February 1, 2023

DID YOU MISS IT?

December, Trevor Luzum, Krannert School of Management, Purdue. Topic: Evolution of Purdue Pete and the Boilermaker Special. (Zoom) (Slides)

November, Scott Ksander Topic: Tech Toys for the Holidays & Other Relevant Computer Topics (Zoom) (Slides)

October, Dr. Ann Sommer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Purdue. Topic: Dealing with Hearing Issues (Slides) (Zoom)

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Welcome!

PURA Business

Proposed Slate of Officers for 2023-24
February Monthly Meeting: Purdue Extension: Then, Now, and Tomorrow
Jerry’s Jottings:
Monthly Meetings
United Way Campaign Update
PURA’s Annual Spring Conference
This Month’s Featured PURA Committee
Whoo-Hoo! It’s Back! Annual Spring Conference News
Nominations Open for Annual Hansen Award

Health/Benefits
Using Renew Active at Multiple Locations
Melissa Newell: Fall Prevention
Dizziness & Balance Screenings Available in February

Features

Jo Thomas: Confessions of a Book Addict
Sara Jane Coffman: Goodwill
Have an Interesting Experience to Share?

Events/Calendars
Upcoming PURA Events
February Campus/Community Calendar Highlights
Purdue Academic/Holiday Schedule

Zoom Connection Information for PURA Meetings

Proposed 2023-2024 Slate of

Officers
Purdue University Retiree Association

Executive Board Candidates
President – Tom Robertson
Vice President/President Elect – Marshall Martin
Secretary – Judy Ware
Treasurer – Lucia Anderson
Historian – Michele Salla
Past President – Jerry Day

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February PURA Monthly Meeting:
Purdue Extension: Then, Now, and Tomorrow

The Purdue Cooperative Extension Service offices in every county in Indiana constantly feel the pulse of their communities to determine the types of educational programs needed to progress. The Extension staff in each county—in concert with lay volunteer boards and committees—plan and deliver the most vital programs for which the communities ask. Join PURA on February 6 to hear the latest about our Cooperative Extension Service and their programs and activities.

The presenter is Dr. Jason Henderson, Senior Associate Dean, Purdue College of Agriculture and Director of Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

In his role, Dr. Henderson leads the statewide public engagement and research-based education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Health and Human Sciences, and Economic and Community Development.

Prior to being named Director of Extension, Jason served as Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. He is a nationally recognized expert in agriculture and rural issues having published more than 60 research articles. He holds masters and doctorate degrees in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Jason was raised on a family dairy farm in Northeast Iowa.

Join PURA in person at Lafayette VFW, Duncan Road, Lafayette, Indiana. Or join us via Zoom broadcast from our studio at the VFW (connection information at the end of this newsletter.) Lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. ET; program begins at 12:30 p.m. ET; speaker at 12:40 p.m. ET.

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Jerry’s Jottings

Happy New Year! It has been two months since our last newsletter, and I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season of celebrations with family and friends.

Lots of Purdue news in recent weeks. The Mitch Daniels era ended, and the Mung Chiang presidency has begun. We lost our head football coach and quickly made what appears to be a great hire for our new one. We watched a football game in Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big 10 Championship and then the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game played in Florida. And of course, men’s basketball on top in the Big 10 with a number one ranking for a couple of weeks and some impressive wins over ranked opponents. With just one loss so far, we are hoping for an exciting Big 10 basketball season to carry us through the cold winter months.

At the December first Monday luncheon, Program Chair Bob Ritchie posed the Purdue Trivia question. “I could not find which Big Ten school had the first mascot, but I did find which American university had the very first mascot. Obviously NOT a Big Ten school. Can you name the school?” The answer was Yale, and the mascot was a bulldog named Handsome Dan, and he was a member of the Class of 1892. Our speaker, Trevor Luzum, a Krannert Management student and member of the Purdue Reamer Club, presented on “The Evolution of Purdue Pete and the Boilermaker Special.” Trevor presented a detailed history and entertained us with personal stories about his experiences while piloting the Boilermaker Special to away games. A recording of the presentation and Trevor’s slides are available on the PURA website. Thanks to Jeris Eikenberry and Roy Johnson for leading us in singing Christmas Carols to get us into the holiday spirit.

