Broadcaster Press 3 February 12, 2019 www.broadcasteronline.com Volunteering Helps Keep Seniors Healthy, New Study Suggests WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 5, 2019) -- A new independent report that provides evidence that consistent volunteering can improve the health and well-being of people age 55 and older was released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for the nation’s volunteer and service efforts. The study examined how participation in national service contributes to changes in health and well-being of Senior Corps volunteers in the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs—who help home-bound seniors maintain independence and tutor and mentor at-risk youth, respectively. A companion study explored the health benefits to caregivers who receive support from Senior Corps Senior Companion volunteers. “I’m thrilled with the release of this independent study because it confirms what we have long believed to be true: Senior Corps volunteers are not only improving the lives of others, they are also improving their own,” said Deborah Cox-Roush, director of Senior Corps. “These volunteers are feeling healthier and less depressed. What’s also exciting is they say they feel less socially isolated, which we know has important health benefits. Along the way, Senior Corps volunteers found a sense of accomplishment, opportunities for personal growth, and chances to form meaningful relationships.” According to the research, Senior Corps volunteers report much higher selfrated health scores, which is considered a valid marker of actual health, compared to older adults in similar circumstances who do not volunteer. They also reported feeling significantly less depressed and isolated compared to non-volunteers. • After two years of service in Senior Corps, 84 percent of older adults reported improved or stable health. • 32 percent of Senior Corps volun- teers who reported good health at the beginning of the study reported improved health at the two-year follow-up. • Of those who reported five or more symptoms of depression at the beginning of the study, 78 percent said they felt less depressed two years later. • 88 percent of Senior Corps volunteers who first described a lack of companionship reported a decrease in feelings of isolation after two years. • Among those who initially reported a lack of companionship, 71 percent reported an improvement in their companionship status. “Our Senior Corps volunteers have a decades-long history of setting examples for all of us to follow by serving our friends and neighbors,” said Barbara Stewart, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers the Senior Corps program. “These 220,000 men and women provide vital support to Americans, both young and young-at-heart, and reap health benefits in return. We are grateful for the generosity of our super seniors and their commitment to making a difference in their communities.” Senior Corps provides opportunities to Americans who might not otherwise have the opportunity to serve their community due to financial or other barriers – 80 percent of volunteers in the study reported a household income of less than $20,000 per year and one-third reported a long lasting condition that limits basic physical activity. Open to Americans 55 and older with incomes up to 200% of the poverty line, the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program are unique among volunteer organizations in that volunteers earn a small stipend. While the large majority of volunteers reported joining service for altruistic reasons, close to one-third had an underlying financial reason, due to the stipend, for volunteering. Senior Corps volunteers found their community service satisfying and meaningful, and they reported having opportunities for personal growth, a sense of accomplishment, and friend-making, all factors associated with improved health, psychological, and emotional well-being and connection to the community. More than 75 percent remained in service through the first year, compared to twothirds of volunteers nationally. Retention was highest among volunteers with the lowest income, those who reported a disability, and those who attained at most a high school diploma or had not graduated high school. The national study, launched in 2014, collected data from 1,200 first-time Senior Corps volunteers throughout their service with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs to determine the effect of national service on older adults’ overall health and well-being. The study surveyed first-time Senior Corps volunteers upon entrance into the program and again at one- and two-year follow-up intervals, using survey questions adopted from the University of Michigan’s annual Health and Retirement Study. A companion study of caregivers determined that caregivers found the assistance of Senior Companions beneficial and for some, the respite provided by a volunteer even improved their health. The study surveyed caregivers of Senior Companion clients prior to the start of respite care and again at a one-year follow-up point. • Nearly 76 percent of caregivers in the critical-needs group reported Senior Companion respite services helped them “a lot” with both personal time and household management. • Approximately 60 percent of caregivers with Vermillion Youth Soccer League Refried Beans By Daris Howard My daughter, Celese, worked at a taco establishment. One of the things that annoyed her most was when boys came in and flirted in a crude way. Unfortunately, just such a group of boys had started coming in every evening and stayed until closing. The girls working there were getting fed up with the boys’ sexist attitudes. One evening just before the dinner rush, Celese, who was shift manager, made a frightening discovery. They had run out of refried beans. The workers checked everywhere to see if there were more. Many of the restaurant foods were quite impossible to make without them. Finally, Celese called the restaurant owner who didn’t like being bothered at home. When she told him the problem, he sighed. “I know we’re out. We went through more than usual, and the shipment doesn’t come in until tomorrow.” “What should we do?” Celese asked. “Do two things,” the owner replied. “To try and get people to buy chicken instead, put all chicken items at twentyfive percent off. If people still order bean items, you will have to use the instant refried beans. There are some twenty-five-pound bags in the southwest corner of the storage room. They aren’t nearly as good, and they are quite old, so we ought to get rid of them, anyway. Heap