Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, March 20, 2021

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Mountain View News Saturday, March 20, 2021 

Dear Savvy Senior:
My mom, who’s 76, has become more forgetful lately and 
is worried she may be getting Alzheimer’s disease. What 
resources can you recommend to help us get a handle on 
this? Oldest Daughter 

Dear Oldest: 
Many seniors worry about memory lapses as they get 
older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. To get 
some insight on the seriousness of your mom’s problem, here are some key warning signs to be vigilant 
of and some resources you can turn to for help. 


Warning SignsAs we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as trouble remembering names of people or places 
or forgetting where you put your glasses or car keys – are associated with normal aging. But the symptoms 
of Alzheimer’s disease are much more than simple memory lapses. 

Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between typical age-
related memory loss and a more serious problem. To help you evaluate your mom’s condition, here’s 
a checklist of some common early symptoms to watch for: 

Asking the same questions repeatedly.

Getting lost in familiar areas.

Failing to recognize familiar people.

Having difficulty following directions.

Misplaces items in inappropriate places, for example putting her keys in the microwave.

Having difficulty completing familiar tasks like cooking a meal or paying a bill.

Having trouble remembering common words when speaking or mixing up words.
For more information, see the Alzheimer’s Association list of 10 early signs and symptoms at 10signs. 
org. 

Another good tool to help you evaluate your mom is the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam 
(SAGE test) that was developed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This free test 
helps identify mild cognitive impairment and early dementia and can be taken at home in about 10 
to 15 minutes. The SAGE test can be taken online at BrainTest.com. 

Get HelpIf you would rather have professional assistance in evaluating your mom, the Alzheimer’s Foundation 
of America (see alzfdn.org) is another good resource you can turn to. Every Monday, Wednesday 
and Friday they provide free, confidential virtual memory screenings done via video chat in real time. 
Your mother will need a phone, tablet or computer with a webcam and internet capability to complete 
the screening. 

The screenings are given by healthcare professionals and take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. 
Once the screening is complete, the screener will review the results with her and let her know if she 
should see a doctor for further evaluation. To set up a memory screening for your mom call 866-2328484 
and make an appointment. 

If you find that your mom does need further evaluation, make an appointment with her primary care 
doctor for a cognitive checkup and medical examination. Depending on what’s found, she may be 
referred to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or 
Alzheimer’s disease. 

Keep in mind that even if your mom is experiencing some memory problems, it doesn’t necessarily 
mean she has early-stage Alzheimer’s. Many memory problems are brought on by other factors 
like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies 
and other medical conditions. And by treating these conditions she can reduce or eliminate the 
problem. 

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. 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


10 TIPS TO ENSURE FAMILY HARMONY OVER 
YOUR ESTATE PLAN 

My children, 11 and 13 years old, fight all the time. This is to be 
expected while they’re kids. Unfortunately, I see this same scenario 
play out time after time among adult siblings when a messy 
estate plan causes family rifts. And no parent wants that to be 
their legacy. With that in mind, here are 10 tips to help prevent 
your children from fighting over your estate: 
1. Talk to children about your estate plan. It may be a difficult 
discussion to have, but you need to have it. If you find it too difficult, enlist the help of your 
estate planning attorney to go over the details of your estate plan with your children and 
answer their questions. 

2. Write your children a letter. If you can’t (or they can’t) handle a face-to-face discussion, 
put it in writing with as much detail as you are comfortable providing to your children. 
You can frame the discussion in general terms and ask for their input. 
3. Email your children your estate plan summary. Your estate planning attorney will usually 
provide you with a summary of your estate plan that doesn’t disclose actual dollar 
amounts. Ask your estate planning attorney to copy your children on an email with the 
summary and ask for their input. 
4. For complex estates, consider a mediator. If you have a complicated estate that may 
include valuable herlooms or a family business, consider engaging the services of a professional 
mediator who can meet with you and your children separately to identify any 
potential issues and then meet with you together to iron out those issues. 
5. Use equal treatment. If possible, leave your children an equal inheritance outright; many 
family fights result from children being treated unequally. 
6. If you establish a trust for children, name each child as a co-trustee of their own trust at 
a certain age. Choose a reasonable age for when you feel a child will be able to participate 
in managing their own trust so they can learn about handling an inheritance with the help 
of the main trustee. 
7. Consider staggered distributions from a trust. To help a child learn how to manage a 
substantial inheritance, estate planning experts often advise staggering distributions over 
a period of time (i.e., age 25, 30, etc.). 
8. Provide children with option to remove or replace main trustee. Similar to arranged 
marriages, you never know if children and trustees will make a go of the relationship. Give 
children limited power to remove and replace a trustee with another qualified trustee. 
9. Allow children to name their own co-trustee. If your children are competent adults, give 
them the power to name the independent co-trustee of their trust. 
10. Include mediation instructions in your estate plan. Your estate planning attorney can 
add mediation language so that if a dispute arises, your children will not be tied up in 
emotionally and financially draining litigation. 
Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth and defining your legacy,

