Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 16, 2023

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 16, 2023 

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 


DOES MEDICARE COVER SECOND MEDICAL OPINIONS?

Dear Savvy Senior:

Does Medicare cover second medical opinions? The doctor I 
currently see thinks I need a knee replacement, but I would 
like to get some other treatment options before I proceed. 
What can you tell me?

Limping Larry

Dear Larry:

Getting a second medical opinion from another doctor is a smart idea that may offer you a fresh perspective 
and additional options for treating your knee so you can make a more informed decision. Or, if the 
second doctor agrees with your current one, it can give you some reassurance.

Yes, Medicare does pay for second opinions if your current doctor has recommended surgery, or some 
other major diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.

If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, 80 percent of the costs for second medical opinions are covered 
under Part B (you or your Medicare supplemental policy are responsible for the other 20 percent), and you 
don’t need an order or referral from your doctor to get one. Medicare will even pay 80 percent for a third 
opinion, if the first two differ.

Most Medicare Advantage plans cover second opinions too, but you may need to follow certain steps to 
get it paid for. For example, some plans will only help pay for a second opinion if you have a referral from 
your primary care doctor, and/or they may require that you can only use a doctor in their network. If you 
have a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll need to call it to find out their rules.

Finding Another Doctor

To find another doctor for a second opinion you can either ask your current doctor for a name or two, or 
ask another doctor you trust for a referral, or you can find one on your own.

Whatever route you choose, it’s best to go with a doctor that’s affiliated with a different practice or hospital 
than your original doctor. Hospitals and practices can be set in their ways when it comes to treatments 
and are likely to offer similar advice.

If you choose to find one on your own, use Medicare’s Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. 
This will let you find doctors by name or medical specialty in your area that accept original Medicare. 
You can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. Or, if you’re enrolled in a Medicare 
Advantage plan, call or visit your plan’s website for a list of candidates.

After you’ve got a few doctors names, there are a number of free online resources to help you research 
them like HealthGrades.com and Vitals.com.

After you find another doctor, before you get a second opinion, you’ll need to have your current doctor’s 
office send your medical records ahead to the second doctor, or you may have to pick them up and deliver 
them yourself. That way, you won’t have to repeat the tests you already had. But, if the second doctor wants 
you to have additional tests performed as a result of your visit, Medicare will help pay for these tests too.

For more information, see the Medicare publication “Getting a Second Opinion Before Surgery” at Medicare.
gov/publications – type in 02173 in the Keyword or Product number box.

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.


CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EXERCISE 
AND MENTAL WELL-

BEING by Michele Silence


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


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

OH MEMORY, HOW I MISS THEE!

When we talk about exercise, we usually think about 
the physical benefits like getting in shape, preventing 
diseases, and feeling more agile. But did you 
know that exercise also has an incredible impact on 
our mental health? Well documented research has 
shown that staying active can make a big difference 
in how we feel emotionally.

Here are some key points that highlight the positive 
effects of exercise on our mental well-being:

1. Boosting Your Mood: When we exercise, our body 
releases chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that 
help regulate our emotions. These chemicals can 
make us feel happier and more stable. Exercise also 
triggers the release of endorphins, which act like natural 
painkillers and can improve our overall mood.

2. Stress and Anxiety Relief: Exercise isn't just a way 
to stay physically healthy; it's also a fantastic way 
to reduce stress and anxiety. When we're feeling 
stressed out or anxious, getting some exercise can 
help us feel calmer and more relaxed. If your job is 
demanding or your daily routine filled with pressure 
it’s a great way to release the tension. Exercise can 
serve as a healthy outlet for pent-up emotions.

3. Improving Self-Confidence: If you're feeling down 
about yourself, engaging in physical activity can actually 
boost your self-esteem. When you challenge 
yourself and see the progress you're making, it can 
make you feel more confident and positive. 

4. Developing Social Connections: Joining group 
workouts or sports teams is a great way to meet new 
people and make friends. Exercising together with 
others can also make the experience more enjoyable 
and help you stay motivated. If you’re absent, your 
fitness friends will want to know what happened. 
Many times people start exercising for physical benefits 
but then soon learn that it’s the social aspect 
that keeps them coming regularly over time. 

5. Sharpening Your Mind: Exercise doesn't just benefit 
your body; it's good for your brain too. Regular 
physical activity has been linked to better cognitive 
abilities, which means you can think more clearly 
and remember things more easily. Regular exercise 
has been linked to a lower risk of developing neurodegenerative 
disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's 
disease. It can delay the onset of these conditions 
and help maintain optimal brain function.

6. Improving Sleep Quality: If you struggle with 
sleep, exercise might be the solution. People who exercise 
regularly often find it easier to fall asleep and 
have better sleep quality, which is crucial for both 
physical and mental health. Check it out with a calendar. 
Note the days you exercise and how well you 
sleep those nights. There should be a correlation between 
exercise and sleep. That means far fewer restless 
nights and no more sleeping aids.

7. Attaining Balance: Exercise has a way of connecting 
our physical and mental well-being. When we 
take care of our bodies through exercise, our minds 
feel more balanced and in sync. Sometimes just time 
alone to think while exercising can lead to productive 
thoughts and solutions to troublesome issues in 
day to day life.