Please join us on February 6th at the VFW for our next monthly luncheon meeting. Lunch will be available beginning at 11:45 for $10 per person. The program begins at 12:30 PM. Our presentation titled “Purdue Extension: Then, Now, and Tomorrow” will be given by Dr. Jason Henderson, Senior Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Director of Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. Join us to hear the latest about our Cooperative Extension Service and their programs and activities. Note that the start of lunch availability has changed from 11:30 to 11:45 AM.

United Way update: As of January 4, 2023, $192,696 has been pledged or contributed by retirees to the 2022 campaign. Obviously we met and surpassed our $175,000 goal and topped the $188,000 contributed to the Purdue United Way campaign by retirees in 2021. Again, thank you to all who choose to generously support this important community agency.

I hope that you read the December PURA News newsletter, as I thought it was another great issue. As usual, it was packed with useful information, fun and entertaining articles, information about our PURA student scholarship recipients and promotion for the upcoming Annual Spring Conference. I would particularly like to recommend this event—which hasn’t been held in person since 2019—to those who retired during the last couple of years. We are concerned that because of pandemic cancellations and adjustments recent retirees have not had opportunities to engage with PURA. Attending this conference would be a great way to get involved with PURA, your retiree organization.

To help recruit new PURA committee volunteers, I am featuring a different committee in my notes each month. This month I would like to give special recognition to the PURA Annual Spring Conference Committee. They schedule, plan, and deliver our premier spring meeting event with the theme of purposeful living in retirement. This is a complex event with speakers, meals, exhibitors, sponsors and a multitude of details. Norm Long chairs this important committee.

Thanks! Go Boilers!

Jerry Day
PURA President

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Join PURA When We Tour Hagle Hall

Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall. (Photo left courtesy of Purdue Department of Bands & Orchestras, source: Megan Ratts Photography.)

PURA’s Campus and Community Activities Committee has arranged a tour of Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall, the new four–story home of the 134-year-old Purdue Bands & Orchestras program, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Have you wanted to see the Big Bass Drum up close? You’ll have that opportunity when you enter Hagle Hall, located at 1091 Third Street (southeast corner of Third and Russell ).

Trudy Guthrie, Special Events and Public Relations Coordinator, will greet and tell us about the planning for the new building, highlight some of the historic archival materials that are displayed for the first time, and lead us on a tour of the rehearsal rooms. For convenience, there is an elevator in Hagle Hall. Tours usually are 30-40 minutes in length.

Parking is available in the nearby University Street garage. If needed, an attendee can be dropped off at the loading zone located on the east side of Russell Street near the intersection with Third Street. To access the loading zone, one must approach the intersection from the south (Mitch Daniels Boulevard, formerly State Street).

Register for the Hagle Hall tour by e-mailing Mary Alice Nebold at nebold@purdue.edu by Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Your registration will be confirmed by return e-mail. In case there is a change in the Hagle Hall Tour plans, registrants will be informed.

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Using Renew Active at Multiple Locations

With Renew Active, members can belong to multiple participating fitness locations simultaneously across all 50 United States. Members will need to present their confirmation code to each participating fitness location they visit. The participating fitness location will then enroll the member in the program, providing access to a standard membership at no additional cost.

To locate participating fitness, members can log-in to their personal account at https://retiree.uhc.com, go under Health & Wellness and look for Renew Active. Alternatively, visit https://uhcrenewactive.com/home and search for a list of participating fitness locations by zip code.

PURA retirees can take any of the following steps to locate their unique Renew Active confirmation code:

Ask the staff at your gym or fitness facility to help get the confirmation code.
Log on to your personal account at https://retiree.uhc.com and access the confirmation code through the Health and Wellness/Renew Active/Renew section.
Call UnitedHealthcare customer service number—below, and on the back of your UHC membership ID card.

PURCare/Senior Supplement; 1-800-851-3802; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET; Monday thru Friday

UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO); 1-800-457-8506; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET; Monday thru Friday.

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Save the Date for PURA’s Annual Spring Conference on April 19

Woo-hoo! It's back!

This spring the very popular and informative program previously known as PLIR (Purposeful Living in Retirement) will return to being an in-person gathering once again.

The name changed last year to “PURA Annual Spring Conference” to more accurately reflect the intent and the content of the conference, and reduce acronym confusion. We will return to the Beck Agriculture Center venue (located on U.S. Highway 52 just northwest of the Purdue West Lafayette campus).

