Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 19, 2023

11

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 19, 2023 

SAFE PATH FOR SENIORS

Steve Sciurba, Senior Placement Specialist 

There are many reasons in working with Safe Path 

for Seniors, we will assess your loved ones and make

recommendations depending on care needs and 
budget. 

With our many years of experience, we will make an

informed recommendation. 

We work with large communities to the small 6-bed, 

board & care residential homes.

You will tour with an experienced consultant who will 

work with you through the entire process. from selecting 
the right living environment to all of the necessary 
paperwork involved.

The good news is that there is no cost for this service.

If you have any questions about placing a loved one, 
visit our web site:

www.safepathforseniors.com 

or call Steve at 626-999-6913

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …AUGUST Birthdays*

Nancy Beckham, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, 
Joseph Kiss, Jacquie Pergola, Pat Miranda, Jerry Burnett, Margaret Aroyan, 
Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry, 
Marcia Bent, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh. Helen Stapenhorst, 
Chandy Shair, Heidi Hartman, Erma Gutierrez, Margaret Switzer

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


SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday at Noon Hart Park House

Open to all seniors 50+ Fun - Games - And More! Call Mark at 626-355-3951 

TEA AND TALK BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, 7/12 and 7/26 9:00 am Hart Park House

Tea and Talk, meets twice a month to discuss the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so 
much more that each selection will have in store! Call Lawren 626-355-5278 for 

current selection and feel free to join at any time.

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE

 BEGINNERS - Every Thursday 10-11:00 am

 INTERMEDIATE Every Friday 10-11:00 am

Bring a lei, your flower skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and 
waiting for you to join in on all the fun! Memorial Park Covered Pavilion.

CHAIR YOGA

Every Monday and Wednesday 10-10:45 am

Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation 
with Paul. Classes are ongoing and held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the 
Hart Park House. 

THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF UNTREATED HEARTBURN


Dear Savvy Senior:

Is regular heartburn or acid reflux anything to worry 
about? I eat a lot of Rolaids throughout the day 
to help manage it, but it’s gotten worse with age and 
it keeps me up at night too. What can you tell me? 
Belching Bob

Dear Bob:

Almost everyone experiences heartburn or acid reflux 
from time to time, but frequent episodes can 
signal a much more serious problem. It’s estimated 
that more than 60 million Americans experience 
heartburn at least once a month, with around 15 
million people who suffer from it daily. 

Heartburn symptoms show up in a variety of ways 
– as a burning pain behind the breastbone, indigestion, 
or a sour or burning taste in the back of the 
throat. Other symptoms may include chest pain, 
excessing belching, a long-term cough, sore throat 
or hoarseness.

If you’re plagued by heartburn two or more times 
a week, and it’s not responding well to over-the-
counter antacids you need to see your doctor, who 
may refer you to a gastroenterologist. Frequent 
bouts may mean you have gastroesophageal reflux 
disease, or GERDs, which can severely irritate and 
damage the lining of your esophagus, putting you 
at risk of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer 
if it’s not treated. 

Lifestyle Adjustments

Depending on the frequency and severity of your 
heartburn, there are a number of lifestyle adjustments 
you can make that can help provide relief 
and avoid a more serious problem down the road, 
such as:

• Avoid trigger foods: Some foods can trigger 
heartburn symptoms like citrus fruits, tomatoes, 
fatty foods, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy foods, 
mints, alcohol, coffee and sodas. You should keep a 
food diary to track which foods cause you the most 
problems and avoid them.

• Eat smaller, slower and earlier: Smaller portions 
at mealtime and eating slower can help reduce 
heartburn symptoms. You should also wait at least 
three hours after eating before lying down or going 
to bed. 

• Lose weight: Having excess weight 
around the midsection puts pressure on 
the abdomen, pushing up the stomach and 
causing acid to back up into the esophagus. 

• Quit smoking: Smoking can increase stomach 
acid and weaken the valve that prevents acid 
from entering the esophagus. 

• Sleep elevated: To help keep the acid down 
while sleeping, get a wedge-shaped pillow to prop 
yourself up a few inches. If that’s not enough, try 
elevating the head of your bed six to eight inches by 
placing blocks under the bedposts or insert a wedge 
between your mattress and box spring. Wedges are 
available at drugstores and medical supply stores. 
Sleeping on the left side may also help keep the acid 
down. 

Treatment Options

If the lifestyle adjustments don’t solve the problem, 
or if antacids (Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta or 
Alka-Seltzer) aren’t doing the trick, there are a variety 
of over the counter (OTC) and prescription 
medications that can help, including:

H-2 Blockers: Available as both OTC and prescription 
strength, these drugs (Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid 
and Zantac) reduce how much acid your stomach 
makes but may not be strong enough for serious 
symptoms. 

Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent 
and severe heartburn symptoms PPIs are long-
acting prescription medications that block acid 
production and allow time for damaged esophageal 
tissue to heal. They include Nexium, Prevacid, 
Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, Aciphex and Dexilant. 
Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec and Zegerid are also 
available OTC. But be aware that long-term use of 
PPIs can increase your risk for osteoporosis and 
chronic kidney disease. 

