Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 31, 2014

Mountain Views News Saturday, May 31, 2014 
9THE GOOD LIFE Mountain Views News Saturday, May 31, 2014 
9THE GOOD LIFE 
TOP RATED NEW VEHICLES FOR SENIORS 

Dear Savvy Senior: 

Can you recommend any credible resources that rate the best vehicles for older drivers? My wife and 
I are both in our seventies and are looking to purchase a new automobile but could use some help 
choosing one that’s age friendly. What can you tell us? Car Shoppers 

Dear Shoppers: 

While there are a number of websites that rate new 
vehicles for older drivers, one of the most credible 
is Edmunds.com, a top-rated online resource for 
automotive research information. 

For 2014, they developed a list of “top 10 vehicles 
for seniors” based on user-friendly features that 
help compensate for many of the physical changes 

– like diminished vision, arthritis, and range of 
motion loss – that can come with aging. 
But before we get to the list, here is a rundown of different features that are available on many new 
vehicles today and how they can help with various age-related physical problems. So depending on 
what ails you or your wife, here’s what to look for. 

Knee, hip or leg problems: For comfort, a better fit, and easier entry and exit, look for vehicles that 
have six-way adjustable power seats that move the seat forward and backward, up and down, and 
the seat-back forward and backward. Also look for low door thresholds and seat heights that don’t 
require too much bending or climbing to get into. Leather or faux leather seats are also easier to slide 
in and out of than cloth seats. 

Limited upper body range of motion: If you have difficulty looking over your shoulder to back up or 
merge into traffic, look for vehicles with a large rear window for better visibility, wide-angle mirrors 
which can minimize blind spots, back-up cameras, active parallel park assistance, and blind-spot 
warning systems that alert you to objects in the way. Also, for comfort and fit, consider vehicles that 
have a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, adjustable seatbelts, and heated seats with lumbar support. 

Arthritic hands: To help with difficult and painful gripping and turning problems, features that can 
help include a keyless entry and a push-button ignition, a thicker steering wheel, power mirrors and 
seats, and larger dashboard controls. And in SUVs and crossovers, an automatic tailgate closer can 
be a real bonus. 

Diminished vision: Look for vehicles with larger instrument panels and dashboard controls with 
contrasting text that’s easier to see. And those with sensitivity to glare will benefit from extendable 
sun visors, auto-dimming rearview mirror and glare reducing side mirrors. 

Short and/or overweight: Look for six-way adjustable seats, adjustable foot pedals and a tilt-andtelescoping 
steering wheel. 

2014 Best Vehicles 

Here is Edmunds list of top 10 vehicles for 2014 listed in alphabetical order. Each offers features 
designed to support drivers coping with the conditions discussed above. Their picks include both 
sedans and SUVs, and range from top-of-the-line luxury models to those with more affordable price 
tags. 

Acura RDX SUV, Audi A8 Sedan, Ford Taurus Sedan, Honda Accord Sedan, Hyundai Sonata Sedan, 
Lexus ES 350 Sedan, Mazda CX-9 SUV, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan, Toyota Avalon Sedan and 
Volkswagen Passat. 

To read more about the details of these choices visit edmunds.com and type in “Top 10 vehicles for 
seniors for 2014” into their search bar.

 AAA Resource 

Another excellent resource that can help you chose a vehicle that meets your needs is the American 
Automobile Association’s online tool called “Smart Features for Older Drivers.” 

At seniordriving.aaa.com/smartfeatures you can input the areas you have problems with – like knee 
problems, arthritic hands or a stiff upper body – and the tool will identify the makes and models 
that have the features that will best accommodate your needs. Although this tool looks at model-
year 2013 vehicles, in many cases the features shown are carried over for 2014 models. 

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. 


MUSICAL RECITALS --AND OTHER 
EMBARRASSMENTS

 One of my all time favorite authors is James Herriot, author of All Things Bright 

and Beautiful, The Lord God Made Them All, and other tales of life as a country vet in 

rural England from the 

1930’s to the 1970’s. It 
didn’t really matter that James was a vet, 
he could have been a mechanic, dentist, 
or shopkeeper. What made his writing 
memorable was his ability to relate 
to the reader on a personal level. To 
read Herriot is to share in the common 
struggles and joys of life.

 A particularly funny story involved 
Herriot’s young son performing in 
his first piano recital. The assembled 
parents were all silently suffering as their 
children skipped through the songs with 
carefree abandon, oblivious to the many 
mistakes they made. But with each sour 
note, parents tightened their grips on 
the armrests.

 I was reminded of this as I attended 
my school’s spring music performance. 
I’d never been able to attend this annual 
event before, so I didn’t know what to expect. The students, all fifth graders or older, were huddled 
together at the base of the auditorium stage. At other occasions, such as the kindergarten promotion 
or the Christmas concert, parents casually look around and chat with each other between numbers. 
But not that day. All eyes were trained ahead, and the typical laughter was replaced by an eerie silence. 

 
Someone must’ve forgotten to tell the junior high crowd that it’s rude to laugh during performances. 
I couldn’t really blame them though. I winced every time the performers raked their bows across the 
strings of their violins. Sitting so close to each other, I was sure one of them was going to poke out 
another’s eyes. Thankfully, no blood was shed, nor eyes impaled. 

