A SPECIAL SENI O R S E CTI O N60606060606060Sex after 60Alleviating fi nancial burdenof the ‘Sandwich Generation’P A GE 1 4Downsizing: 8 smartorganization tips & tricksP A GE 2 0P A GE 4ClassesFitness CenterLecturesSpecial EventsConferencesBilliardsCardsArtCraftsMusicDanceTravelLapidaryWoodshopComputer LabBook ClubsSupport Groups...and MuchMore!A growing, dynamic organization poised to meetthe evolving needs of the 50+ population of today and tomorrow.www.cityofsalem.net/center50 | 503-588-6303 | 2615 Portland Road NEPAGE 2, 60+ACTIVE, SUMMER 2019SUMMER 2019, 60+ACTIVE, PAGE 3Published byWHEATLANDPUBLISHING CORPORATION142 Chemawa Road N,Keizer, OR 97303Phone: 503.390.1051Fax: 503.390.8023Email: kt@keizertimes.comwww.keizertimes.com60+activeEDITOR & PUBLISHERLyndon Zaitzlzaitz@keizertimes.comADVERTISINGACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVEPaula Moseleyadvertising@keizertimes.comSENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER& PRODUCTION MANAGERAndrew Jacksongraphics@keizertimes.comCONTRIBUTORSEric Howald, Matt RawlingsBy ERIC A. HOWALDOf the KeizertimesThe Great Recession prompted Eric Olsen, president of Olsen Design & Development, to think differently about the types of homes he was offering. The downturn exposed the fragility of many households to withstand major shifts in the economy. “It made us think about how we could take a property and create something that is a residence and good investment. We came up with the generation fl ex house,” Olsen said. Legally, a multigenerational home is defi ned as three generations (grandparents, parents and grandchildren) living under the same roof. Olsen prefers to think of multigenerational housing as ones with two adult families living in the same space. The fl ex homes Olsen’s company offers come in two styles: one that focuses on separate living quarters with communal eating spaces and another that features an apartment for independent living. “It provides fl ex-ibility. A parent or grandparent gets to age in place, or it can swing the oth-er way with kids returning home or living with parents longer,” Olsen said. While the plans often mean a larger home, fi nancing one can also become a multigenerational effort. “Baby boomer parents are likely to have owned homes for a while and have more equity, what the younger generation has is more cash fl ow. The equity can be used to build the home while those with the cash fl ow make the mortgage payments,” Olsen said. While a family’s immediate needs are always paramount when it comes to moving, or especially building, a new home, Olsen encourages all his clients to be forward-looking. “Family needs and the way we think about family have changed and continue to change. The younger generation doesn’t feel the need to separate from parents as soon as they once did, the older generations won’t be around forever. You have to treat a home like this as a business decision at some level because it can add Multigenerational design can be bulwark to turbulent times$80,000 to the cost of a home and consider what will happen when the additional space becomes vacant,” he said. Olsen’s fi rm doesn’t build multigenera-tional homes on spec be-cause there are so many op-portunities to customize spaces to fi t the needs of a specifi c family, such as adding a motorized lift instead of a staircase. But there are several in two of the commu-nities his fi rm has designed, exteriors can be viewed in the Edwards Addition in Monmouth and the Fairview Addition in south Salem. “I think it’s a testament to where we are as a society, whether its taking care of elderly parents or having space for kids that need more support,” Olsen said. “The spaces also feel really good, they have a sense of care that we sometimes miss in our society. You can fi nd all of the company’s fl oor plans and additional details about multigenerational housing at www.olsencommunities.com.We can changethe way you look at life!4350 Cherry Avenue NE • 503 -393 - 6060 • www.keizervision.comCynthia Strawn, OD • Mallory MacRae, ODthe way you look at life!Cynthia Strawn, OD “ You have to treat a home like this as a business decision at some level because it can add $80,000 to the cost of a home.” — ERIC OLSENOlsen Design & Developmentactivities that brought you pleasure. Sex doesn’t have to be one of those things. Kyle Stephenson, a psychology professor, as well as the director of the Sexual Relationships Lab at Willamette University, wants people to know that sex doesn’t have to end when you reach a certain age. He also doesn’t want people to buy into the myth that sex ends after the age of 60. “It’s really unfortunate, because a lot of sex still happens at that age,” Stephenson said of people who believe the myths about sex in your 60s. “It just might be a little bit different than it was at a younger age.”One of the tough