Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning - August 2020

Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning - August 2020

To the Top Peace of Mind Post A dmittedly, I was struggling to find something to write about for this month’s newsletter until I discovered that the first Saturday in August is National Campfire Day. Campfires get us outside, which, in my opinion, is the best place to be for so because some areas are deeply SCOPING OUT THE BEST HIKING TRAILS AUGUST 2020

forested, you’ll inevitably see wild turkeys, deer, and

many reasons! Unfortunately, I’m not the most avid camper, and until a couple of years ago, I refused to go camping. But after seeing some of Pennsylvania’s beautiful scenery, I’ve changed my stance. Here’s a list of some fantastic places to go hiking and enjoy all our local landscape has to offer during one of the most beautiful months of the year. Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail This fantastic trail is 70 miles point-to-point and includes camping shelters along the path. While the trail is always open, you need to reserve the camp spots in advance. I first came across this trail when I was helping a friend run a 70-mile trail race on the path. The trail’s the main attraction of the Laurel Ridge State Park and a large section of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHT). The PHT corridor connects a network of trails between the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands. The trail has something to offer hikers with any experience level, including paved paths and steep, rugged inclines. Glacier Ridge Trail This trail is a little closer to the office and connects to the North County Trail. The 17-mile trail winds through beautiful forest, and sections of it bring hikers right next to the lake. Additionally, “The trail’s the main attraction of the Laurel Ridge State Park and a large section of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHT). The PHT corridor connects a network of trails between the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands.”

turtles along the lake. It’s also important to remember that this trail leads you through rattlesnake territory, so be vigilant when hiking this path.

Here I am running an 30K trail race on the Glacier Ridge Trail a few years ago.

Preston Park Located in a residential neighborhood, this park is the perfect area to get a nice walk in during your lunch break. Here, you can take a break from everything and collect your thoughts before getting back to your daily tasks. Prior to working remotely, I tried to do this as often as I could since it’s so close. If you’re worried about big playsets and excited kids, don’t bother. This area is a private estate that was converted into a park and residential space. Adaptive Hiking Trail Butler County Children’s Center Located just west of Butler, this trail is the perfect path for those needing only a small amount of activity for the day. It’s also specially designed for young children and those with disabilities. I actually participated in putting this project together with my class of Leadership Butler County. The trail hosts beautiful scenery, including a rock garden, an animal feeding area, and a rest spot. If these trails aren’t the best for you, even a walk around the block gives you a chance to enjoy the fresh air. If I want to enjoy the warm weather, I take a walk around our farm, gazing up at the stars if it’s clear enough outside.

But, if you have any fun trail suggestions, let me know next time we talk!

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Gaining Weight Throughout our lives, we obsess over losing weight and often forget that maintaining our weight is just as important, especially as we age. Losing weight when you’re older can worsen any preexisting medical

RETIRING DURING A RECESSION GUIDELINES TO ENSURE A few months ago, several news sources confirmed what savvy American businesspeople already suspected: The United States is currently in a recession and has been since February 2020. While a recession isn’t good for anyone, it’s especially concerning for those nearing retirement age. Those who were planning on retiring this year might be having second thoughts — for good reason. Rest assured, however, that if you’ve had fears about retiring this year, you can still go ahead with your plans as long as you keep a few things in mind. Don’t let emotional attachment guide your decisions. Saving for retirement is almost inherently tied with joyful thoughts of financial stability in your golden years. So, when something like a recession threatens that security, it’s easy to react irrationally. Before deciding what to do with your retirement funds, make sure your decisions are rooted in logic, not fear or anxiety. If you don’t know where to start, contact a financial advisor for guidance. Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Even for financial experts, the markets are notoriously hard to predict. Rather than expend energy wishing you could sway the market, focus on making changes where you have control. You can control where your assets are invested, when you claim Social Security, and how you spend your money, among other things. Think about how you can change these factors in your favor and don’t worry about the rest. Stress-test your finances. While conducting a stress test might sound a little abstract, it’s something that many financial advisors can help you do with your retirement accounts. Stress-testing your finances can help you determine if now is the right time to retire or if it’s better to wait just a little bit longer. Even if things look bad right now, that could change in a year or two. As the market recovers, so do your chances of a peaceful retirement. A STABLE FUTURE 3

conditions, restrict your ability to do daily tasks, and increase your risk of muscle loss, infection, depression, and death. But small changes to your eating habits can help you manage and gain weight healthily. Eat the right meals more frequently. Make sure you’re eating foods with protein and a high-calorie count. Eggs, small servings of red meat, fish, and poultry are great sources of protein that you can incorporate into any meal. Full-fat dairy products, like cheese containing at

least 20% milk fat and yogurt containing 3% milk fat, are great, nutritious foods that help you gain weight. If you need a snack, eating whole-grain bread with nut butter is an easy way to get calories. You can also add healthy fats and oils to your meals by drizzling olive oil over steamed vegetables or adding nonhydrogenated margarine to your brown rice.

S U D O KU

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t the Healthy Way

STAYACTIVE WHILEAGING

Find the right texture.

