Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 9, 2023

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 9, 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! …September Birthdays*

Clem Bartolai, Pat Hall, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy 
Gunther, Esther Macias, Sheila Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Patti 
O’Meara, Judie Cimino, Mary Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, 
Denise Reistetter and Nehama Warner, Virginia Mullaney, Gwen 
Robertson. 

* 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 


BEST STAIR LIFTS OF 2023


Dear Savvy Senior:

Because of chronic arthritis, I have a very difficult 
time going up and down stairs anymore and am interested 
in purchasing a stair lift for my two-story 
house. Can you recommend some good companies?

Arthritic Andy

Dear Andy:

Yes, of course! A good home stair lift is a great mobility 
solution for anyone who is unable, or has a 
difficult time climbing stairs. To help you choose a 
quality stair lift that meets your needs and budget, 
here are a few shopping tips along with some top-
rated companies.

What to Know

There are two basic types of stair lifts that are sold 
today: straight and curved. The type you need will 
depend upon the design of your staircase.

A straight stair lift is one that travels in a straight 
line up a flight of stairs uninterrupted by landings, 
bends or curves, and costs anywhere between 
$2,000 and $5,000 installed. Curved lifts, however, 
are much more elaborate and will go around corners, 
bends and changes in direction. Curved lifts 
are also much more expensive, typically running 
between $8,500 and $15,000 or more depending on 
the complexity of the installation.

Most stair lifts available today also have seats, armrests 
and footplates that fold up out of the way, and 
swivel seats that make getting into and out of the 
chair easier. They also come with standard safety 
features like seatbelts, braking systems and footrest 
sensors, push-button or rocker-switch controls located 
on the armrest for easy operation, and “call 
send” controls which allow you to call or send the 
unit to the other end of the stairs. Make sure the lift 
you choose has all these features.

If you are a large person, you may need to get a 
heavy-duty lift with a wider seat and bigger lifting 
capacity – all companies offer them. Or, if you’re 
tall, find out about raising the seat height during 
installation.

Depending on the company, you may also have 
the option of choosing between an electric (AC) 
and a battery powered (DC) stair lift. Electric stair 
lifts are simpler and cheaper than battery powered 
units, but if your home loses power so does your lift. 
While battery powered lifts work even if there’s a 
power failure.

Best Stair Lifts

To help you choose a great stair lift the National 
Council on Aging, which is a national nonprofit 
organization that advocates for older Americans, 
put together a review team to research the different 
companies. Their list of best stair lifts of 2023 
includes:

Editor’s Pick: Bruno (bruno.com)

Most Affordable: AmeriGlide (ameriglide.com)

Best Customer Reviews: Acorn (acornstairlifts.
com)

Most Supportive Design: Harmar (harmar.com)

Most Adaptable to the Home: Access BDD (accessbdd.
com)

Best for Arthritis: Stannah (stannah-stairlifts.com)

See NCOA.org/adviser/stair-lifts/best-stair-lifts to 
read their detailed reviews.

Financial Help 

Unfortunately, health insurance including original 
Medicare does not cover home stair lifts, but some 
Medicare Advantage plans may help pay. Or, if you 
have long-term care insurance it too may cover a 
portion of the costs.

If you qualify for Medicaid, many states offer waive
rs that may help pay for a lift, and the VA has several 
grant and benefit programs that may offer assistance 
too if you’re a veteran.

To save some money, you may want to consider purchasing 
a used or refurbished model. Or, if you need 
a stair lift for only a short period of time, consider 
renting one. Most companies offer these options, 
and many offer financings too.

 To get started, contact some of the previously listed 
stair lift companies who will put you in touch with 
a dealer in your area. All dealers provide free in-
home assessments and estimates and can help you 
choose an appropriate lift.

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.


GETTING STARTED

 by Michele Silence


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

 You know you need to exercise. It’s time to get 
out there and move, but it just seems so daunting. 
How do you get started? Taking that first 
step might just be the hardest thing of all, more 
difficult than any exercise. Why?