So, mark your calendar for April 19, 2023, and plan now to attend. To pique your curiosity, here is a thumbnail sketch of topics and features to expect at this year’s conference:

Living with chronic pain without addiction.
Securing our financial system with seniors in mind.
Mental health among seniors.
Life is made up of unexpected things! (Our Keynote presentation)
Library services available for seniors.
Three rooms filled with interesting vendors focused on senior needs.
Lots of door prizes from 30 vendors
A full hot breakfast and a selection of delicious box lunches.
Exercise breaks between both morning and afternoon sessions.
Information regarding PURA health benefits through United Health Care.
Two of the presenters will be Mayor John Dennis and noted Professor Emerita of Management, Charlene Sullivan.
Hand sanitizer, handmade tree ornaments, hearing loop availability, refreshments, fitness walk, and more…

Please join PURA for this event. Registration will begin online in the early spring. Watch for more details in future issues of the PURA News newsletter.

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Annual Hansen Award Nominations Open

Each year the Purdue University Retirees Association (PURA) and the Office of the President of Purdue University offer the opportunity to nominate a University unit that excels in fostering a strong relationship between that unit and its retirees for an award.

Many Purdue retirees have spent much of their work lives at Purdue and have developed a strong sense of loyalty and pride in the University. Any department, division, or school that works to recognize and promote the continuing involvement of Purdue retirees in that unit may be nominated for the award. Purdue retirees make nominations and select the winner.

A cash award of $2,500 accompanies the award, and the unit name is added to the plaque that hangs in the Purdue Memorial Union. The award is given in honor of Arthur G. Hansen, who served as Purdue president from 1971 to 1982.

Please consider nominating a Purdue unit that has continued to be important to you in your retirement years. The nomination form is included below and attached here. Nominations are due by March 1, 2023.

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Confessions of a Book Addict

By Jo Thomas

The plethora of recent novels about bookshops may reveal a longing for the day when owners knew your name and favorite authors. However, many today use the shops simply as a backdrop for the story.

The Last Bookshop in London, by Madeline Martin

Twenty-three year old Grace Bennett left her home because she had no other choice. Ahead was the glitter of London. Instead she found a city preparing for war. Flowers in the parks were replaced by purple cabbages. There were sandbags and signs for Air Raid Shelters & Enlistment.

Her landlady badgered the curmudgeon, an owner of Primrose Hill Books to hire Grace for six months so she would have a reference. The shop was a disaster. Heavy globs of dust covered everything. Books were on the floor and some were jammed on the shelves. She had no idea where to start; so she started on the dust.

Grace had never read a novel; so she had no idea what to recommend to a customer. A kind young man explained the system to her and suggested she read “The Count of Monte Cristo”. As threats of war increased, she trained to be a warden.

When the sirens began, she got people into shelters, checked on families, and applied first aid. Someone in the shelter asked about the book she was reading. Another asked if she would read it to them. And so she did. On foggy nights they would gather in the book shop, because no bombs would drop at night. And so strangers became family. When a bomb heavily damaged a whole street of fancy book shops and publishers, The Primrose Hill Books was christened, “The Last Bookshop in London”. This lovely book is a testament to the valor of a war-torn London and the power of books.

The Lost and Found Bookshop, by Susan Wiggs

This story begins in 1906 when a violent earthquake shook San Francisco, changing the landscape as buildings were being destroyed. In a basement a young Irish immigrant picked up her young son Julius and ran to the waterfront. She put him on a barge with others and he never saw her again.

Julius Harper was raised in an orphanage, served as a medic and ambulance driver in WWI. He became a marvelous healer and apothecary. One day he noticed a curious winking sun on an abandoned building. It was his long lost home. He bought it and opened a drug company.

When the Sunrose Building passed to his son, Andrew, the business changed to clocks, machines and anything with moving parts. With modern technology, the shop began to fail. Then a miracle happened. A wall in the basement collapsed and behind it was hidden hundreds of rare books. So began “The Lost and Found Bookstore”.

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Something For Goodwill

By Sara Jane Coffman

The other day I decided to go shopping at the mall in Merrillville.

I spent most of the day in the women’s department in Carson Pirie Scott. They were having some wonderful sales and I found some great bargains.

When I went to check out, though, I noticed that the line was exceptionally long. But everyone seemed cheerful, and the salespeople seemed to be doing their best to keep the line moving. So, I waited and eventually made it up to the cash register.

When I set my items down on the counter, the saleslady asked: “Do you have something for Goodwill?"

