“I charge $2 a drink, says Conticchio. “I give two shots and make all kinds of fancy drinks. I do get some extra money, and with that I have hors d’oeuvres every other week for the people who buy drinks.”
Drinks are a little more at the Belmont—$3 each—but all profits are donated. “We give to our student Scholars Fund, our Staff Appreciation Fund, and the Benevolent Care Fund,” says Sprankel. “And right now, we’re saving money to put in a nice donation for the stained glass window in our new interfaith chapel!”
Everyone agrees that Cedar Crest’s social hours are very enjoyable. But could these good times also be good for people? A recent study suggests they might be.
In an article entitled “Over 65? Cocktail Time May Be Your Finest Hour,” The New York Times reported on research that tracked the medical histories and drinking habits of 5,595 people 65 and older over seven to ten years. The findings were published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
According to the study, people who had one to six drinks a week were about 16 percent less likely than those who abstain from alcohol to suffer from heart failure or die of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, those who had seven to 13 drinks a week were about 30 percent less likely.
Why moderate drinking may offer these benefits is not clear. Those who conducted the study thought the alcohol might dilate the arteries and thus enhance blood flow. However, they also made clear that drinking to excess is a cause of heart disease.
Asked to comment, Cedar Crest’s Medical Director, Dr. Roland Lascari, stated: “There are reports of the benefits of three ounces of alcohol daily as a cardio protective agent. This also depends on the general health status of the individual and whether there are any other risk factors that may be detrimental the patient, such as diabetes, liver, and kidney disease.”
Among those who turn out for Cedar Crest’s social hours, few are surprised by the study. “It seems to be common knowledge now that a drink a day is actually good for you,” says Conticchio.
For all, however, it’s really about the people. “The purpose originally was for people to get to know each other,” says Sprankel. “That’s why we call it a social hour rather than a cocktail hour. Many people come and don’t drink.”
The social hours also provide an opportunity for people to touch base with each other regarding other goings-on. At last count, there were over 135 groups, clubs, and activities at Cedar Crest.
And therein lies another, potentially bigger health benefit. In an online article from My Health, a website of Catholic Healthcare West, the nation’s eighth largest hospital system, Carol Ryff, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Aging at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is quoted as saying:
"Our research, and that of others....shows that seniors who are 'socially integrated'—in other words, connected to others in an active, positive way—are in better health, retain more of the mental sharpness, and in general live longer than those who become 'social recluses.'" (By Jeff Ostroth, submitted by Jackie Schatell)
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