain options over refined grains. Not only will they have more vitamins and minerals, they will also have more phyto-chemicals.

• Maintain a healthy gut bacterium. Studies show phytochemicals are better absorbed with healthier gut bacteria.

• Try to eat phytochemicals through foods in-stead of pill form. Eating phytochemicals through foods has been shown to be much more effective than taking a pill.

Continue to page 9 for a recipe to help you eat more phytochemicals!

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Valley Senior Services 9

Phytochemicals (Continued from page 6)

(Sourced from healthydiningfinder,com)

SUMMER CITRUS SALAD FROM SILVER DINER Makes 1 Serving Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 Cup Spinach

• 1/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

• 1 Mango, Cut into Chunks

• 1/2 Cup Strawberries

• 1/4 Cup Pecans

• 1/4 Cup Carrots

Directions: 1. In a large bowl, mix dried cranberries, mango, strawberries, pecans and carrots. 2. Stir in your favorite fat-free citrus dressing, then add baby spinach into bowl. Toss well. Nutrition Information*: 390 calories, 21 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 56 g carbohydrates, 11 g fiber, 37 g sugar, 5 g protein, 2.25 cups fruits/veggies

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Volunteer Spotlight

We have the best volunteers, let’s introduce you to KAJ Hospitality: “We love getting to provide company to seniors who other-wise might not get much social interaction- especially during this time of increased social isolation- and ensure they get a good quality meal... It isn’t necessarily any single moment. We love seeing participants faces light up when we deliver their meals. It feels like a special part of their day and it is very rewarding to be able to chat with them a bit each day we deliver our meals. Social distancing has been difficult on most, so we are very happy to help provide something to look forward to every day.”

Many thanks to KAJ Hospitality for their volunteer service to Meals on Wheels!

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Rural Cass News

Congregate Dining: Now Available as Pick Up and Take Out Until Further Notice: Page Cafe, Page, ND (668-2254): T,Th, F 11:30-12:30; Leonard Cafe, Leonard, ND (645-2240):

M,W,F 11:00; Hunter Cafe & Bakery, Hunter, ND (874-2253): M,W,F 11:00. Please call ahead to or-

der your meals.

Cass County Council Meeting: Monday, Sept. 21 at 10:00 a.m. in Harwood (please check ahead to see if this

is still scheduled).

Cass County Rural Bus Schedule:

Routes: North Cass County South Cass County

Hunter 8:00 a.m. Leonard 8:00 a.m.

Arthur 8:20 Kindred 8:30

Casselton 9:00 Horace 8:45

Fargo 9:45 Fargo 9:15

North route runs July 7, 14, 21 & 28. South route runs July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29. Express van runs Mondays

and Thursdays. Please call 356-7433 for more information or to schedule your ride. For Page residents:

you can use Steele County bus to Fargo on July 6 & 17. Please call 1-800-845-1715 for pick-up infor-

mation and to reserve a ride.

June 2020 12

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7 Myths About Face Masks Why they're really recommended, plus when and where you should wear them

Face masks are everywhere. What were once reserved for hospitals and health care set-tings are now a common sight on sidewalks and in businesses throughout the country. Still, there are a number of miscon-ceptions when it comes to masks. Here are seven com-mon face-mask myths, busted.

Myth 1: You don't need to wear a face mask if you don't feel sick.

This was the prevailing advice at the beginning of the pan-demic, but not anymore. Ex-perts have learned more about the coronavirus and how it spreads, and now the recom-mendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC) is that everyone — including people who feel per-fectly healthy — should wear a face covering in public settings where it may be difficult to maintain at least 6 feet of space from other people. Think: grocery stores, pharma-cies, retail shops, hair salons, crowded parks and more.

The reason? It's an added layer of protection. The virus is thought to spread easily be-tween people who are in close

contact with one another by res-piratory droplets produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. And because some infected people might be pre-symptomatic or even asympto-matic, and as such are at risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to others, a face mask provides “an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto oth-er people,” the CDC says.

People who feel sick should stay home and not venture out in public. That said, they should wear a face mask when interact-ing with family members or caregivers at home.

Myth 2: Everyone should be wearing surgical masks or N95 respirators.

The advice from the CDC is that the general public should wear cloth face coverings, not medi-cal-grade masks, which are best left for health care professionals on the front lines of the pandem-ic. The CDC-recommended cov-erings can be purchased (major clothing retailers such as Gap and Disney are selling them), sewn or fashioned from every-day household items, such as bandannas and rubber bands.

Myth 3: A loose-fitting mask works just fine. This is false. The key is to make sure your face mask “fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face,” says the CDC, and completely covers the mouth and nose to help prevent respir-atory droplets from escaping. That said, it's important to make

sure you can breathe without restriction with it on.

Myth 4: Your cloth face cov-ering protects you from get-ting a coronavirus infection.

Cloth masks may reduce your risk of getting infected, but there haven't been enough studies on them “in real-world settings” to know for sure whether they protect the wearer from becoming infected with the coronavirus, the National Acad-emies of Sciences, Engineer-ing, and Medicine (NASEM) re-ports. What's more likely is that cloth face coverings help pre-vent an infected wearer from spreading disease to others by minimizing the dispersal of res-piratory droplets via talking, coughing and sneezing. (Studies looking at the effects of cloth face masks on influen-za and other diseases also sup-port this theory, NASEM points out.)

Even with a face mask on, it's important not to abandon other preventative measures, such as frequent handwashing and physical distancing, the CDC says. Mitigating the risk of COVID-19 (the illness caused by the coronavirus) requires a multipronged approach, “which includes social distancing and isolation and hygiene and wear-ing the masks,” explains Gon-zalo Bearman, M.D., an associ-ate hospital epidemiologist and chair of the Division of Infec-tious Diseases at the Virginia

Valley Senior Services 13

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Commonwealth University School of Medicine. “It's not one or the other. It's all of it.”

Myth 5: Babies should wear face masks.

Children under 2 should not wear a face mask, the CDC says. Neither should anyone who “has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.”

Myth 6: You should wear a face mask even when you swim.

If you plan to head to the pool or the beach this summer, don't forget to pack your face mask. It

will come in handy when you're out of the water and around oth-ers. That said, you should not wear your face mask in the pool. The issue of getting a mask wet, the issue of then breathing through that mask — it's a setup for danger,” says Boris Lushniak, M.D., dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health and for-mer acting and deputy U.S. sur-geon general.

When you're in the water, the best way to reduce your risk of spreading or acquiring the virus is to keep a distance of at least 6 feet from other people and to wash your hands often when you're done swimming.

Myth 7: Your face mask doesn't need to be washed.

Masks collect germs, so it's im-portant to wash them after each use, the CDC advises. If you're using a washing ma-chine, regular laundry deter-gent and warm water work just fine. To wash your mask by hand, mix up a solution of bleach and water (4 teaspoons of household bleach per 1 quart of room-temperature wa-ter) and soak your mask for 5 minutes before rinsing it with cool or room-temperature wa-ter.

7 Myths About Face Masks

(Information from AARP.org)

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(Information provided by the Elder Abuse Prevention program at the Institute on Aging and Open Door Legal)

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