Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 7, 2013

11

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, December 7, 2013 

 
NATIONAL CAREGIVER MONTH RECOGNIZES NEARLY HALF 
OF AMERICANS CARING FOR AGING PARENTS

November’s National Family Caregivers Month spotlights and recognizes the family caregivers who 
sacrifice daily to juggle jobs and family while helping to care for their aging parents.

Adult children worry about Mom or Dad living alone. This is a big added stressor for this “sandwich 
generation” – those taking care of their parents and children at the same time. The financial reality is 
that outside senior care is very expensive and most seniors want to continue living in their own home 
for as long as possible. 

Enter SafeinHome® a real time, non-invasive monitoring system 
which allows family members to check on Mom or Dad anytime via 
smartphone or tablet. This cost effective solution helps adult children 
with aging parents living alone get their life back by making it easier 
to check on a parent from anywhere and maintain peace of mind 
knowing they are OK.

“Our seniors’ wellness is a critical issue facing most Americans today,” 
explained Denise Yarmlak, director of marketing for the SafeinHome® 
company based in Walnut Creek, California. With nearly 40% of adults 
in our country facing these immediate concerns daily, the prospect of 
staying in touch with family members through SafeinHome®can be 
life changing.

SafeinHome® can be used by multiple family members and keep them 
in the loop with real time alerts for the most common daily routines 
such as was the door left open? Did mom return home and settle in for the night? Or worse, might she 
have fallen and need emergency care? SafeinHome® provides information quickly and cost effectively.

Southern Californian Jim LeVeque posed the question, “How many of us worry about the stove being 
left on, or has mom returned home safe and sound?

 

Family members and professional caregivers are capitalizing on this non-invasive technology which 
can be installed in less than 1 hour and lets them check in on a senior using their smart phone or 
tablet for $99 a month which is a much more affordable proposition compared to the financial burden 
of paid care running in the thousands of dollars per month.

When the SafeinHome® Standard System became available, senior care affiliates and agency owners 
such as Barbora Soltys’ Comfort Assisting, Inc in the San Francisco Bay Area and Colleen McKernan’s 
Foothill Home Care in Southern California took notice immediately recognizing the added value 
these non-invasive real-time monitoring and alert technologies could provide additional peace of 
mind to family members who wanted to stay connected to their senior every day.

A relieved caregiver calls their family’s SafeinHome® system “life changing and a life saver; a cost-
effective alternative that keeps home care costs low. It’s an extra measure of security; a proven 
technology designed to keep seniors safe and families worry free.” 

Another family caregiver shared his experience using the SafeinHome® solution for an aging parent. 
“If I ever worry about my father not answering the phone, I can just check through SafeinHome® 
and see where he is! What a relief!” Another satisfied client writes, We can still enjoy our lives and 
preserve our family nest-egg for years to come.”


“We are rolling out SafeinHome® in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria, and other parts 
of California. During the holiday season, adult children often visit their aging parents and recognize 
the need for more help. 

SafeinHome® is an easy and affordable way for adult children with aging parents to know they are 
OK when they can’t be with them,” explained Denise Yarmlak and since most care givers face daily 
challenges, SafeinHome® provides that viable solution.

This year’s Presidential Proclamation notes that “Across our country, more than 60 million Americans 
take up thee selfless and unheralded work of delivering care to seniors…we thank these tireless heroes 
for the long, challenging work they perform behind closed doors and without fanfare every day, and 
we recommit to ensuring the well-being of their loved ones of the caregivers themselves.” 

For more information:


Denise Yarmlak, DYarmlak@SafeinHome.com 925-380-2151

Brittany Lloyd BLloyd@SafeinHome.com 925-380-2157

Chris Bertrand Chris@bertrandonline.com 925-963-3991 www.SafeinHome.com 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

 By Pat Birdsall

FYI: SODIUM AND SALT

 

Like we don’t have enough to think about in these festive times…Americans Consume Too Much 
Sodium- screams out at me from the pages of the article I’m reading. Simple facts: If each American 
cut their salt intake by 1 teaspoon (3g) a day, there would be 120,000 fewer strokes, 99,000 fewer 
heart attacks and 92,000 fewer deaths in the next year. Nearly everyone benefits from reduced salt 
consumption…Consider that fact at the various holiday you attend. Bon Appetite! www.
cdc.gov/features 

HELPFUL HINT: For a totally different effect, tie yarn around a paint roller to create a 
unique and stunning pattern on whatever surface you’re painting.

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE - A lady goes to a priest one day and tells him, “Father, 
I have a problem. I have two female parrots, but they only know how to say one thing.” “What do 
they say?” the priest inquired. They say, “We are hookers! Do you want to have some fun?” “That’s 
obscene!” the priest exclaimed, then he thought or a moment. “You know, he said, “I may have a 
solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the 
Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we’ll put them in a cage with Francis and Job. 
My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship, and your parrots will stop saying…that 
phrase…in no time” “Thank you,” the woman responded, “This may very well be the solution.” The 
next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest’s house. As he ushered her in, she saw that his 
two male parrots were inside their cage, holding rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked 
over and placed her parrots in with them. After a few minutes, the female parrots cried out in unison, 
“Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?” There was stunned silence. Shocked, one male 
parrot looked over at the other male parrot and exclaimed, “Put the beads away, Frank. Our prayers 
have been answered!”