caveat’s of being sexuallyactive after the age of 60 is that there are some com-plications that elderly people didn’t have to worry about when they were younger. Along with not being able to maneuver their bodies into certain positions like they did in their 20s and 30s, many people in their 60s and above have a number of age or illness-related health changes — such as erectile dysfunction or menopause — PAGE 4, 60+ACTIVE, SUMMER 2019See SEX,Page 9Over 60? No reason to give up sexBY MATT RAWLINGSOf the KeizertimesOnce you reach your 60s, life might start to look a little bit different. Maybe some of the things you used to do with ease — like going on a hike or staying up till the wee-hours of the morning — are no longer viable and responsible options. Maybe you had to say goodbye to some of the Picturesque Country RetirementWillamette LutheranRetirement Community7693 Wheatland Road North, Keizer(503) 393-1491 | willamettelutheran.comCALL TODAY to schedule yourcomplimentary meal & tourBeautiful Grounds • Delicious Meals • Caring Staff • Privacy & Security • Active Retirement LivingFull amenity package included in your month-to-month rental • Additional levels of care availablePhotos by Unique Angles PhotographyRare CottageOpeningSUMMER 2019, 60+ACTIVE, PAGE 5PAGE 6, 60+ACTIVE, SUMMER 2019 While modern mobility may mean that distance keeps members of a family apart, more—and younger—members of many families across the country are fi nding signifi cance in their heritage, and making it come alive in their own ways. Special family and cultural traditions can strengthen family bonds, provide a sense of belonging and connect the present day to a richer history. Whether tied to holidays or unique meaningful moments, gathering in together helps a family have fun and create new memories.Although one family has grown and bottled wines in Napa Valley for almost 75 years, the iconic CK Mondavi and Family makes a point of celebrating their shared Italian heritage through food, wine and a favorite traditional pastime—bocce ball.From their family to yours, here are a few ways you can explore and celebrate Ways to create family traditionsyour own family traditions.• Identify your family’s origins and cultural heritage. With the increasing popularity of DNA kits and family websites, more people are exploring their family origins than ever before. Whether you speak with older members of your family to learn more about your background, send off your DNA in a box or explore a genealogy website—or a combination of the three—now is a great time to explore where you and your spouse or signifi cant other’s families came from.• Create a family tree to share with your parents, siblings and extended family. Maybe other relatives can help fi ll in some of the missing pieces. Talk about what these discoveries mean to all of you, and how they help you better understand some of your family’s traditions, traits and habits. Create a photo album, collage board or scrapbook to commemorate what you’re learning about your family tree. This will be a great gift to leave your children and grandchildren someday.• Become a tourist of your origin countries. Whether you can travel to one or more of your origin countries for real or just become an armchair tourist for the time being, fi nd out more about the country or countries your ancestors came from. Taste some food and wine from that region, explore the art and music of that area of the world, immerse yourself in a craft or learn to play a traditional game or sport - like bocce ball if you’re Italian —to help you identify with your origins.• Rediscover traditions from your family’s past and recreate them. Talk to your parents, grandparents and other elders in your family who can tell you stories about the traditions and celebrations that may Special family and cultural traditions can strengthen family bonds, provide a sense of belonging and connect thepresent day to a richer history. VISIT THE ALL NEW KEIZERTIMES.COMKEIZERTIMES.COMTake the new site for a spin by signing up fora FREE 30-DAY TRIAL. You’ll get UNLIMITED ACCESS to all thenews in Keizer —More than ever before!SIGN UPNOWNOWSUMMER 2019, 60+ACTIVE, PAGE 7 Maybe you know someone who stands by taking five minutes each morning to meditate or finds time after lunch to quiet his or her mind and focus on breathing. Whatever the method may be, incorporating “mindfulness” practices into your life can have a wide range of positive health benefits like improving your memory, sleep and immune system; reducing stress and feelings of loneliness and increasing compassion toward others and yourself.Mindfulness means taking time to pay attention to yourself and your thoughts and feelings. Read on to learn how you can put mindfulness into practice in your life to help improve your overall health.Here’s how to make mindfulness a routine part of your day.