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With all the medications that many seniors are on, it turns out that laughter might be the best medicine. When we laugh, our spirits are lifted, our heart is happy and we just feel good. For seniors, laughing has an even greater impact – it provides a variety of age-related health benefits. Reduces Stress, Anxiety & Depression That good feeling, we get when we laugh, stays with us even after the immediate laughter subsides. It relaxes the entire body, releasing physical tension in our muscles for up to 45 minutes. Laughing also increases our levels of dopamine, which helps to naturally reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Boosts the Immune System Laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, such as T-cells and salivary immunoglobulin A. This giv

"Wave Leadership College was founded with a vision to combine the best of practical ministry training and academic excellence. I believe that Christian leaders are truly equipped for life and leadership when they experience the rigor of college level academics, comprehend the truth of God’s Word, and have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in a real-life scenario.  We are proud to provide this type of education, equipping our students to succeed in their God given purpose." -Pastor Steve Kelly, President of Wave Leadership College A New Year brings with it all new possibilities and a wonderful chance for self-discovery.  What better way to begin 2020 than through education?  Wave Leadership College is located in the heart of Virginia Beach on Great Neck

By Connie Meyer It was one of those cold, clear, Sunday afternoons of winter when I was in junior high school.  Football season was in full swing and my grandmother, Nana Anna; my sister; my dad, Freddie; and our beagle, Freckles were all in our special spots in our family room ready to watch the game.  Our team, the Washington Redskins, were to play the first game of the day so there was no question who we’d “root for”.  In those days it seemed they either came out of the gate strong and dominated their opponents, or totally behaved like the underdogs even though they were full of talented players.  For the second game of the afternoon, we’d ask my dad the same question every Sunday of the season, right before the kickoff.  “Dad, who’s the underdog in this mat

You’ve said YES! So now what? The date, the venue, what will you wear, where will you party? There are so many things to know and plan. Where do you even begin? This is the reason why the first official Wedding Showcase of the New Year is where you should be.  Sunday, January 12th, at Norfolk Scope all the festivities begin. The Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase presented by Astro Entertainment will open at 11am for a wonderful five hours of fashion, food and fun! Last year’s show had over 1,700 guests, approximately 800 of those were brides. With the exciting partnership with Astro Entertainment many more attendees are anticipated this year. Every year a special part of the fashion show is dedicated to breast cancer survivors, with a portion of the entrance fees donated t

By Tom Knox Many of us visit our senior relatives during the holidays. Often times we see changes that are subtle, but need attention. It could be driving, hygiene, eating fresh food, etc. Some of the biggest issues happen during the winter season to seniors.  Here are some tips to keep everyone safe. The depths of winter may seem far off... but evening temperatures are already starting to drop. We have seen some of our first frosts! While it is always beautiful to see the leaves change and snow on the ground, one must remember that the winter season can be dangerous, especially for seniors in our community. Some things to remember this winter: 1) Avoid Slipping on Ice Make sure to wear shoes with good traction and non-skid soles, and stay inside until the road...

By Kerry Dougherty It doesn’t matter if you’re ecstatic over Tuesday’s election results or disappointed. We Virginians can agree on at least one thing:  The Old Dominion is beautiful.  Especially in the fall.  But I’ll tell you what the tourism honchos won’t: Fall foliage is a tad drab this year, thanks to the drought that gripped much of Virginia this summer.  Who knew there was a downside to all those unrelentingly sunny days? I spent two weekends in rural Virginia in October. Hey, it’s wedding season. Even without the blinding autumn colors, the Blue Ridge was stunning and if you used your imagination, it seemed that the rolling hills of the piedmont were much the same as they were when Thomas Jefferson travelled those hills on horse

Go See Freddie We at Hampton Roads Weekly are pleased that so many of our readers have been following our “Live Like Freddie” column these last months.  Many of you have inquired about Rogers Clothes and Freddie.  We realized you may have missed our first introductory column that explained this remarkable businessman, father, and friend.  If we at this special time of year, can integrate just one aspect found in the “Rogers Clothes experience”, our holiday season will be all the happier. They said it all over town for almost 50 years – in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News and Hampton.  Shipyard workers, bank presidents, high school students, store clerks, folks in military and first responders’ uniforms, doctors, lawyers, t

Long-term care insurance: Advice for you and my aging parents When I started working in Home Care over 10 years ago, very few seniors had a long-term care policy that paid for their care. In 2019 over one-third of our clients had their care paid through their long-term care insurance policy.  Many do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses for their caregiver. What a change in the industry and what a great benefit! Long-term care insurance was created because Medicare and other traditional insurances do not pay for hourly Activities of Daily Living (ADL) support. ADL support includes bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulating, feeding, and cognitive support. This type of hourly support, as well as companionship, cooking, errands etc. are commonly purchased from 4 hours a day throug...