Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 28, 2023

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 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 28, 2023 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS

DISCOVER YOUR IDEAL ASSISTED 

LIVING COMMUNITY WITH SAFE PATH 
FOR SENIORS

Are you or a loved one considering senior living? Safe Path 
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …October Birthdays*

Janda Ferris, Darlene Traxler, Margit Johnson, Sole Krieg, Dick Anderson, 
Eva Poet, Mary Jane Baker, Dixie Coutant, Jill Franks, Cathleen Cremins, 
Adie Marshall, Darlene Crook, Susan Gallagher, Maggie Ellis, Gloria 
Giersbach, Ellen O’Leary, Jenny Piangenti, Anita Thompson, Linda Boehm 
and Angela Stella * 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 


TOP TV REMOTES FOR ELDERLY SENIORS


Dear Savvy Senior:

Can you recommend some simplified universal television 
remotes for seniors? My 88-year-old dad, who 
lives in a retirement community, has some dementia 
and gets confused with all the buttons on his remote. 
As a result, he keeps accidently reprograming his TV 
set. Searching Son

Dear Searching:

Most modern TV remotes – that come with dozens 
of unnecessary buttons – can be confusing for 
anyone to operate but can be especially challenging 
for elderly seniors. Fortunately, there are several 
universal TV remotes available that are specifically 
designed for older adults with vision, memory, or 
confusion issues, as well as those that are technologically 
challenged. These remotes have bigger 
buttons and paired down options that make them 
much easier to see and use. Here are three top choices 
to consider.

Senior-Friendly Remotes

The two most popular simplified TV remotes on the 
market today are the “Flipper” and the “EasyMote.” 
Both of these are infrared (IR) only remotes intended 
for those who use traditional cable/satellite boxes 
or their TV’s internal tuner. They are not designed 
for people who use streaming media devices and 
will not work with devices that are controlled via 
Bluetooth or radio frequency (RF).

If you’re not sure how your dad’s TV is controlled, 
point his remote at the ground in the opposite direction 
from the device, and then press a button. If 
the remote still executes the command, then it’s using 
Bluetooth or Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

The Flipper, which is a top-rated remote, works with 
all major TVs including cable, satellite and digital 
TV receiver boxes. Available for $40 at FlipperRemote.
com, this lightweight, remote has a tapered 
design that makes it easy to hold, and for simplicity 
it has only six large color-coded tactile buttons that 
are exposed to control the power, mute, volume up/
down, and channel up/down.

Flipper also offers an optional “favorite channel” 
feature that will let you program up to 30 of your 
dad’s favorite channels and eliminate the useless 
channels he never watches. And it has a built-in 
keypad hidden behind a slide-down panel. This will 
give your dad the ability to directly punch in a desired 
channel, while keeping the remote simple and 
uncluttered. The Flipper remote can also be locked 
to prevent accidental reprograming.

The other popular senior-friendly remote that’s 
worth a look is the EasyMote (see EasyMote.us), 
which is available on Amazon.com for $18. This 
lightweight remote, which controls most TV and 
cable boxes, also comes with six large easy-to-see 
buttons (on/off, mute, channel up and down, and 
volume up and down buttons) that light up when 
pressed, which is nice feature if your dad watches 
TV in the dark. It also comes with a handy wrist 
strap to prevent misplacing the remote but can be 
removed anytime.

Multi-Device Remote

If the Flipper or EasyMote is too basic for your dad’s 
entertainment system, another simplified remote 
that offers the ability to control multiple devices is 
the “GE Big Button 2-Device Universal Remote” – 
also available at Amazon.com for $9.

This IR remote has an ergonomic design with large 
buttons that will let him control up to 2 audio/video 
components such as TV, cable/satellite receiver, 
Blu-ray/DVD player, Roku box, Apple TV and other 
streaming media players and sound bars.

In addition to power, volume, channel, mute buttons 
and number pad, this remote also offers a previous 
channel, sleep timer and input buttons for 
convenience.

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.


IT'S TIME by Michele Silence


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes and a weight management support group. 
If you have questions or ideas for this column 

contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.com. 

Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.


It’s time. Literally. For daylight saving time (DST) 
to end, something many of us don’t look forward 
to. But, in addition to the darkness that takes over 
the early evening, DST can limit the time available 
for outdoor activities, especially for those 
who prefer exercising outdoors after work. If you 
like to run, bike or hike you may find yourself in 
total darkness which can not only be frightening 
but downright dangerous. As a result, you may 
need to adjust your fitness schedule or switch to 
early morning workouts.

There are other definite factors introduced once 
the light does go down earlier. Things that can 
have an affect on your workout routine. The shift 
in time can affect people's mood and motivation. 
The decrease in natural light during the fall and 
winter months can lead to feelings of fatigue and 
lower motivation to exercise. Some individuals 
may find it more challenging to stay motivated 
and may experience seasonal affective disorder 
(SAD). SAD is very real and can create depression 
at this time of year. 

Fall and winter bring in cooler temperatures too. 
For outdoor exercisers, this may require adjusting 
to colder weather, which can be uncomfortable 
and require extra layers of clothing. It can also 
impact the types of workouts you choose and your 
willingness to exercise outdoors.

When going to the club you may find it a lot more 
crowded there as more people may flock to gyms 
for indoor workouts. Expect longer wait times for 
equipment, potentially affecting your workout 
routine.

The time change can also mess with meal timing. 
As daylight hours change, meal schedules may 
need to be adjusted, which can impact energy levels 
and performance during workouts. When it’s 
darker earlier it’s easy to want to sit home and eat 
more. The less time out and about means more 
inactivity and inactivity is usually paired with 
more eating. Baking, celebrating holidays and 
getting together with friends at this time of year 
can all lead to increased caloric intake. Be careful 
so you don’t let this allow pounds to gradually 
pile on.

Some people experience increased stress during 
the time change, which can negatively impact 
workout performance. The shift in time can disrupt 
daily routines too, making it more challenging 
to maintain consistency in exercise. High 
stress levels may lead to decreased motivation and 
even overtraining.

To reduce the potential negative effects the time 
change may have on you and your exercise routine, 
you may want to gradually adjust your workout 
schedule by shifting it by small increments 
over several days to allow your body to adapt. 

You can also experiment and test out indoor activities. 
Indoor cycling, fitness classes, or home 
workouts may all feel more invigorating at this 
time of year. Set specific goals, work out with a 
buddy, or explore new fitness activities.

Let’s not forget about sleep. The time change can 
disrupt sleep patterns, especially when transitioning 
to or from daylight saving time. Sleep is essential 
for recovery and energy levels, so disruptions 
can affect workout performance and overall fitness 
goals. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep 
along with sound nutrition. Especially at a time of 
year when we are eating very differently in terms 
of types of food and quantity. 

Find other activities or hobbies that fit this time of 
year to keep you from sinking into couch potato 
mode. Whatever it is, from indoor gardening to 
jigsaw puzzles, if your mind is busy and you keep 
to a consistent schedule the impact of the time 
change won’t be as severe.

Light therapy, which involves exposure to bright 
light, can be helpful for those affected by SAD and 
can potentially improve mood and energy levels. 
All that’s needed is a light box. The box delivers a 
dose of bright light which brings about changes in 
brain chemicals to improve mood. Light therapy 
is usually used in the morning for 20-30 minutes. 
If you’re interested in checking it out consult with 
your doctor or health care provider for any recommendations 
or cautions. Those with eye problems 
should get advice from their eye specialist first.

The impact of the time change on workouts varies 
from person to person. By being mindful of these 
potential effects and implementing strategies to 
adapt, you can continue to maintain a consistent 
and effective exercise routine throughout the year. 
There’s no need for gloom. Make this period of 
year a time to try new things, focus more on goals 
and include other people in your workouts to help 
you stay motivated and on track. 

For more help or to try out something new contact 
me on my Facebook page. 

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


DO I NEED A MASK FOR HALLOWEEN?

