Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 7, 2015

THE GOOD LIFE

11

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 7, 2015 

FYI: TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY IN YOUR 70S, 80S, 90S...

 Aging can be defined as: “progressive changes related to the passing of time.” While physiological 
changes that occur with age may prevent life in your 70s, 80s and beyond from being what it was in 
your younger years, there’s a lot you can do to improve your health and longevity and reduce your 
risk for physical and mental disability as you get older.

 Research shows that you’re likely to live an average of about 10 years longer than your parents—
and not only that, but you’re likely to live healthier longer too. According to the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services, 40.4 million Americans (about 13 percent) were 65 years of age or 
older in 2010 and by the year 2030, almost 20 percent of the total U.S. population will be 65+.

So how do you give yourself the best possible chance for a long, healthy life? Although you aren’t able 
to control every factor that affects health as you age, many are in your hands. Some keys to living a 
long, healthy life include:

 Make healthful lifestyle choices—don’t smoke, eat right, practice good hygiene, and reduce stress 
in your life

Have a positive outlook

Stay as active as possible—mentally and physically

Take safety precautions

See your health care provider regularly and follow his or her recommendations for screening 
and preventative measures

 One of the most important things you can do to stay healthy in your golden years is to maintain 
your sense of purpose by staying connected to people and things that matter to you. However, this 
isn’t always easy—especially in a society that all-too-often views older people as a burden.

 Visit your local senior center. Spend time with at least one person—a family member, friend or 
neighbor—every day. Volunteer in your community, attend a local event, join a club or take up a 
new hobby.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … March Birthdays

Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, Mary 
Cooper, Georgina “Snooky” Greger, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, Nan 
Carlton, Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, 
Carol Cerrina, Amy Putnam, Sally Contreras and Lori Cooper. * To add your name to 
this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required but you 
must be over 60.

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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: Monday, March 16th 11:00 to 11:45am with Shannon Vandevelde. A variety of 
balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed.

TECH TALK: Held on Monday, March 9 and 23 from 1:30pm-2:30pm. Learn how to use your 
technology devises. Reserve your space by calling 355-7394.

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. 
Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula.

BINGO: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. 
is necessary.

BRAIN GAMES: Tuesday, March 17th, 11am -12pm, improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, Community Liaison for ComForcare Senior Services in 
Pasadena.

FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: Wednesday, March 18 from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394.

CHAIR YOGA: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of 
the month. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required.

CASE MANAGEMENT: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required and 
can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Every second Thursday of the month the Hart Park House Senior 
Center celebrates birthdays of our patrons. The free birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre 
Civic Club.

GAME DAY: Every Thursday starting at 12:45pm. A regular group of seniors play poker. Other 
games available for use.

TAX ASSISTANCE: Every Thursday February 5th through April 9th from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Don 
Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-355-7394.

FREE STRENGTH TRAINING CLASS: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa 
Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the 
class are provided.

SENIOR CLUB: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00.

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW MEDICARE COVERS IN-HOME CARE


Dear Savvy Senior,

How does Medicare cover home health care? Because of 
my illness, my doctor suggested I get home health care, 
but I want to find out how it’s covered before I proceed.

Need Some Help

Dear Need,

Medicare actually covers up to 28 hours a week for 
in-home health care to beneficiaries, if you meet their 
specific requirements. Here’s how it works.

 In order for you to secure coverage for home health 
care, Medicare first requires that you be homebound. 
This means that it must be extremely difficult for you to 
leave your home, and you need help from a device (like 
a wheelchair or walker) or a person in doing so.

 You will then need your doctor to approve a “plan 
of care” confirming that you need skilled-nursing care 
or skilled-therapy services from a physical or speech 
therapist on a part-time basis. Your doctor can also 
request the services of an occupational therapist and 
a home health aide to assist with activities of daily 
living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing and using the 
bathroom. Your doctor must renew the “plan of care” 
once every 60 days.

 You will also need to use a home health agency that 
is certified by Medicare.

 If you meet all of the requirements, Medicare should 
pay for your in-home care.

 But, be aware that Medicare will not pay for home 
health aide services (such as bathing, dressing or using 
the bathroom) alone, if you do not need skilled-nursing 
or skilled-therapy services too. Homemaker services, 
such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are 
not covered either.

 You also need to know that Medicare has recently 
changed their home health care policy regarding 
degenerative diseases. They will now pay for in-home 
physical therapy, nursing care and other services to 
beneficiaries with chronic conditions like multiple 
sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease in order 
to maintain their condition and prevent deterioration. 
In the past, Medicare would only cover home health 
services if the patient were expected to make a full 
recovery.

 If you have original Medicare, you can locate 
a Medicare-certified home health agency by 
calling 800-633-4227 or by visiting medicare.
gov/homehealthcompare. If you have a Medicare 
Advantage plan, you should contact your plan directly 
and ask which home health agencies work with the 
plan and are within the plan’s network of providers.

 For more detailed information on how Medicare 
covers in-home health, see the “Medicare and Home 
Health Care” online booklet at medicare.gov/pubs/
pdf/10969.pdf.

Other Options

 If you don’t qualify for Medicare coverage, there are 
other coverage options depending on your situation, 
including:

Insurance: If you happen to have long-term care 
insurance, check to see if it covers in-home care. Or if 
you have a life insurance policy, see if it can be utilized 
to pay for care.