 
A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission to help parents 
protect what they love most. His office is located at 55 Auburn Avenue, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk 
about ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for yourfamily by 
calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.CaliLaw.com for more information. 

Mountain View News Saturday, March 20, 2021 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …MARCH Birthdays* 


Cathy Flammer, Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, 
Viky Tchatlian, Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, 
Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, 
Carol Cerrina, Amy Putnam, Sally Contreras

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

CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Chair yoga with Paul is coming back! Class will 
begin on Monday, August 10th and will be held in the Covered Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior 
Center. Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxa-tion. Class size is limited 
so please call 264-8923 to reserve your spot. 

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Class will also meet in the Covered 
Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior Center. Join the class with instructor Barbara as she leads 
you through the art of Hula. Please call 264-8923 with any questions. 
Classes will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. ALL participants must be wearing masks for the 
duration of the class. All equipment used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each participant is 
responsible for providing their own water, masks and needed equipment or sup-plies for each class. Please call the 
Community Services Department at 355-5278 with any questions or concerns. 

OCTOBER CRAFT 

Wednesday, October 21, 11:00 am. Please join me as we try our hands at making Wooden Owl Orna-ments. This 
will be a new type of program as we create our masterpieces via Zoom to ensure all of our safety. I will have all the 
supplies individually packaged and ready for pickup on Monday, October 19th pickup will be between 10:00 am


2:00 pm. I will have enough supplies for 10 participants. Reservations are required so please call 355-5278 x 704 
to secure your spot. Please note that this is an ONLINE class that will be held via Zoom. We will not be meeting 
in the Hart Park House Senior Center. 
IDEAS

 Do you have any ideas for programming? Is there a class or club you would like to see in our Senior Community? 
Please call or email Lawren Heinz with ideas or questions. 626-355-5278 x 704 lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com

 City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement 
and interfacing less with the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. If at any time additional information is needed, please 
contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are 
taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate per-son. For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note 
our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702. 

SIERRA MADRE SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 
The City of Sierra Madre is following these procedures to provide current communication in light of COVID-19 
and keep the Senior Community and families informed of essential information and resources. City staff are 
monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement and practicing 
social distancing in the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner.
If at any moment additional information is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 3557135, 
Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate person.

For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the 
Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702.

Community Services Department will continue email communication with Senior residents and aging community 
members.

If you know of family members or neighbors who may benefit from accessing information electronically, and 
to receive the department’s Seniors Newsletter via email but may not otherwise have been included on an email 
group list, please send your request with email address to the following team members: Lawren Heinz Lheinz@ 
cityofsierramadre.com and Clarissa Lowe Clowe@cityofsierramadre.com.

City Social Media will continue via Facebook as well as Instagram, and information sharing will include updates 
as details becomes available. 

