Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 15, 2011

17

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 15, 2011 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Today’s Subject: 

PAIN FROM THE INSIDE OUT

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES

Even though the Hart Park House Senior 
Center is under renovation, things are still 
“happening” at the center’s temporary home 
in the Community Recreation Center (611 E. 
Sierra Madre Blvd.)so please join us: 

Monday: City Hall Closed October 11th 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café: Come enjoy 
a hot meal with others. Donation for seniors 
(60+) of $2.00; visitors $3.75. Please call 
355-0256 to make your daily reservation. 

• 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm: Strength training 
with Lisa Brandley. FREE class of stretching 
with light hand weights while you sit. 

Tuesday: 

• No FREE blood pressure checks by Methodist 
Hospital this month; join us October 
11th at 11 am 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily reservations 
needed 355-0256 

• 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm: BINGO; cards are 
only 25 cents each so stop by & play 

• 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm: Yoga; $6.00 - 50 & over. 
Please call 355-5278 for more information 

Wednesday: 

• 11 –11:45 am: Balance Class with Teryl. 
FREE class designed to improve balance & refresh 
the joints 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily reservations 
needed 355-0256 

• 2nd Wednesday of the month: FREE 
Legal Consultations: 10-11:30 am. Appointments 
call 355-7394 

• Wii Wednesday - 1:00 pm or call the 
senior desk at 355-7394 to arrange another 
time & day to learn how to play. No previous 
experience or skills required and it is great 
exercise. 

October Birthdays

Pat Birdsall, Sole Krieg, Angela Stella, 
Mary Jane Baker, Barbara Cline, Dixie 
Coutant, Cathleen Cremins, Kari Elder, 
Lillias Eubanks, Margit Johnson, Adelaide “Adie” 
Marshall, Alma Mays, Nara Menjivar, Eva Poet, 
Anne Tyler

 
“Let me help you with that purse, Mrs. 
Smith.” I am offering assistance to one of 
my patients who has come in for neck and 
lower back pain. As I pick up her handbag, 
it becomes clear that she is hefting around a 
good ten pounds on her shoulder without 
realizing it. Her “homework” is to clean out 
her purse and, perhaps, purchase a smaller 
one.

 Mr. Smith comes in a week later and, while 
his leg length is being checked, it becomes 
clear he’s had these shoes for a long time. 
“How old are these shoes?” He tells me he’s 
had them for a couple of years. The heels 
are worn down at the outside edges and are 
contributing to his back problem, causing 
an imbalance. His homework? New shoes 
or new heels.

 These are just a couple examples of 
ordinary, everyday objects that contribute to ongoing pain. How is your pillow? Your 
mattress? Mold in the shower? Sensitive to the perfume your significant other is wearing? 
How about that wallet in your back pocket - is it the thickness of a phone book? Do you get 
nauseated after eating your favorite food? Are you a couch potato? Does your big toe hurt 
when the weather changes? Do you stop and breathe or push through? Is “easy does it” for 
sissies? Do you spend a whole lot of time texting? Do you sit hunched at your laptop for 
hours on end without breaks?

 Many of our daily activities contribute directly and indirectly to stubborn pain patterns. 
By being more mindful of these influences, it is possible to change and, sometimes, even 
eliminate the problem.

 Check in as you go through your day and see what you can improve. You’ll be surprised! 

Have a wonderful week, Dr. John

Meals-On-Wheels


Meals are delivered to home-bound 
seniors by volunteer drivers through 
the YWCA Intervale Lunch Program 
M-F (with frozen meals for the weekend.) 

Meals are delivered to the home-bound seniors 
by drivers through the YWCA Interval Lunch 
Program M-F (with frozen meals for the 
weekend.) 

 

 Call the YWCA at (626) 214-9460 for more 
information. 

Dr. John Talevich, D.C. has practiced in Sierra Madre 
for thirty years. His clinic, LifeWorks! Chiropractic, 
offers patient-specific approaches to the alleviation of 
pain and individually tailored wellness programs. 