I had no idea what she was talking about. So, I said, “No, I’m from out-of-town and just stopped in for the day.”

“That’s fine,” she said. She rang me up, put my new things in a bag, and I left.

On my way out, I heard two women talking. It turned out that anyone who brought in a donation for Goodwill that day got an extra 20% off their bill.

I could have done that! I could have stripped, handed the saleslady my clothes, put the new clothes on, and saved 20%.

Next time, I’ll do that.

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“Safe Steps”- The Importance of Fall Prevention in Maintaining Independence

Melissa Newell, Au.D., CCC-A/FAAA
Clinical Assistant Professor
Purdue Department of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences

Losing independence can occur as a natural part of aging, but this stage of life is frightening for many people. We fear losing independence for ourselves and our significant others. Depending on others for care or providing care for another can cause many uncomfortable feelings, such as anger, vulnerability, failure, depression, anxiety, and fear. There are many reasons why people lose independence. Loss of mobility, flexibility and a general loss of energy can make daily activities challenging. Self-confidence and a sense of worth can diminish. Loss of driving privileges can lead to increased isolation and loneliness. When we lose our independence, we’re more likely to have poorer health and to live in more unsuitable conditions. Resources are lacking for many people, further increasing the risk of worsening frailty. A loss of autonomy often leads to declining mental and physical health.

Many factors can cause someone to lose independence, some of which may be preventable. Chronic health issues, cognitive delays, mobility restrictions, hearing loss, memory loss, delayed reflexes, vision problems, and medication interactions can all contribute to a decline in status, possibly leading to a loss of independence. For example, we know that the risk of cognitive decline increases as hearing loss increases, mainly if the hearing loss is not properly treated. If needed, hearing aids may help to slow this decline by keeping people engaged and interactive in conversations while improving overall communication. As social isolation and loneliness are significantly detrimental to mental health, appropriately fitted hearing aids may help alleviate some of these concerns.

Fall prevention is crucial for maintaining independence. Unfortunately, many people only take strides to avoid falls once one has occurred. By following precautions, falls can be avoided or mitigated. A fear of falling is common and can lead to reduced movement and increased anxiety. This fear can lead to negative thought patterns, which result in further isolation and reduced independence. Particularly after a fall, many older patients become afraid of moving, resulting in reduced muscle strength and flexibility over time. This fear of falling makes people more prone to falling again, and half will fall again within a year.

We primarily use three systems, our vision, inner ears (vestibular), and sense of touch (somatosensory), to maintain balance. These sensory systems work together to make constant, instantaneous corrections to our balance. As we age, taking advantage of all systems is vital. If dysfunction is present in one of the senses, the other areas must compensate to maintain balance and to ambulate safely within our environment. Unfortunately, with age, these systems are more susceptible to dysfunction.

When working correctly, the vestibular system should detect changes in head motion or acceleration in any direction. Once this occurs, reflexes are triggered to the eyes and spinal cord, extending throughout the body so that we move our limbs and torso in an organized fashion. Unfortunately, vestibular function and reflex responses tend to decline with age, meaning that even without a disorder, many older adults will not correct their posture well following an event that disrupts the balance, such as tripping over a rug.

After a fall, many people report that they were not dizzy, feeling weak, or experiencing a sense of disequilibrium at the time of the fall. Often, falls occur simply due to accidents. Still, because older patients have slower reflexes, weaker muscle strength, and poorer flexibility, they often cannot correct their balance in time enough to avoid a fall. Hip fractures are one of the more severe injuries that can occur, typically caused by falling, often to the side. Women fall more often than men and are more likely to sustain a bone fracture due to a higher risk of osteoporosis. Approximately 25% of people die within the first six months, and many others must live in a nursing facility following a hip fracture.

Over 800,000 patients are hospitalized annually in the U.S. due to a fall injury, and in 2019, over 34,000 adults over 65 died due to a fall. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can be worsened by some medications that seniors frequently need. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and Medicare are working to educate physicians and citizens about fall risks. Medicare covers a fall risk assessment for each enrollee during the annual wellness visit to address this problem more safely. During this appointment, the patient’s activities of daily living (ADLs) may be assessed, including questions regarding difficulties with such activities as bathing, eating, dressing, and using the bathroom. If needed, supplemental health plans often pay for safety devices and home modifications. Assistive devices, such as a cane or walker, can be helpful for some patients. Adding a handrailing and using a bathing stool can help maintain safety in the bathroom.