Medicaid: If your income is low enough, all states offer 
Medicaid programs that will pay for some forms of 
in-home care. To investigate this, contact your local 
Medicaid office.

Veterans Assistance: If you’re a veteran, some 
communities have a Veteran-Directed Home and 
Community Based Service program, which give 
veterans a flexible budget to pay for in-home care.

 Also available to wartime veterans and their spouses 
is a benefit called “Aid and Attendance” that helps pay 
for in-home care, as well as assisted living and nursing 
home care.

 To be eligible, you must need assistance with daily 
living activities like bathing, dressing or going to the 
bathroom. And, your annual income must be under 
$21,466 – minus medical and long-term care expenses. 
If you’re a surviving spouse of a veteran, your income 
must be below $13,794 to be eligible. Your assets must 
also be less than $80,000 excluding your home and car.

 To learn more, see va.gov/geriatrics or call 
800-827-1000.

 

 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.


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

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Did you listen to Netanyahu’s 
speech to Congress this last 
Tuesday March 3? If not, you 
need to! You can watch it full, 
unedited at Unitedpolitics.com. 
In his speech, Netanyahu thanked the Obama 
administration for its help in Operation Protective 
Edge and in other crises over the years. He then 
presented compelling reasons why the U.S. should 
not enter into a deal with Iran that would allow it 
to develop nuclear weapons. Namely, that Iran has 
repeatedly and publicly vowed to destroy the Jewish 
State of Israel. Besides that, Iran has a history of 
failing to honor agreements regarding its weapons 
program. Netanyahu then proposed several clear-
cut steps that the U.S. and international community 
should take in order to assure that Iran dismantles 
its nuclear program. 

 Obama’s claim that Netanyahu did not present any 
new information is an attempt to divert attention 
from the main point –that a nuclear Iran is a real and 
present danger to Israel and the world! Even if this is 
not new information, it is still TRUE information. I 
am in no way a political expert, but I have one news 
source that is always true and reliable –the Bible. The 
Bible is the infallible Word of God. It is deep enough 
to spend a lifetime studying, but simple enough for a 
child to grasp the Gospel of Salvation.

 In the Bible, God plainly and repeatedly instructs 
us as to how we should live our lives. Regarding the 
nation Israel, God has promised the land to children 
of Israel forever (Gen. 12:7, 13:15, Num. 34:1-12). He 
has also promised to bless those who bless Israel and 
to curse him who curses Israel (Gen. 12:7). No need 
for higher-level textual interpretation here, God 
states the facts plainly.

 As Christians, we need to support Israel. But, 
ultimately, we do not need to fear that Iran, or any 
other power, will destroy Israel. God has given us 
the playbook of history in advance in prophesies 
throughout both the New and Old Testaments. So 
we know that somehow, someway, He will preserve 
His nation. Not only will Israel prevail by the grace 
and protection of God, but Jesus and we, His saints, 
will rule and reign the world for a thousand years 
from His capitol in Jerusalem (Rev. 20:4). Even 
after God remakes the world, He still has plans for 
Jerusalem. The New Holy City will come down out 
of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for 
her Husband, Jesus (Rev. 21:1-2). 

 We know how the game ends, your decision is 
simply whether you want to be on the winning side 
or not. 

 Most importantly, you must decide what you are 
going to do with Jesus. This is the only decision in 
your life that will have eternal consequences. You 
cannot claim neutrality. To not choose Jesus is to 
reject Him. Take this opportunity to accept Him as 
your Lord and Savior. Do not delay, because none of 
us know how much more time we have this side of 
eternity. Today is the day of Salvation! 

 If you choose to accept Jesus as your Savior you 
can pray this prayer and He will come into your heart 
and give you peace with God --today and forever!

 “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and 
I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my 
sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and 
invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to 
trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your 
Name. Amen.”

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:


THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE (LOS ANGELES)

 Thursday, April 30, 2015 8:45am to 3:30pm

 Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

 Cost: $15 (Does not include lunch)

Opened in 1993, built at a cost of $50 million by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named after Simon 
Wiesenthal, Holocaust Survivor. We’ll have a 3 hour docent-led tour of the Museum of Tolerance, 
a multimedia museum in Los Angeles designed to examine racism and prejudice around the world 
with a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust. Lunch will be on your own at Factor’s Deli, a 
landmark location for over 65 years. It’s a booth-lined Jewish delicatessen known for its matzo ball 
soup and corned beef on rye. Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to 
register is April 22nd. Level of walking: Medium to high. For more information, please call the Hart 
Park House at 626-355-7394.

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SENIOR CINEMA • 1st and 3rd Wednesday

Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center 

MARCH 18TH – HITCHCOCK (2012)

Following his great success with “North by Northwest,” director Alfred 
Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) makes a daring choice for his next project: 
an adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel “Psycho.” When the studio refuses 
to back the picture, Hitchcock decides to pay for it himself in exchange 
for a percentage of the profits. Is wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), has a 
serious reservations about the film but supports him nonetheless. Still, the 
production strains the couple’s marriage. With the film’s screening being 
so well received, Hitchcock thanks his wife afterward for helping make it 
possible and affirm their love. Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00pm (run time 
98 minutes)