If the medications aren’t enough, there are also surgical 
procedures that can tighten or strengthen the 
lower esophageal sphincter so gastric fluids can’t 
wash back up into the esophagus.

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


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

CAN YOU RELY ON LEGAL INSURANCE FOR YOUR 
ESTATE PLAN?

MEMORIES CAN BE SO MEMORABLE

In growing older, I noticed a 
strange phenomenon. The older 
I get, the more I forget. I remember 
things that happened 
in my youth and the pressure 
of those memories is, are they true, or am I just 
making them up? I have nobody to verify those 
memories.

I don’t think I will try to verify those memories 
because it may get me into trouble I don’t need to.

Last week, for example, The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage stumped me with one of her infamous 
questions.

“Do you know what next Monday is?”

I looked at her, smiled, scratched my head, and 
said, “No, who’s birthday is it?”

Keeping up with family birthdays is not my strong 
suit. My wife has 11 siblings, and I have 2 siblings; 
with all their children and grandchildren, there 
must be hundreds of birthdays. I have trouble remembering 
my birthday at times, let alone family 
members.

“You don’t know what next Monday is?”

“Oh,” I said, “I just remembered, it’s our daughter’s 
birthday.”

I didn’t like the look she threw in my direction, 
but I caught it, and she said, “Her birthday was last 
week.”

Okay, I’m in trouble. I have no idea whose birthday 
it is, and I have no way of finding out. I must succumb 
to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s 
agenda.

“What is next Monday’s celebration?” I said with 
a worried look.

“You really don’t know, do you?” She looked at me 
as though I had committed the unpardonable sin.

Thinking about it, I said, “I don’t have another 
doctor’s appointment on Monday, do I?”

Then she did something that I’d never seen her 
do before. She flashed her wedding ring in my 
direction.

“Oh no,” I said in desperation, “it isn’t our wedding 
anniversary is it?”

“Yes it is, and do you know which one?”

I can balance my checkbook but cannot balance 
wedding dates. Looking at her with a smile, I said, 
“Is it our 30th anniversary?”

“If you don’t get your act together it might just be 
our last!”

Then she said, “Let me give you a clue. Our oldest 
daughter just turned 51. Does that ring a bell?”

I did remember that she was born one year after 
our wedding, so I turned to my wife with a smile 
and said, “Oh, my dear, it must be our 52nd wedding 
anniversary.”

It is incredible how fast time flies, particularly 
when you are busy.

I met my future wife at a Bible Institute I attended 
in September 1970. That seems such a long time 
ago. Then in December of that year, we went to a 
function with schoolmates, and coming home, we 
sat in the back part of the bus. We were chattering 
and having a good time.

Then this young girl looked at me and said, 
“Wouldn’t it be great to get married?”

Not being girl-smart, I didn’t get the drift of that 
conversation, but I smilingly said, “That sure 
would be very great.” Then we laughed all the way 
home. She got the joke, but I did not.

Walking down the school hall one week later, 
many people looked at me, smiled and said, “Congratulations.” 
I had no idea what they were talking 
about.

Then one of them said, “I guess you’re happy 
that your girlfriend is getting married.” Then he 
laughed as he walked away.

I was happy she was getting married, but what 
about our relationship? I thought we had something. 
Now what do I do?

Someone else congratulated me, and I finally said, 
“Who is she marrying?”

“Oh you silly boy, she’s going to be marrying you.” 
Then they walked away laughing as though it was 
the joke of the week.

Why was I the last one to know I was getting 
married?

Later that week, I spent time with her and said, 
“Have you heard the rumor that is going around 
about you?”

“Yes, I have; I’m the one who started it.”

“Well,” I said hesitantly, “maybe you should’ve told 
me first.”

“Oh, you silly boy,” she said, “don’t you remember 
we talked about it on our way back from that event 
in December?”

I had to stop and think because I wasn’t quite sure 
what she was talking about.

“Don’t you remember we both agreed that it would 
be great to get married?”

I then remembered that conversation; I didn’t 
understand its meaning at the time. Silly me, I 
thought getting married meant you made a proposal 
and were conscious of it.

The story develops and on February 14, 1971, I 
officially proposed marriage and gave her the engagement 
ring. The wedding took place on August 
14 of that year. We barely knew each other a year 
before we tied the knot and got married. Maybe 
that’s why it lasted so long.

It is hard to believe that was 52 years ago.

Reflecting on this memory, I remembered what 
Solomon said. “Who can find a virtuous woman? 
for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her 
husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall 
have no need of spoil.” (Proverbs 31:10-11).

I don’t think it was an accident when I found the 
woman that was to be my wife. It was a work of the 
Lord in both our lives. For 52 years, not only have 
we been married, but we have also been serving 
the Lord together.

As the need for affordable 
legal services becomes even 
more important in today’s 
world, it's common to opt 
for group legal insurance offered through your workplace 
benefits. These group insurance plans provide free legal 
assistance for a variety of needs from law firms that have 
contracted with the insurance company to provide the legal 
work.