EXCURSIONS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND - 

Big Bear Oktoberfest . Join us for a 
deluxe coach ride to Big Bear to enjoy 
a traditional German lunch and 
lots of Oktoberfest music. Cost per 
person is $36 and includes transportation, 
lunch & tip. Tickets are limited 
so please register now. Bus leaves the 
Recreation Center at 9 am and returns 
approximately 6:30 pm. 

SAVE THE DATES

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN 

New date: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 
18TH - Historic Castillo Isabella Castle 
Tour & Lunch at the Mission Inn, 
Riverside. You will travel by deluxe 
coach to Riverside to tour the medieval-
Spanish style castle and then enjoy 
a buffet lunch at the Riverside Inn. 
Cost per person is $34 for both the 
tour & lunch. The bus will leave at 9 
am and return at 3 pm. 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH - 
Candlelight Pavilion Christmas Show 
in Claremont. Cost is $59 per person 
for the lunch & the show. TICKETS 
ARE VERY LIMITED so register early. 
Departure time is 10:30 am and the 
bus will return around 4 pm. 

Registration can be done either by 
coming to the Community Recreation 
Office, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. in 
person (M-TH 8:30 am to 6:30 pm) 
or online at www.cityofsierramadre.
com/onlineregistration 

LUNCH & LEARN 

Join the Senior

Community Commission

at the 

Sierra Madre Recreation Center

 for a FREE presentation. Lunch is 
available for a 

$2 donation 

Call (626) 355-0256 by 

12 noon the day before. 

John M. Talevich, D.C. 

CHIROPRACTIC: Simple, Elegant, Effective

31 S. Baldwin Avenue Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

626-355-4710

FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR 
SENIORS

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can your write a column on fire safety tips for 
seniors? With winter approaching, it’s important 
that seniors know that home fires are far more 
common and deadly among the elderly, but there 
are things they can do to guard against it. Thanks 
for your help. Fire Safety Council

Dear Council:

You’re right! Because of physical limitations and 
slower reaction times, seniors are particularly 
vulnerable in home fires. In fact, according to 
the U.S. Fire Administration, seniors over the 
age of 65 are twice as likely to die or be injured in 
a home fire, than those younger. For those over 
75, the risk nearly triples. But with a little awareness 
and a few precautionary tips (see firesafety.
gov), seniors can go a long way in protecting 
their property and themselves. 

Fire Hazards

While there are many possible causes of accidental 
home fires, the three most common among 
the elderly are caused by smoking, cooking and 
alternative heating devices. Here’s a breakdown 
of what seniors can do to protect themselves in 
each of these key areas.

Smoke Safely: Careless smoking is the leading 
cause of home fire deaths and the second leading 
cause of injuries among seniors. For those who 
smoke it’s important to remember:

• Never smoke in bed.

• Put your cigarette or cigar out at the first 
sign of feeling drowsy while watching television 
or reading. 

• Don’t leave your lit cigarette or cigar 
unattended. 

• Use deep ashtrays and put your cigarettes 
all the way out.

• Consider switching to fire-save cigarettes 
(firesafecigarettes.org) that self-extinguish 
when they’re not being smoked. 

Cook Safely: Home cooking fires are the number 
one cause of fire injuries among the elderly. Tips 
that can help include: 

• Never leave food cooking on a stove 
top unattended. When leaving the kitchen, take 
a wooden spoon or potholder as a reminder to 
turn off the oven or burners, or consider installing 
an automatic stove shut-off device as a safety 
precaution. Cookstop.com, homesensers.com, 
stoveguardintl.com and pioneeringtech.com sell 
them. 

• Avoid wearing loose clothing with hanging 
sleeves when you cook and keep towels and 
pot holders away from flames or burners.

• Never use the range or oven to heat your 
home.

• Double-check the kitchen before you go 
to bed or leave the house.

Heat Safely: Alternative heating devices like 
space heaters, stoves and fireplaces are another 
potential fire hazard for seniors. Seniors who use 
these devices should keep these tips in mind: 

• If you use a space heater, keep anything 
that can burn at least three feet away and always 
turn it off when you leave the house or go to 
sleep. Also, if you’re buying a new space heater, 
look for one with a safety feature that automatically 
shuts off the power if the heater falls over.