Mater Dolorosa - Sierra Madre Meal Pick-Up Program provides seal-packaged frozen meals, 5-per person 
every Thursday, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Hart Park House Senior Center 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Donations 
are accepted. Call (626) 355-5278; x702 or 704. YWCA Intervale Meal Program - Effective 
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 

YWCA has transitioned their distribution of take home meals at the Sierra Madre Hart Park House 
Senior Center to a home-delivery meal program. Participants previously reserved for meal pick-up 
as of Wednesday, 3/25/20 were informed that they would begin to have their meals delivered to their 
homes, beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020 until further notice. 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SMILE ABOUT 

I am a student of smileology and 
have been just about all my life. If 
you can't smile at something, it's 

not worth thinking about.
Of course, certain things in life are serious, but 
not that many. Too many people take everything 
seriously and ruin their life. These are the kind of 
people I like to be around because they take things 
so seriously and because of that, the jokes on them.
When I see somebody that looks sad, I have an impulse 
to try to do something to make them laugh. 
It is that smile on our face that defines who we are. 
There are times when I need to be careful about my 
smiling. I find so much to chuckle about, and to 
be truthful, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
has given me quite a bit to chuckle about. I don't 
know if she has taught me to chuckle or if I have 
taught her to chuckle. The result is the only thing 
that matters. We chuckle together, and that makes 
a good life.
We need to be careful about watching programs 
dealing with politicians because of the danger 
of dying laughing. Every politician has their role 
model as Charlie Chaplin.
When I told my wife this, she vehemently disagreed.
“Oh, no,” she said most energetically, “their role 
model is the Three Stooges.” 
When she's right, she's right, and with this, she is 
absolutely right.
We enjoyed a long therapeutic session of chuckling.
Then a certain chapter in our life opened up. We 
were eating supper together, and my wife said, 
"Do you know that my friend was locked out of 
Facebook?" 
I chuckled because I thought it was some kind of 
a joke.
“No,” I said between chuckles, “what kind of nonsense 
did she do to deserve that?” 
I responded, “Doesn’t she know that her world 
does not revolve around Facebook? Tell her to go 
and get a life.” 
In the next week, I heard of several of my friends 
who have been locked out of their Facebook. These 
friends were good people, and I couldn't figure out 
why in the world Facebook would lock them out. 
They probably did something terrible. Why else 
would Facebook lock them out? 
It seems every week I hear someone who is being 
locked out of Facebook, and I never could understand 
the reasons for that. I just laughed it off and 
thought perhaps they did something that was not 
right.
After all, Facebook is always right. (Or do they lean 
left?) I could never figure that out.
Whenever I hear of one being locked out, I would 
just smile and chuckle and forget about it.
I’ve learned a lesson, don’t chuckle about something 
when you don’t know the whole story. 

One day this past week, I got up, got my coffee, and 
went to my chair to do a little reading, and then I 
picked up my iPad to check out my Facebook page.
I guess this is something automatic, and I don't 
think about it too much. 
As I was opening my Facebook page, a message 
came up that said I had been locked out of Facebook. 
Evidently, according to them, and they 
never get it wrong, there have been things put 
on my Facebook that did not correlate with their 
standards. 
Somebody hacked into my account and started 
putting on things I had no idea about.
When I told my wife about my lockout on Facebook, 
she just started chuckling.
“What are you chuckling about?”
“Well,” she said between chuckles, “you must’ve 
done something awful for Facebook to lock you 
out.” 
Just to pause right here; I was not chuckling!
Then she reminded me of all the friends of ours 
locked out of Facebook and how much we laughed 
and chuckled. 
“Yeah,” I said mournfully, “but that had nothing to 
do with me. I’m locked out!” 
She stared at me one of those stares of hers and just 
kept staring. I was getting to be a little unnerved by 
her staring. Then she finally said, "Your world does 
not revolve around Facebook. Go get a life."
At this time, I was not chuckling, but was beginning 
to do the opposite of chuckling. I can't tell you 
what that is right now.
The rest of the day, I was pondering my situation. I 
did not know how much time I spent on Facebook 
and how I depended upon it for specific information. 
I was disturbed by the thought that my world 
was beginning to revolve around Facebook. What 
a terrible development.
At this point, I am still locked out of Facebook. 
I'm not sure how long I'll be locked out; it could be 
a month or more. I don't know how these things 
work. 
Although I thought it was a bad experience, I begin 
to realize that it was a good experience. Sometimes 
the best part of life flows out of the worst experiences 
we have. God delights to reveal himself in the 
dark shadows of our human experience.
I thought about a verse in the New Testament, “Rejoice 
in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The 
Lord is at hand.” 
(Philippians 4:4-5).
Every experience gives me a new opportunity to 
rejoice in the Lord. My joy certainly does not come 
from Facebook but from Christ. 
Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 
Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com