While group legal insurance might seem like an easy option 
to save on your family’s legal needs, it’s often inadequate 
for creating the kind of estate plan you really need to 
protect your assets, your choices, and your loved ones. In 
fact - the type of estate plan, will, or trust created through 
legal insurance programs could leave your family with a 
big mess.

Here are the reasons why estate planning for your family 
demands a heart-centered, counseling-oriented approach 
and guidance beyond the scope of your group legal insurance 
coverage. You should understand the potential 
pitfalls of using group legal insurance for estate planning 
and look at suitable alternatives to ensure your assets are 
properly protected and that your loved ones are left with a 
legacy of love, and not a big mess.

One Size Doesn't Fit All

When it comes to estate planning, if you have people you 
love and assets you care about, there is no such thing as 
a one-size-fits-all plan that works for you and your family. 
While there are almost always at least, and sometimes 
only 4 key documents in a standard estate plan–a will, 
trust, health care directive, and power of attorney–there 
are additional pieces of planning that are quite important 
for your family, depending on the specifics of your family 
dynamics and the nature of your assets, to ensure your 
plan will actually work when your family needs it. Not to 
mention the content of these 4 documents must be specifically 
tailored to meet the unique needs of your family.

Your family has unique circumstances that require custom 
planning to ensure your plan works the way you want 
it to. Your financial, medical, and personal needs must be 
considered to craft a comprehensive plan that will serve 
you now and pass on your assets in the best way after 
you’re gone, all while ensuring the best use of your resources 
during your life. 

Your group legal insurance plan may have the 4 key documents 
of an estate plan, but a generic set of planning documents 
is unlikely to work for you the way you want and 
will almost certainly guarantee your family will end up 
lost and confused when something actually happens to 
you, and your family needs the support of the plan you 
created to guide them. 

To create a plan that will truly work for you and your family, 
your planning process needs to begin with an evaluation 
of your assets and family dynamics and you need 
to get educated about the application of the law to your 
specific situation. There isn’t a one-size fits all solution. 
Begin your planning by looking holistically at everything 
you have, everyone you love, and what you desire for the 
people you love. 

The type of cookie-cutter estate plan you are likely to receive 
through your group legal insurance simply won’t 
include the kind of comprehensive considerations and 
counseling necessary to deliver a plan which will serve 
you and your loved ones in the way you would want while 
keeping your family out of court and conflict.

Legal Insurance Nickel and Dimes

Many group legal insurance plans boast free legal services 
after your deductible is paid, but what isn’t revealed is the 
limit of what’s covered for free.

Only certain types of legal services are covered under 
group legal insurance plans. Estate planning is frequently 
covered, but the kind of plan you will receive is a mere set 
of documents, similar to what you could create yourself 
online, and not a customized, well-counseled plan that 
will be sure to work when your family needs it.

Plus, some items that are essential to the creation of your 
plan, like notary stamps or fees to file documents with the 
county recorder, are not included in the covered service 
and are instead charged to you as an extra expense.

More importantly, most legal insurance plans have limits 
to the amount of claims you can file for each type of service 
each year. For example, you may be covered to create 
a Will once a year, but won’t be covered if you need to 
update your estate plan mid-year if circumstances change 
or someone dies. Estate planning isn’t something you do 
once. Your life will change, your assets will change, and 
the laws will change. A legal insurance covered plan will 
not keep up with those changes, so you may receive documents, 
but those documents aren’t likely to be what your 
family needs when something happens to you.

You Need a Heart-Centered, Counseling-Based Planning 
Approach

Creating an estate plan isn’t just about a Will or a Trust 
or passing on your money after you’ve died. It’s about 
making wise decisions about the use of your resources 
throughout your life, leaving your assets in a way that 
creates a legacy, and building the best reality possible for 
yourself and your loved ones. 

There is no substitute for an estate planning attorney who 
takes a holistic approach to serving you by working closely 
with you and your family to understand what matters to 
you, your family's dynamics and values, and the aspirations 
you have for your family as a whole. A good attorney 
will also review and consider all your assets, including the 
intangible assets often left out of planning. Then, together, 
you and your attorney can create a truly personalized plan 
that considers every aspect of your family's well-being for 
the near and long-term.

What’s more, your needs and your family's needs will 
change over time. You’ll buy new assets and sell others. 
You may have another child, or become a grandparent. 
Your son may start a business or your sister may develop 
a disability. 

That’s why it’s crucial to coordinate your estate plan with 
the circumstances of your loved ones so that your wishes 
are honored and your assets are protected no matter how 
their situation changes over time.

To help you accomplish this, your attorney should look at 
how your wishes and the circumstances of your loved ones 
intersect so he or she can provide you with personalized 
guidance at any stage in life’s journey.

To your health, 
wealth, and 
family legacy,


Marc Garlett, Esq.

Cali Law Family Legacy Matters

www.caliLaw.com

626.355.4000

This material was created for educational and informational purposes only 
and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking 
legal or other advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be 
obtained on your own, separate from this educational material.

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