 What’s the holdup? First, give some serious 
thought to what has been holding you back. It 
could be time pressure, not knowing what to 
do, wondering what exactly will be beneficial, 
or maybe it’s connected to emotions - feelings 
of not being coordinated or ever having engaged 
in any physical activity. Take a few moments 
to tune in and discover not just how you 
feel about exercise, but also about your ability 
to move. Will you get easily winded? Or are you 
hesitant that you may look like an obvious newbie? 
What is it that plays in your mind and undermines 
getting started? Once you are aware 
of that, it’s easier to take steps to keep your 
thinking geared towards moving forward. Put 
possible fears to rest. Think about solutions to 
real barriers that you may face. Come up with 
a plan that addresses all the things making you 
say, “Not Now.”

 Why is it important? What is the single 
most important reason why you want to start 
exercising? Is it because you want to improve 
your health? Did the doctor advise you to start 
engaging in more physical activity to control 
a chronic condition? Are you having a hard 
time keeping up with children/grandchildren? 
Maybe you don’t like being out of breath when 
walking to the mailbox and back. Whatever it 
is, hold that thought. Use it as your primary 
motivation to begin and keep going.

 What are your expectations? One of the biggest 
reasons why people abandon an exercise 
routine is because they don’t think it’s yielding 
any benefits. The results don't match what 
was expected. If you’re aiming for weight loss, 
remember that anything more than 1-2 lbs. of 
weight loss a week isn't realistic. It takes burning 
3500 calories to shed one pound. Walking 
for 30 minutes a day can burn a few hundred 
calories. Combine that with consuming 500 
fewer calories a day, and you’re on your way to 
that 1-2 lb. weight loss per week. Also, measure 
yourself before starting your program and then 
every 3 months thereafter. Avoid relying solely 
on the scale, which doesn't provide information 
about whether you’re burning fat or gaining 
muscle. It doesn't account for positive changes 
like an increased metabolism, reduced bad cholesterol, 
elevated good cholesterol, lower blood 
pressure, and decreased reliance on some medications. 
Be patient; progress takes time.

 Social or solo? Are you a social creature, 
enjoying meeting new people and forming relationships? 
Group fitness classes or lessons 
would be a good fit for you. Alternatively, bring 
a friend along to encourage you to show up at 
the gym. Having someone else who can motivate 
you when you're not feeling up to it goes 
a long way in keeping you on track. If you're 
more introverted and prefer doing things alone, 
perhaps plan events that involve nature. Even 
walking your dog daily is great exercise and will 
add joy to your dog’s life too.

 How to succeed? Set realistic goals. For example, 
if you know you can't possibly go for a 
walk at 7 am every day, don’t set that as a goal. 
Aim for a number you can consistently achieve 
– three days, four days, whatever you think you 
can realistically do to set yourself up for success. 
Another aspect to consider is the type of 
activity you're going to engage in. If you dislike 
sports, taking up pickleball isn't going to work. 
Like to dance? Try an aerobics or Zumba class. 
If you feel uncoordinated, you'll want to keep it 
simple with activities like walking, hiking, or 
cycling. If you haven’t worked out in 20 years, 
bootcamp-style workouts are not a suitable 
choice. Select an activity that aligns with your 
lifestyle, interests, and fitness level.

Be cautious though, check with your healthcare 
professional before jumping in. It’s best to be on 
the safe side and ensure that you have the OK 
to get started. If not, you might encounter setbacks 
or obstacles that you didn't anticipate. If 
there’s anything you need to be cautious about 
or personalize, it's good to know that upfront.

Taking that first step can be frightening. Expecting 
yourself to initiate and sustain physical 
activity, especially if you’ve never been active, 
can be intimidating. But the greatest fear is not 
doing anything at all. Not doing some form of 
exercise could negatively affect your health and 
happiness for many years. So, take that first 
step. Give it a try. You only have to do it once.

WHY DO SOME CUTE BABIES GROW UP UGLY?

Our second great grand baby 
was born at the end of last 
year. Since then, it has been a 
delight to watch her grow.