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … December Birthdays

Pat Karamitros, Joan Hufnagel, Marie Pedersen, Mary Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, 
Shirley Anhalt , Mignon Grijalva, Helen Reese, Levon Yapoujian, Toni Buckner, Bonnie 
Garner, Lottie Bugl, Pat McGuire, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, Eleanor Hensel, Sylvia Curl, 
Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher and Cindy Barran.

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required.

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Quote of the Week: Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it 
was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. 

 ~Author Unknown

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park House 
(Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 for 
those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily

 reservations are necessary as space is limited. 

 Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Lunch and Learn with the Mayor

Wednesday, December 18th- 12:00- 1:00 pm Hart Park House Senior Center

Mayor Nancy Walsh will recap notable happenings in Sierra Madre over the past year and share 
projects and expectations for the upcoming year. Stay informed about the City of Sierra Madre 
through this information filled presentation. Any questions you have are welcomed. If you would 
like to have lunch during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with the Senior Lunch Café at 
626.355.0256 or bring your own.

Free Balance Class: Every 3rd Monday for 11:00 am to 11:45 am with Shannon Vandevelde. A 
variety of balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am-12:00 pm: No 
appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: New Hours: 11:00 to 11:45 Every Wednesday morning. Join Paul Hagen for this 
free class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. No reservation is necessary!

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Lem Makupson volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules 
can occasionally cause cancellations.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays of 
our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes are 
provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-
kind chess table is anxious for players.

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to

 socialize with your peers. 

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

Friday, December 13, 2013. “Because it’s Christmas” 

Show at Candlelight Pavilion (Claremont, Ca.) $67.00 (Lunch included) 

 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time of 
reservation. CALL (626) 355-7394

Los Angeles Times & Printing Plant (Los Angeles, CA.)

Date: Friday, January 10, 2014

Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House/Senior Center

Cost: $15.00 (does not include lunch)

With a daily circulation of more than one million readers, the Los Angeles Times is by far the most 
popular newspaper in the Southland. The publication’s headquarters, built in 1935, is situated on 
the outskirts of Downtown. The one-hour tour is an educational trip through the entire publication 
process as well as a history of this storied American newspaper. Following the Headquarters tour, 
the bus will take a short drive to the printing plant. During this 45-minute tour watch robots assist 
in the preparation of final copies of the paper for distribution. After the tours lunch will be enjoyed 
at a downtown restaurant. It is recommended that you bring $10 to $15 for lunch. Last day to 
register is Friday, January 3rd. Level of walking: Moderate

Save the Dates: Thursday, February 27, 2014

Feline Conservation Center (Rosamond, Ca.)Time: 9:00am to 4:00 pm

Cost: $15.00 (does not include lunch)

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Whale Watching (Long Beach, Ca.) Time: 10:00am to 3:30 pm

Cost: $31.00 (does not include lunch)

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time 
of reservation.

 Senior Cinema

 Wednesday, December 18th at 1:00pm

Join us for a special holiday feature complete with coffee, hot chocolate and holiday treats. This will 
be the only movie shown in the month of December. It will be held at the Hart Park House/Senior 
Center to accommodate for the food and beverages. Enjoy the warmth of the Senior Center as the fire 
flickers while watching the classic “A Christmas Story.” (1983) Ralphie has to convince his parents, 
teachers and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940s.Rated PG-Run 
time 94 minutes. Movie and snack provided by Humana. 


KATIE Tse.....................This and That

FROM EGYPT WITH LOVE

 

 My parents and I have an Egyptian missionary friend, (let’s call her Maggie), who 
immigrated to the U.S.A. in the 1980’s with her two young sons. Maggie came to 
America expecting the U.S.A. to be the wholesome land of boy scouts, Billy Graham, and “My Three 
Sons.” Needless to say, it didn’t take long for her to realize our society had become more about 
druggies, Madonna, and “MTV.” 

 30-some years later, Maggie’s done very well learning the language and understanding our culture. 
Mom and I are often embarrassed discussing America’s current state of decline with Maggie. The U.S. 
may be slightly ahead of Egypt as far as personal freedoms and economic mobility are concerned, but 
our humanistic, existentialistic views have watered down any moral fiber we might’ve had as a nation. 

 The other day, Maggie used a story in order to illustrate 
the personality differences between her younger son (let’s 
call him Roy) and her older son (we’ll call Steve). According 
to Maggie, she and Steve are more introverted, while her 
late husband and Roy are more social. This particular story 
involved a pizza party at Lake Avenue Church.

 The American pastor, who Maggie described as being at 
least 6’1”, knelt down to Roy’s height and asked him, “So, 
do you have pizza in Egypt?” Putting myself in Roy’s shoes, 
I’d probably be tired of adults constantly asking about the 
customs of my home country; sort of like how kids get tired 
of the same two questions, “What’s your name?” and “How 
old are you?” 

 In response to the pastor, Roy asked him, “Have you ever 
been to Egypt?” “No,” he replied. Roy smiled, “Then don’t 
talk!”

 Leaving the church, Steve waited until the three of them 
were outside of earshot before exclaiming, “This impolite 
son of yours spoke back to the pastor!” Maggie told Steve, 
“I raised you in the right way. Let Roy be. He may be a good lawyer for us some day.”

 Roy isn’t a lawyer, but he’s still an honorable son who continues to bring welcomed levity to 
everyone he knows. My parents and I are all the richer for knowing Maggie and her family! 


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