Ensuring the home is safe is essential for those with risk factors for falling. Removing trip hazards, using good lighting, and using footwear that fits correctly can reduce the risk of falling. Many people feel they can ambulate in their homes without good lighting. Using nightlights is an easy way to avoid tripping hazards.

Exercises, such as gentle yoga and Tai Chi, are recommended to build strength and flexibility while improving balance. Exercising with a friend can help with motivation and mental health through positive communication and interaction with others. Loss of strength in the lower extremities and sensitivity to touch in the feet significantly impair balance. These exercises can help the brain listen to the sensory systems, improving overall balance.

Fall detection devices can be purchased with varying pricing levels and offer patients and their families some comfort, particularly for those living alone. These devices, often worn in a smartwatch or around the neck, can detect when a fall has occurred, notifying a significant other and emergency personnel as needed. Muscle cell breakdown begins within 30–60 minutes of a fall; therefore, these devices can help ensure that intervention occurs quickly.

A referral to an audiologist for vestibular testing may be needed to assess the function of the ears and overall balance. A physical or occupational therapist referral may be recommended to evaluate gait and balance and to provide appropriate treatment. Hearing and vision should be assessed annually, sooner, if the individual notices a decline in function. Balance specialists can assist in identifying risk areas and provide patient-centered goals to improve function, safety, and independence. Mental health counseling may also be needed for patients and their loved ones to help cope with changing lifestyles, health, and levels of autonomy.

Don't hesitate to contact the Purdue University Audiology Clinic at Lyles-Porter Hall at 765-494- 4229 if you have any questions.

For more information, consider the following:

https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/hearing-and-balance/increased-risk-of-falling/
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient.html
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Brochure-CheckForSafety-508.pdf https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/topics/falls-and-falls-prevention
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/infographics/six-tips-help-prevent-falls
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-worry-about-falling-how-to-conquer-the-fear/
https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2021-0222-fall-risk-prevention/full/

To reach Professor Newell:

https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/slhs/clinics/audiology.html
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 494-4229
Fax (765) 494-0771

Have an Interesting Experience to Share? We’ll Do the Write-Up!

PURA members represent a broad range of disciplines and interests and would like to hear about your experiences during your professional life or after retiring. Have you traveled, participated in an interesting hobby, encountered remarkable people, or volunteered for a worthwhile cause? Do you have a Purdue anecdote from your time here or interesting photo? Please share with us.

Just a bit of your time is required. The PURA Communications Committee will contact you for a short interview, do the write-up, and return the proposed article to you for approval/editing. We’ll give you your own byline… or not, as you prefer. The final article will appear in a future PURA News newsletter. And if you’d like to help write these, we’d love to have you!

Interested? Please send your contact information (email, preferred method of being contacted, and a convenient time to reach you) to pura@purdue.edu and we’ll follow up. Thanks!

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Dizziness and Balance Screenings Available in February

Purdue University's M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic housed in Lyles-Porter Hall will offer free dizziness and balance screenings on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 9-11 a.m.ET and Monday, February 13, 2023, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET. These screenings are for faculty, staff, and community members.

Screenings are free and open to adults 18 and older. To schedule an appointment, call 765-494-4229.

The screenings are recommended for anyone who has experienced vertigo, imbalance, recurrent dizziness, and a fear of falling due to balance issues. Clinical faculty and graduate students will perform the 30-minute screenings.

The M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic is home to various professional diagnostic and rehabilitative services. A referral is not required for access to these services. All students in the accredited clinical program gain clinical experience while working with patients seen at the clinic under the direct supervision of clinical faculty mentors.

The Audiology Clinic is part of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

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Distant Paths

Artist: Preston Jackson
Media: Stainless Steel, Bronze
Location: Founders Park plaza, near Beering Hall, West Lafayette campus.

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Zoom Connection Information for PURA Meetings

The Zoom connection information for PURA monthly meetings is shown below. The link, Meeting ID, and password will be the SAME for all future normal monthly meetings.

Members who wish to join via phone call audio only will need the separate Passcode shown below. (The password/passcode for that method is different from the normal “computer connection” to Zoom.)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97285398989?pwd=MlB4U0FudEplMFRoWm1GTkZzNmYrZz09

Meeting ID: 972 8539 8989
Passcode: BoilerUp

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