8. Harnessing Brain Plasticity: Exercise has the 
amazing ability to make your brain more adaptable 
and flexible. It becomes better at learning new things 
and adapting to changes. If you’re a creative person 
this means that it can help you overcome mental 
blocks and get better at problem solving. You can 
draw from your existing knowledge and experiences 
and combine them in novel ways. 

Great for creating original and inventive concepts.

9. Developing Coping Strategies: Regular exercise 
can teach you healthier ways to deal with stress and 
problems. It's like a training ground for managing 
life's challenges in a positive way. During exercise, 
your mind can also temporarily shift its focus away 
from stressors, the distraction allows you to recharge 
mentally allowing you to think about recurring issues 
in new ways.

Depression and anxiety in particular respond extremely 
well to moderate to strenuous physical activity. 
A new study recently published by the University 
of South Australia shows that physical exercise may 
be 1.5 times more effective for mental health than 
traditional therapy or drugs. That’s a huge finding. 

But don't worry if you're taking medication or talking 
to a counselor. No need to toss out the anti-depressants 
or cancel any counseling appointments 
just yet. Adding exercise to your routine can still 
make a big difference. You might find that you need 
less medicine or fewer counseling sessions over time.

We're learning more and more about how powerful 
exercise is for our mental well-being. So, if you're not 
already including exercise in your daily routine, it's 
definitely worth considering. It could be the missing 
piece that helps you feel your best. It's like giving 
your mind a dose of positivity and making yourself 
feel great!

Driving home from a luncheon 
with friends, The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage 
asked me a stunning 
question.

She is a specialist regarding questions I can’t 
answer. I am trying to evade her questions 
and have been very good up until now.

“Did that story you told really happened?” 
She glanced at me with one of her quizzical 
looks.

Because I told several stories at lunchtime, I 
was wondering which one she was referring 
to. To the best of my knowledge, everything 
I say is true. Of course, people have different 
views of truth.

“Which story are you referring to, my dear?”

My plan has always been to deflect the attention 
away from the real question.

“You know. The one about the chicken attacking 
you.”

Since I told quite a few stories, I couldn’t remember 
that one exactly. My memory has a 
problem with really staying focused. I can tell 
one story one time and tell it again, and it is 
pretty different. If you heard both, you would 
know they were the same story.

It’s not that I lie. I have a creative attitude and 
imagination with the stories I tell.

It’s not the story I’m telling but rather the 
point I’m trying to convey.

“Well, my dear, if I told it, it must true because 
I do not lie except when I go to bed.” 
But I smiled at her and nodded in a very affirmative 
way.

She didn’t think that was funny and said so.

“Well,” she said very seriously, “I’ve heard you 
tell that story at least six times and each time 
it’s different. What do you have to say about 
that?”

Looking at her rather soberly, I said, “The 
only thing I can think of is that they were six 
different stories.”

That is one of the astounding things about 
memory. If it’s my memory, I should be able 
to tell it how I want to. After all, I can’t remember 
back that far in my life. And, to tell 
the truth, it may not have happened at all. 
Who knows?

That is why if I tell any story, it is one before I 
met The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
All during our marriage, she has been very 
faithful in correcting the stories I tell while 
I’m telling them. At least those stories that 
happened while we were together.

That is the challenge I have just about every 
day of my life. The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage has a flawless memory. Don’t let 
her know I said this, but I suspect she remembers 
things that nev-er happened. But with 
my flawed memory, there’s no way I could 
correct that.

She knows everything that has ever happened 
since the day we first met. If only I had half of 
her memory skills. [Sigh!]

I learned this long ago, so if I tell a story, it 
was before I met Miss Know-It-All. Then, I 
can tell it according to my memory, which is 
somewhat flawed.

One of the blessings of a flawed memory is 
that I can tell a story that happened way back 
half a dozen times, and nobody would know 
it. Most of the time, I don’t know it.

A long time ago, I accepted that I should not 
try to correct a story whenever she tells it.

Once, and only once, I thought I would agitate 
her, and as she told a story, I would correct 
it.

“No, my dear, it wasn’t on a Tuesday, it was 
on a Friday.”

On and on I went until I could see behind 
those beautiful eyes of her and growing agitation; 
that was a warning sign for me to SHUT 
UP. And UP, I SHUT.

On our way home that time, we had a long 
discussion. It was not a discussion; it was a 
monologue of what she thought about me 
correcting her when she was absolutely right 
about everything.

Common sense told me not to do that again. I 
think about it occasionally and can’t help but 
chuck-le. I want to do that one more time just 
before my funeral.

If I had her impeccable memory, my life would 
be so dull. I often change the memories that 
I do remember because nobody would know 
the difference, and I’m having fun.

Long ago, I stopped telling stories after I met 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage because 
one slip up there will have a lifetime 
consequence.

I was sitting in my easy-chair with a hot cup 
of Joe reflecting on these things. I thought of 
what Solomon said about memory. “Blessings 
are upon the head of the just: but violence 
covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory 
of the just is blessed: but the name of the 
wicked shall rot” (Proverbs 10:6-7).

Then I was reminded of what Peter said. “For 
he that will love life, and see good days, let 
him re-frain his tongue from evil, and his lips 
that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, 
and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” 
(1 Peter 3:10-11).

Memory can be a tricky thing for many, especially 
me. I’m trying to process Peter’s 
warning here to “refrain my tongue from 
evil, and my lips that they speak no guile.” If 
I’m honest with myself I must be honest with 
everyone else. Also what Solomon said, “The 
memory of the just is blessed” is important.

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