• Find five to ten minutes each day to sit quietly and focus on your breath. (Helpful hint: Put your phone on silent or in another room so you can concentrate.) Take the time to notice where your mind goes and how your body is feeling. You just might find that this helps you focus and prioritize your day.• Before you go to bed take time to focus on the good things that happened that day. Write your thoughts down in a journal. Writing them down can help you deliberately recognize the positive, even on a tough day.• Search for “mindfulness apps” on your smartphone or tablet that lead you in a mindfulness exercise. For many people, using an app is an easy way to remain consistent with the practice. And many of these apps are free!Mindfulness has been shown to help older adults overcome a silent but urgent health issue: loneliness. It is estimated that more than half of adults age 65 and over regularly experience moderate to severe loneliness. Loneliness is characterized by a marked difference between someone’s desired companionship and actual relationships. Through unique studies conducted by UnitedHealthcare and AARP, researchers are applying the techniques of mindfulness to help combat loneliness in older adults.Loneliness poses a serious threat to the quality of life for older adults. It is linked to negative health outcomes such as higher risk of dementia, mortality and disability.“The health risk of chronic loneliness, in older adults, is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and has a greater impact on mortality than obesity,” said Dr. Charlotte Yeh, M.D., chief medical officer, AARP Services Inc. “That is why UnitedHealthcare and AARP Services Inc. are collaborating to identify actionable solutions, geared for any individual across the spectrum of loneliness.”Researchers looked at whether mindfulness interventions, like breath awareness, self-compassion and kindness exercises, could positively impact a person’s optimism and quality of life—all factors that help reduce loneliness.Conclusions were encouraging: Mindfulness activities were shown to decrease loneliness among older adults. The research demonstrated that mindfulness reduced stress, and improved memory, sleep, the immune system, resiliency and compassion for self and others.Although loneliness is complex and challenging to address, a mindfulness practice may help you live your best life.(Brandpoint Media)Mindfulness and its proven impact on loneliness: What you should knowhave fallen by the wayside during our busy, less connected modern lives. Look through photo albums and family memorabilia and see if you can recreate a family tradition to bring the newer generations that sense of history and continuity.• Develop new family traditions. What could be better than enjoying a weekly or monthly dinner with your family, serving the food and wine that are part of your family’s heritage? CK Mondavi and Family is steeped in their Italian heritage. They regularly gather to play bocce ball together, and to share and enjoy food along with the wines that have become their legacy, including the 2018 spring white wines: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. A large portion of the grapes in CK Mondavi and Family wines are estate grown on the family’s 1,850 acres of vineyard property and the family is committed to working with American growers that they’ve had partnerships with for generations. Their wines can become a part of your family’s own traditions, new and old.Learning about family and history is all about making connections with those people who are most meaningful to you. What better way to use what you learn about your heritage than to turn it into an opportunity to gather together and celebrate where you came from and where you’re going. (Brandpoint Media)PAGE 8, 60+ACTIVE, SUMMER 2019Lunch is better with friends.Hidden Lakes400 Madrona Ave SE, Salem, OR 97302At Holiday, we make it easy to enjoy great food with the company of good friends. Say goodbye to planning, cooking, cleaning, fussing and tipping because, nutritious, chef-prepared meals are always provided at no extra charge.www.hidden-lakes.comFor more information, call us at 503.588.2922Lunch is on us!Save this coupon and comein for a complimentary lunch! We’d love to show you how life is better in acommunity of friends.that can make sex seem like an impos-sibility. “Elderly folks will have additional barriers. So if you try to keep having the exact same sex life that you have had for your whole life, you’re going to get re-ally frustrated, and unfortunately, that is what most people do,” Stephenson said. “It’s rough when you have age-re-lated changes or illness related changes in the physiolog ical process.”However, one of the big keys for people who want to be inti-mate in their 60s and beyond is expanding their