The older I get, the less patience 
I have for holidays. I certainly 
am not a holiday guru in any 
sense of the word. When I was 
younger, my favorite holiday 
was Christmas because of all the presents I got. I 
could never get enough gifts for Christmas.

When I got older, got married and had children, 
I realized that somebody had to pay for those 
Christmas presents, and I was elected for the 
job. Holidays really cost a lot, and usually, it's 
the father that pays the bill.

I suppose my least favorite holiday is Halloween. 
I'm unsure who came up with this idea, and I 
don't have the time to research it and find out. 
If I knew its roots, I might like it less than I do 
today. People dress up in scary costumes and 
go door-to-door collecting candy on Halloween. 
But what does candy have to do with it? Today, 
a holiday is celebrated every month and sometimes 
every week. Who has the time to invent 
all of these holidays, and who has the time to 
celebrate them all?

Don't get me wrong, no holiday in the year upsets 
me, and I don't care how many holidays 
somebody else celebrates. I'm only concerned 
about celebrating my holiday. Some people 
think their birthday is the best holiday of the 
year. That was true for me for several years until 
I realized I was getting one year older every time 
I celebrated a birthday.

I wonder if I missed celebrating my birthday a 
year would I get any older? It’s worth a try.

A year ago, I tried that and it worked out pretty 
well until, on my birthday, The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage brought me a birthday 
card she made in her craft room and then 
wished me a happy birthday. If she wishes me a 
happy birthday, it must be my birthday.

One of the things about birthdays is that the 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage's birthday is 
two days after mine. Now I know why she makes 
me a birthday card: to remind me that her birthday 
is coming up.

I've been tempted to make her a birthday card, 
that just might end the matter because my 
craftsmanship crashed the day I was born.

Not only is her birthday two days after mine, but 
it is also two years before mine. I used to remind 
her of that, but I have grown accustomed to living 
healthy.

We celebrate Valentine's Day because that was 
the day I proposed marriage to her, even though 
I had no idea what I was doing. I like some holidays, 
for instance, Easter Sunday, which I prefer 
to call Resurrection Sunday. That's a holiday I 
like to celebrate. I used to like Christmas until 
I started to pay the bill for all the gifts under 
the tree. When the children were young, I could 
buy them something they would like, not caring 
about the price.

As they got older, they got more sophisticated 
in the gifts they wanted. I use the word "sophisticated" 
because that has everything to do with 
money. The more a gift cost, the better it was 
received.

Because I grew up in Pennsylvania, I like to remember 
Groundhog Day with Punxsutawney 
Phil. I'm not sure who came up with this holiday, 
but it's probably the stupidest of the year. 
And yet, it is celebrated across the country. 
The Halloween holiday is quite exciting now 
that the kids have grown up and moved into 
their own homes and families. We do have kids 
in the neighborhood who come by dressed in 
Halloween costumes, looking for candy. They 
don't have to beg when they come to my house; 
they just stand there, and I can’t give it out fast 
enough. How much do the parents understand 
that candy is not healthy for their children?

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is not 
too excited about Halloween, but I always buy 
bags of candy I hide so she can’t see them. And 
my goal is to give them all away to kids that 
come to the door. What she doesn't know does 
not hurt me. Usually, I dress up in some scary 
costume to give the candy to the kids to come 
to the door. I like to stay current, so the other 
day, I asked The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
a very serious question that I don't think 
she took seriously. I looked at her and said, "Do 
you think I need a new mask for Halloween this 
year?" Now, that was a very serious, straightforward 
question.

Looking at me as usual, she said, "Oh, no, you 
silly boy. The mask you're wearing now is good 
enough for this Halloween." She walked away 
before I could tell her I was not wearing a mask.

I was thinking about this matter of celebration 
when I remember a verse of scripture I read recently. 
Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence 
with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise 
unto him with psalms.”

The thing I need to celebrate each day is my relationship 
with God. Nothing is more important 
to me daily than to recognize all that God has 
done for me throughout my life. I have so much 
to be thankful for in my life and not a day should 
pass in my life that I should not be thankful to 
God for something.

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