Ill-fitting dentures and missing teeth can make eating nearly impossible to enjoy and therefore decrease your appetite. But changing the way some foods are prepared can help. Try cooking vegetables and grains a minute or

With These Exercise Programs

As we get older, it gets harder to do the things we once enjoyed or were able to do without a second thought. That’s why it’s important to maintain muscle strength, but it can be challenging to find exercises that push you yet are safe to do. Even during this difficult time, exercise shouldn’t be forgotten about, so here are a few virtual workout classes you can take to make sure you’re still getting your steps in. Active Living Every Day Active Living Every Day (ALED) is a program that focuses on changing the behaviors of participants by addressing the causes behind inactivity. ALED’s online program helps participants learn skills to get physically active. Check out more information at US.HumanKinetics.com/blogs/active-living . EnhanceFitness Enhance’s affordable and adaptable exercise programs allow participants at any fitness level to get a good overall workout. These one-hour group sessions improve flexibility and balance with low-impact aerobics and increase strength with strength training. The organization that provides the courses says that their techniques improve physical function, decrease depression, protect against fall injuries, and promote an active lifestyle. Read more at ProjectEnhance.org/enhancefitness . Fit & Strong! This is the perfect program for anyone suffering from lower extremity osteoarthritis. By combining aerobic walking, flexibility exercises, strength training, and health education, this activity program helps older adults increase their physical

two longer than you normally do to soften them. Additionally, go for softer foods that you know won’t be difficult to eat, like yogurt, meatloaf, avocados, and eggs. Spice up your appetite.

Changing up your diet with different flavors gives you something to look forward to with every meal. Adding cinnamon to sweet potatoes or a squeeze of lemon to your chicken are great ways to wake up your taste buds. And with spices, don’t be afraid to experiment and see what new combinations you can come up with!

Restaurant-Style Fettuccine Alfredo Cooking brings people closer together every day. With a fettuccine alfredo technique so simple and delicious, you and your loved ones will enjoy it every step of the way.

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • •

Salt

•

1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Freshly ground pepper, to taste Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste

2 tbsp butter

mobility. The eight-week system works to improve lower extremity stiffness, decrease pain, increase strength and aerobic capacity, and improve participants’ self-efficacy for exercise. Read more about the program at FitAndStrong.org . Walk With Ease Created by the Arthritis Foundation, this program helps individuals create a plan that keeps them motivated, manage arthritis pain, and exercise safely. It’s a six-week program that easily

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

•

•

1 large egg yolk 1 lb fresh fettuccine

•

1 lemon wedge

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of generously salted water to a boil. 2. In a large, deep skillet, while the water heats, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and sizzling (about 2 minutes). 3. In a bowl, whisk heavy cream and egg yolk until blended and pour into garlic butter. 4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir until hot, not boiling. Keep warm on low heat. 5. In the large pot, cook pasta until al dente. (The pasta will float once it’s done.) Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water and drain pasta. Pour hot pasta into cream mixture and toss to coat on low heat. 6. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano and keep tossing gently until cream is mostly absorbed. If the sauce is absorbed too much, toss with extra pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 7. Serve with parsley and a squeeze of lemon.

integrates into an individual’s wellness program. With their online tools, you can record your progress and train yourself in the proper exercises and techniques. Sign up for the program now at Arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy- living/physical-activity/walking/walk-with-ease .

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I N S I D E This Issue

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Scoping Out the Best Hiking Trails

Retiring in 2020? Follow These 3 Steps! Gaining Weight the Healthy Way Restaurant-Style Fettuccine Alfredo Stay Active While Aging

Why Jelly Belly Was Sued for Misrepresentation

ONE SWEET LAWSUIT DID JELLY BELLY MISREPRESENT ITS PRODUCT?

Most of us consider it common knowledge that Jelly Belly’s popular jelly beans, and any other candy, contain sugar. The candy, made by Jelly Belly Candy Company, has been in production for decades, and many consider it an American confectionery staple. But when the company began offering its famous jelly beans in a new sport-enhancing product line, it left at least one consumer confused. In 2017, Jessica Gomez filed a class-action lawsuit with the Superior Court of California against the Jelly Belly Candy Company. Gomez alleged fraud, negligent representation, and product

This, the plaintiff’s lawyers explained, misled consumers into believing the product did not contain sugar. In the complaint, the plaintiff stated, “In order to make the product appear even more appropriate for athletes and less like a candy, the defendant lists ‘evaporated cane juice’ as an ingredient in its product.” However, the product’s Nutrition Facts label states that one serving of Sport Beans contains 19 grams of sugar. In a motion to dismiss, the Jelly Belly company called the claims “nonsense” and said that “no reasonable consumer could have been deceived by Sport Beans’ labeling.” Such clever labeling is common enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has addressed it. The FDAmakes clear that evaporated cane juice is, in fact, sugar. Its guidelines to food manufacturers state that “sweeteners derived from sugar cane should not be declared on food labels as evaporated cane juice,” though this is merely a suggestion and not a legal requirement.

liability. The suit also alleged that the product violated California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, false advertising law, and unfair business practices law. What was the alleged fraud and negligent representation? The suit claimed Jelly Belly purposely excluded the word “sugar” from their Sport Beans products, which are marketed as enhancing athletic performance. Instead, the ingredient was listed as “evaporated cane juice.”

A Sacramento judge threw out the lawsuit saying it “did not pass legal muster.”

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