defi nition of what sex is. Accor ding to Stephenson, oral sex, manual stimulation, mas-sages and even non-sexual touch can be incredibly meaningful and impactful to one’s sex life with their partner. There just has to be comfort and trust for both partners to be able to communicate what they like and don’t like. “Often times those things are just as, if not more important for the well-be-ing of both people. And if you can ex-pand your defi nition of what sex and intimacy means to include those things, then you can have a perfectly satisfying sex life, regardless of the nuts and bolts going on in the genitals,” Stephenson said. “The most important thing is to have a relationship where you feel comfort-able talking about what each partner likes and having enough trust to try different things.”Diet and exercise can also have a big impact on sexual function. But even if there are still struggles, Ste-phenson encourages elderly people to keep the faith. “The fi rst thing I would say is to cut themselves some slack. They’re normal age-related changes in these factors,” Stephenson said. As he has dove deep into the topic of sex and intimacy over the course of his career, Stephenson has come to the conclusion that sex isn’t just a fun thing to do to pass the time, it can also have a meaningful impact on one’s overall health, both physically and mentally — at any age. Stephenson has done ex-tensive research on the link be-tween sexual well-being and overall life sat-isfaction and found that when positive feelings about one’s sex life went up, it would mirror changes in over-all life satisfac-tion.“It depends on the person, but on average, having positive, pleasurable and satisfying sexual ex-periences seems to help mental health and physical health and it can certainly improve quality of relationships,” Ste-phenson said. Stephenson also shared how research shows that there is a correlation be-tween cardiovascular health and erectile dysfunction for men and that there is also a high correlation between sexual problems and depression for both men and women. While elderly men who struggle with erectile dysfunction may see a commercial for Viagra or Cialis and may think that medication holds the answer for them, Stephenson offers a word of caution for those who want to jump down that path. “Not many people know that it’s not a magic bullet. It’s sort of advertised as such, despite the fact that there’s a lot of contrary indications to it. There are also a lot of cases where it simply doesn’t work, and even when it does work, many people fi nd out that’s not the primary problem,” Stephenson said. No matter the age or nature of one’s relationship, education about sex and knowing how to practice safe sex is vi-tal to a couple’s intimacy. Stephenson greatly encourages elderly couples to seek out good information on safe sex, as well as additional information about well-researched sex therapy subjects such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness based therapy.“The sexual education system in this country is horrendous and it either fo-cuses on abstinence or all the negative aspects of sexuality … I doubt anyone over the age of 40 got any sort of com-prehensive sex education,” Stephenson said. “You can practice safe sex fairly easily, but you have to know what that is and what the risks are.”“There’s a lot of bad information about sex on the internet. If someone has a PhD, you might want to give more credence to what they’re saying.”SUMMER 2019, 60+ACTIVE, PAGE 9Kyle Stephenson is a psycholo-gy professor and the director of the Sexual Relationships Lab at Willamette University, Submitted PhotoMemorial Centers ◆ Cremation & BurialSimplicity - Convenience - Low CostPrivately owned cremation facility. A family owned Oregon Business.“Easy Online Arrangements” at CrownMemorialBurial.comSalemPortlandEastsideTualatinTigardMilwaukie275 Lancaster Dr. SESalem, OR 97317(503) 581-6265832 NE BroadwayPortland, OR 97232(503) 783-33931433 SE 122nd Ave.Portland, OR 97233(503) 783-68658970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd. Tualatin, OR 97062 (503) 885-780012995 SW Pacifi c HwyTigard, OR 97223(503) 783-686916475 SE McLoughlin Blvd.Milwaukie, OR 97267(503) 653-7076simple cremation ◆ $595simple direct burial ◆ $895traditional funeral ◆ $2965Keizer-Salem Area Senior Center930 Plymouth Drive, KeizerLocated one block N of Salem Parkway on Cherry Avenue“The Fun Place to Be” Open Mon thru Fri: 8 am to 4 pm503-390-7441 Visit us at www.ksascenter.comAn all-volunteer operated activity center for seniors and their friends. Featuring meals, games, classes, dancing, bingo, pool & clubs.Unique Boutique (open to the public) hours: 10 am to 1 pm, Mon – FriBREAKFAST ON MONDAYS: 8 – 10 am, incl. juice & beverage, ONLY $5LUNCH ON TUES – FRI: 11:15 am – 12:15 pm, ONLY $5SEX, Continuedfrom Page 4Next >