I will not say she is the cutest baby in the 
world, but I haven't met any cuter. She was 
born cute, and I'm not sure what part of the 
family she got that.

Sometimes, when in the hospital, I walk by 
the maternity ward and look at all the new 
babies. Looking at them, I can see how cute 
everyone is. I have not found an ugly baby in 
the maternity ward yet.

The other day, I had to go to Walmart to pick 
up some items. Walking down the aisles, I 
saw a few babies pushed around in shopping 
carts. I looked at each one and smiled, noticing 
they were all very cute.

Walking down the last aisle was another 
baby in a shopping cart, and I stopped to 
look and smile. Then I did something I had 
not done before. I looked up to see the mother 
that was pushing the shopping cart. Boy, 
was I shocked.

I'm not an expert on ugly, but that mother 
was the ugliest mother I have ever seen. It got 
me thinking about that cute baby. Will she 
grow up to be as ugly as her mother?

I have never seen an ugly baby, so I had to 
ponder why some babies grow up ugly.

That evening, as I was getting ready for bed, 
I looked into my bathroom mirror. Staring 
back at me was one of the ugliest persons I 
have seen in a very long time. I was shocked. 
How in the world did I get so ugly? Was I 
born ugly?

The next day, I got out one of my old photo 
albums to look through it and see what 
I looked like as a baby. Sure enough, there 
were several baby pictures of me. You won't 
believe it, but I was a cute baby. I never gave 
that a thought before.

Growing up, I never thought of my parents 
as ugly. After all, they were my parents. I noticed 
some of my school friends had really 
ugly parents. I tried to keep their secret because 
I didn't want to embarrass them.

Looking through my photo album, I saw all 
those pictures from when I was a cute baby 
up to my wedding. I will not brag, but I was a 
cute little guy when I was young. After looking 
in the bath-room mirror, I wondered 
what happened to make me so ugly.

The only thing different in my life was that 
I got married. I'm not going to go there for 
obvious reasons.

If a baby is born cute, why doesn't it stay cute 
for the rest of its life? What happened to me 
that I lost my cuteness, as I got older?

Following this thought about cuteness, I was 
in Walmart and happened to go down the 
aisle of beauty products. This is the first time 
I have looked in this aisle, so I was unsure 
what I was looking at. All of those products 
guaranteed that if I used them, I would look 
beautiful.

I don't want to look beautiful; I just want to 
look cute! [Sigh!]

I was tempted to get some of the products, 
but I didn’t know where to start. Where does 
the journey back to cuteness start?

As I was looking at these products, one of the 
workers at Walmart came by and said, "Can I 
help you with anything?"

You do not know how tempted I was to ask 
her what I needed to restore my cuteness. I 
stuttered and said, "No, ma'am. I’m just looking 
for some products for my wife." That got 
me out of a sticky situation. My wife does not 
need anything to look cute; she has maintained 
it since I met her. I have been tempted 
many times to ask her her secret, but then I 
was afraid she would tell me.

Maybe when I was young, if I had paid more 
attention to my cuteness, I might have retained 
it much longer than I did. But nobody 
told me what to do along this line. I blame 
my parents who should have told me how to 
retain my cuteness. Maybe I can find a lawyer 
to help sue them for allowing me to become 
so ugly. How much is ugly worth?

I may have to settle with the fact that I'm just 
not cute. Maybe the secret is not to regain my 
cute-ness but to slow down my ugliness.

If I’m as ugly as my mirror suggest, how in 
the world do people around me tolerate me? 
I’m not sure I could tolerate me. I don’t have 
an inferiority complex, but I do have an exterior 
complex and I’m not sure what to do 
about it.

In my devotions recently, I read this verse. 
“And even to your old age I am he; and even 
to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, 
and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver 
you” (Isaiah 46:4).

That verse got me thinking about growing 
old. I don’t need to worry about the past 
because God will carry me through everything. 
The secret to this is allowing God to 
be God and allowing Him to do what only 
He can do in my life.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with 
the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@
gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.
com.

Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional offering semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes and a weight management support group.

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