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01.23 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 15 Research finds that learning can help offset dementia, while socialization is "a key to avoiding depression," said Anastasia Petrovskaya, director of Pathways Institute. e Messiah Lifeways catalog of courses for the 55- plus crowd uses the region as a classroom, exploring the area's history, art, culture and nature—everything from equine bonding to introduction to pickleball to canoeing 101 at Gifford Pinchot State Park. "Learning is what unites people," Petrovskaya said. Connections matter for those who move to the area or move to retirement communities, she added. To accommodate those retirees who may still be working or deeply engaged in volunteer work, Pathways Institute is adding more weekend and evening courses. "Retired people are the most busy people I have met," Petrovskaya said. "Finally, people have the time to do all the things they always wanted to do." In 2013, retired educator Sandy Gilleo moved to Mechanicsburg from Bucks County at the urging of a friend. She experienced some culture shock, missing the wealth of adult learning available back home, before discovering Pathways Institute. Now, she's a regular, taking "everything from history to religion to crafts to whatever you want," said Gilleo, who moved pre-pandemic to Carlisle. "at's what I'm interested in—everything and anything." e region has long been known as a top place to live, work, play and raise a family, and now, it's "Destination Dauphin County" for people of all ages, said Dauphin County Commission Chair Mike Pries. e Capital Area Greenbelt, local arts and museums, excellent health care and county parks such as Wildwood, Fort Hunter and Detweiler make the area attractive to retirees, he said. Plus, he noted, 18 consecutive years without a county property tax hike doesn't hurt (and famously, Pennsylvania doesn't tax pensions). "We're viewed as a place where an older person can retire with the confidence that, no matter their economic circumstances, they'll be stable," Pries said. From veterans' services to the Area Agency on Aging, county officials "connect the dots" to ensure a protective web of services for older adults, Pries added. "We are in constant communication with the municipalities and the city, discussing with them opportunities for retirees," he said. ALL THE TRAPPINGS U.S. News weighted healthcare quality heavily, after happiness and housing affordability, in its rankings. Increasingly, local health systems are "age-friendly," addressing the holistic needs of older adults, with support groups and education addressing mental and physical health, said Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Mansoora, Geriatric Medicine, Post-Acute Care Clinical Services, UPMC in Central Pa. "ere's a vast spectrum of needs people develop as they get older," she said. "A good starting point is to find a very good personal care physician or geriatrician who can anticipate a person's needs as they get older or even prior to it becoming an absolute necessity." e region's engagement and interaction opportunities play key roles in elderly health because socialization is one of four criteria known to prevent or slow dementia, Mansoora said. e region's pace of life and outdoors opportunities also amp up its appeal. "Harrisburg and Lancaster are the perfect big little towns," she said. "ese are big little cities for older adults to live in and have a good social life, to be interactive, and still be close enough to their children or loved ones who are in New Jersey or New York or Maryland. Harrisburg is right along the river with a walking path for great exercise. It has enough activities to keep people engaged in society." Pries noted the region's fit with the pandemic- driven, upward trend in outdoors activities. "We are blessed," he said. "We have all the trappings and the enticements of big-city living right here in rural, south-central Pennsylvania." Gibson, who is retired but back to working part- time at the flooring and carpet store where she used to work, agreed. "ere are a lot of things for retirees," she said. "You can get involved with the art galleries or the Harrisburg Art Association. We like to go to some of the galleries. ere's a lot to do. You're in the city, but it's not a big city." Pathways Institute instructor Peggy Gerhardt, teaching introduction to pickleball. Pathways participant Peggy Martinsen and horse Violet during an equine bonding session. Gretchen Petri and Sandy Gilleo participate in a Pathways workshop at Rosemary House in Mechanicsburg. Photos courtesy of Pathways Institute

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