them on to make the customers feel like they are getting a good measure.” Celese hung up the phone and told her coworkers what they needed to do. “Instant?” Sheila said. “Those things taste okay, but they give a person more gas than a tanker truck, along with the runs if you eat too many.” “Well, we don’t have much choice,” Celese said. Celese retrieved one of the bags of instant refried beans and read the instructions. It said, “Soak beans for fifteen minutes before heating.” She set a five-gallon bowl of them soaking, and it was just in time, because the dinner rush was starting. Most people ordered the on-sale chicken items, but a few ordered bean foods. They were just getting through the dinner rush when, right on schedule, the annoying boys came in. The boys started in with their crude remarks, thinking they were flirty and funny. The girl working at the counter was new and was almost in tears when she came to get Celese. critical needs reported that Senior Companion services helped them “a lot” or a “great deal” and allowed them to be more involved in social activities and enjoy time with their friends or relatives. • Approximately 40 percent of caregivers who rated their health as fair or poor before respite support, now rate their health as good. • Most caregivers (92 percent critical needs, 86 percent with essential needs, and 93 percent with moderate needs) reported they were satisfied with the respite services received from the Senior Companion program. Each year, Senior Corps engages approximately 220,000 Americans 55 and older through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs – all addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges – everything from fighting the opioid epidemic, reducing crime and reviving cities, connecting veterans to jobs and benefits, preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs, ensuring seniors age independently and with dignity, and helping Americans rebuild their lives following a disaster. These studies are part of a larger body of research that highlights the positive impact of national service, particularly for senior volunteers and the communities in which they serve. More information on this research is available at seniorcorps. gov/healthyvolunteers. To learn more about Senior Companions of South Dakota, call 605.361.1133 or toll free 888.239.1210; or visit www.goodsam.com/scpsd. “Some boys are asking for the manager,” she said. Celese knew who it must be, and she sighed and went to the front. “Hey, hot Babe Manager,” the lead boy said. “We know you love us and thought you might have some free food you wanted to give us.” Celese thought to herself that there was something free she wanted to give them as she doubled up her fists. Then Sheila pulled Celese aside. “Why don’t you give them some bean burritos?” “But they are instant and you said they give a person gas and the. . . “ Celese stopped as Sheila grinned and nodded. Celese realized what Sheila was saying. Celese stepped back to the counter and smiled at the boy. “You are in luck. Because you are our most constant customers, tonight you get all of the bean burritos you can eat for free.” “For free?” the boy said. “You must really love us, Blondie.” “If you only knew how much,” Celese mumbled under her breath. She got her crew busy hydrating beans and making bean burritos. During the evening, Celese figured each boy ate about a dozen. But then, they suddenly started looking very uncomfortable. Eventually, from one boy exploded a sound that made everyone stare and filled the restaurant with a smell that resembled that coming from an open tear gas canister. Soon the boys were rushing to the bathroom. They left immediately after, which was good, because the smell had pretty much cleared the restaurant of paying customers and needed to be aired out. PRECISION PAINTING However, the best part •Interior •Exterior was that it was about a •Commercial week before the much more •Residential humble boys came back. Quality Workmanship, But still, Sheila hid the last Reasonable Rates bag of instant refried beans CLINT TUCKER away just in case they were 624-4621 Since needed again. 1983 FREE SKILLS CAMP February 17th & 24th March 10th & 17th 2:30-3:30pm • U6/U8 3:30-4:30pm • U10/U12 No pre-registration necessary. Must have current membership or sign waiver. For more information, email vermillion.soccer@gmail.com Vermillion Armory 603 Princeton St. What everyone is reading. www.broadcasteronline.com www.plaintalk.net NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR VACATION OF A PORTION OF 465 AVENUE LYING BETWEEN 314TH STREET AND 316TH STREET, CLAY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA Get your ad in the.. Classifieds Today! CALL 624-4429 ••• FAX 624-2696 ••• EMAIL classifieds@plaintalk.net ••• ONLINE BroadcasterOnline.com ••• DROP BY 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion - ROOFING - Asphalt Shingle - Steel - Flat - EPDM - SIDING - LP Smart - Cement - Vinyl - Stone - GUTTERS - Heavy Duty Seamless - Gutter Guard - EXTERIOR PAINTING Sherwin-Williams Pro STORM RESTORATION - HAIL OR WIND Certified Installation Experts Call Steve or Karl 605-595-7809 • Vermillion, SD NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a joint meeting of the Fairview Township, Prairie Center Township, and Vermillion Township, on the 19th day of February 2019, at the hour of 7:00 p.m., in the Vermillion Chamber of Commerce 1st floor boardroom located at 2 East Main Street, will meet to consider the request to vacate the highway contained in Clay County and described as: 0.70 miles of the section line highway known as 465 Avenue starting at 0.85 miles north of 316th Street. This section line highway is bordered by: The West line of Section 5, Township 92 North, Range 51 in Fairview Township; the East line of Section 6, Township 92 North, Range 51 in Vermillion Township; the West line of Section 32, Township 93 North, Range 51 in Prairie Center Township; and the East line of Section 31, Township 93 North, Range 51 in Prairie Center Township, all West of the 5th. P.M., Clay County, South Dakota. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN THAT any person, or their representative, may appear and be heard at said scheduled public hearing that is interested in the approval or rejection of such petition to vacate. Dated Vermillion, South Dakota this 4th day of February, 2019. Publish in Broadcaster: February 5th & 12th, 2019 Publish in Plain Talk: February 8th & 15th, 2019 Matt Olson, Praire Center Township Clerk Angela Jackson, Fairview Township Clerk Jackie Williams, Vermillion Township Clerk