 Besides the majority of violinists, there were a few novice trumpeters. Some of the seasoned eighth 
graders blew through their numbers with ease. But less experienced players either hadn’t achieved the 
tight lip seal over the mouthpiece or perhaps they hadn’t mastered proper pressurized breath control. 
Whatever their problem was, it caused their songs to be punctuated with occasional flatulent-sounding 
toots. 

 Sitting in the back row, I was glad to be able to slip out unnoticed before the show ended. I was glad 
I wasn’t a nerve-wracked parent, twitching with every sour note and stray trumpet squeak. I was glad 
I wasn’t down there in the orchestra pit, in danger of having my eye gouged out by a violin bow. I was 
glad to not be a student in the audience, trying to suppress laughter. I was really glad I wasn’t a teacher, 
having to monitor the many rows of students and to discipline those who were disruptive. 

 But there was one person whose accomplishments really shined that day. One brave soul led a 
motley crew of unrefined musicians to a level no other person could have achieved. That person was 
the music teacher. Despite the discordant moments and near-miss eye injuries, that lady achieved 
something none of the rest of us could’ve done. And the fact that she did it in over ten different schools 
in our district alone makes my head swim! Classroom teachers have a tough job, but I think we can all 
agree that junior high music teachers are real troopers! 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


FYI - OLDER DRIVERS TIP #1: UNDERSTAND HOW AGING AFFECTS YOU 

Everyone ages differently, so there is no arbitrary cutoff as to when someone should stop driving. 
However, older adults are more likely to receive traffic citations and get into accidents than younger 
drivers. In fact, fatal crash rates rise sharply after a driver has reached the age of 70. What causes this 
increase? As we age, factors such as decreased vision, impaired hearing, or slowed motor reflexes 
may become a problem. You may have a chronic condition that gradually worsens with time, or you 
may have to adjust to a sudden change, such as a stroke. 


Aging tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility, which can have a 
major impact on your ability to safely control a car. For example: 


Pain or stiffness in your neck can make it harder to look over your shoulder to change lanes or look 
left and right at intersections to check for other traffic or pedestrians. 


Leg pain can make it difficult to move your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. 


Diminished arm strength can make it hard to turn the steering wheel quickly and effectively.
As reaction times also slow down with age, you may be slower to spot vehicles emerging from side 
streets and driveways, or to realize that the vehicle ahead of you has slowed or stopped. 


Keeping track of so many road signs, signals, and markings, as well as all the other traffic and 
pedestrians, can also become more difficult as you lose the ability to effectively divide your attention 
between multiple activities. 


You may have driven your entire life and take great pride in your safety record, but as you age, it 
is critical that you realize your driving ability can change. To continue driving safely, you need to 
recognize that changes can happen, get help when they do, and be willing to listen if others voice 
concerns. 


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HELPFUL HINT: Do not give any personal information over the phone or 

online unless you can verify the source. Telephone and online scams targeting seniors 

abound. Nobody should ask you for your passwords, code words or any other private 

information. If someone asks you to ‘confirm your credit card number’ DO NOT. No 
matter how professional it sounds or looks. Thieves can reproduce company logos or send e-mails 
that look remarkably real. On the phone, demand a number you can call them back, demand they 
send all requests in writing and then forward everything to the local attorney general’s office. 

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE

 Two elderly women were out driving in a large car -- both could barely see over the dashboard. As 
they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on 
through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, 
“I must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went through a red light.”

 After a few more minutes they came to another intersection and the light was red again and again 
they went right though. This time the woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light 
had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous and decided 
to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection to see what was going on. At the 
next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red and they went right through. She turned 
to the other woman and said, 

 “Mildred! Did you know we just ran through three red lights in a row! You could have killed us!” 
Mildred turned to her and said “Oh, am I driving?”

 ~ ~ ~ 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … May Birthdays* 

Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna Mathieson, 

Dorothy Murphy, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, Joanne Anthony, 

Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten Eyck, Jane Thomas, 

Ray Burley. . *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: “Laughter is an instant vacation.” ~Milton Berle 

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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 

Free Balance Class: Third Monday of every month 11:00 to 11:45 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! 

Chair Yoga Update: This class has become so popular that Instructor Paul Hagen has agreed tooffer another class. Starting Monday, April 7th chair yoga will meet twice a week on Mondays and 
Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of the month when the balance 
class is held. Due to the demand for this class and Paul Hagen’s time a suggested donation of $5 at 
one of the classes is requested, but is not required. If you have any questions please feel free to stop 
by or give us a call 626.355.7394 

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 

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. 

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. 

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. 

LUNCH & LEARN: EXTREME HEAT RESCHEDULED 
Wednesday, June 9th • 12:00 to 1:00 pm

As you prepare for the summer season it is important to take preventative measures to avoid heat 
related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Debra Watson, LVN from Home Care 
Providers, will provide educational materials and tips to avoid these dangerous conditions. Mark 
your calendars and don’t miss this great presentation with valuable information. If you would like 
to have lunch during the talk please call the Senior Lunch Café at 626.355.0256 or bring your own.