• If you use a fireplace that burns wood, 
be sure you have a glass or metal screen front to 
catch the flying sparks and rolling logs, and have 
the chimney flue inspected annually and cleaned 
if needed. 

• If you use a heating device fueled by gas, 
oil, wood or kerosene purchase and install carbon 
monoxide detectors to alert you to potential 
toxic gas problems. 

Home Tips 

Around 75 percent of seniors who die in fires 
each year don’t have working smoke alarms in 
their homes. Seniors or caregivers should make 
it a priority to install smoke alarms on every level 
of their house outside their sleeping area, and 
change the batteries at least once a year. It’s also 
important to have an escape plan in the event of 
a fire. 

For seniors who are hearing impaired, companies 
like Silent Call (silentcall.com) and Harris 
Communications (harriscomm.com) sell smoke 
and carbon monoxide detectors that work with 
flashing strobe lights and bed vibrators to alert 
you when a problem arises. And, there are also 
home smoke and fire monitoring services like 
ADT (adtfireprotection.com) that can alert seniors, 
caregivers and the fire department if a fire 
happens. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim 
Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author 
of “The Savvy Senior” book.

DIAL - A - RIDE TICKETS

Tickets can now be purchased at:

Sierra Madre City Hall

Sierra Madre Recreation Center

Sierra Madre Library


Pasadena Highlands, an independent and assisted 
living community, is proud to provide a special 
gift basket on the first Tuesday of each month. 
Accredited In-Home nursing care will provide a 
special prize on the 4th Tuesday of each month. 
Bingo takes place every Tuesday at 1:30 pm at the 
Sierra Madre Recreation Center while the Hart Park 
House is under remodeling. The game begins at 
1:30 pm but those wishing to play must arrive 10 
minutes before to secure your Bingo cards. Join 
us on the 1st & 4th Tuesday of each month 

YOUnot the insurance companyIt’s about“ As an independent insurance broker, I have a fiduciary responsibility 
to act in my client’s best interest, not the interests of the insurance 
industry or the medical community. My mission is to find the best 
available coverage for You at the most affordable price.”
John W. Barrett 
626-797-4618333 W. California Blvd. #110, Pasadena, CA 91105CA Lic #0750065HealtH 
Insurance 
Brokers
©2010 Health Insurance Brokers. 
All Rights Reserved. 


(NAPSI)—While everyone needs to be careful when taking medication, 
older adults face particular challenges. Often, they take more 
than one medicine at a time and they may not metabolize drugs as 
well as they once did, raising the risk of complications.

Answering these true or false questions from leading home care 
company Interim HealthCare may help reduce side effects and improve 
the efficacy of any medications being taken:

True or False:

1. Filling your prescriptions at the same pharmacy is a good idea.

2. All drugs need to be refrigerated.

3. If you miss a dose, the best thing to do is wait for the next time 
you need to take one.

4. Stop taking the drug once you feel better.

5. If you can’t remember to take your medicine at the right time 
of day and in the right amount, use charts, calendars and weekly 
pillboxes.

6. Certain foods can interact with medications.

Answers

1. True. That way, your records are in one place. This allows the 
pharmacist to know what you are taking and tell you if a new drug 
may cause interactions if taken with another drug at the same time.

2. False. However, all drugs should be stored away from children 
and animals. Many must be stored away from heat and direct light 
and not in the bathroom or other damp place. If a drug is not stored 
correctly, it can reduce its effectiveness.

3. False. Some drugs should be taken as soon as you realize you 
missed a dose; with others, you should wait until the next dose. Be 
sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist how to proceed with the drug 
you are taking.

4. False. Take the medicine until you are finished or until the doctor 
tells you to stop.

5. True. All these reminder systems can work, but if you become 
more forgetful, supervision may be required.

6. True. Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of some medicines 
in your blood. Eating a calcium-rich dairy product can stop antibiotics 
from working. These are just two examples. Check with your 
physician or pharmacist for more insight.

Always ask your doctor what each prescribed drug is, why you are 
taking it, when you should take it and what side effects to watch for. 
Supervising medication is one of the many jobs a home health care 
aide can perform. 

For more information, visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

MEDICATIONS 101: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?