Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, January 13, 2024

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 13, 2024 

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JANUARY BIRTHDAYS*

Gerald Day, Mary Tassop, Judy Webb-Martin, John Johnson, Mary 
Bickel, Marlene Enmark, Shirley Wolf, Ross Kellock, Ruth Wolter, 
Sandy Thistlewaite, Bobbi Rahmanian, Fran Syverson, Judy Zaretzka 
and Becky Evans. * To add your name to this distinguished list, 
please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICARE SPOUSE COVERAGE

Dear Savvy Senior:

Are spouses who have not worked outside the home 
eligible for Medicare benefits? I have worked most 
of my adult life, but my wife has been a mother and 
homemaker since we got married and hasn’t held an 
income-producing job since she was in college. Will 
she be eligible for Medicare? Searching Spouse

Dear Searching:

There are many couples in your situation when 
it comes to applying for Medicare. The answer 
generally is yes, your spouse can qualify for 
Medicare on your work record. Here’s how it works.

Medicare Requirements

Medicare, the government health insurance 
program for older adults, covers around 60 million 
Americans age 65 and older, as well as those younger 
that have a qualifying disability or have End-Stage 
Renal Disease.

 To be eligible, you must have worked and paid 
Medicare taxes for at least 10 years to qualify for 
premium-free Medicare Part A hospital coverage 
when you turn 65. If you qualify, then your non-
working spouse will qualify too, based on your work 
record when she turns 65.

 Divorced spouses are also eligible if they were 
married at least 10 years and are single, as are 
surviving spouses who are single and who were 
married for at least nine months before their spouse 
died.

 In addition to Part A, both you and your spouse 
would also qualify for Medicare Part B, which 
covers doctor’s visits and other outpatient services, 
but requires a monthly premium. The premium for 
Part B beneficiaries in 2024 is $174.70 per month 
per person. Couples filing jointly with incomes over 
$206,000 per year pay even more.

There are also a number of other caveats you should 
know about depending on your wife’s age.

Older Spouses

If your wife is older than you, she can qualify for 
Medicare on your work record at age 65, even if 
you’re not getting Medicare yourself, but you must 
be at least 62 years old. You also must have been 
married for at least one year for your wife to apply 
for Medicare on your work record.

If 
you are still working and your wife is covered by 
your employer’s health insurance, she may want 
to enroll only in the premium-free Medicare Part 
A until you retire, or your employer coverage ends. 
Part B – along with its premium – can be added later 
without penalty as long as your employer’s group 
health plan is your “primary coverage.” Check with 
your employers’ human resources department to 
find out about this. (Note: If your wife is funding 
a health savings account, she may not want to take 
Part A because she can’t make contributions after 
she enrolls).

Younger Spouses

If your wife is younger than you, she will need 
health insurance until she turns 65 and becomes 
eligible for Medicare. This may be through the 
Health Insurance Marketplace (see healthcare.gov), 
or if you’re still working, through COBRA (see dol.
gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra).

Other Medicare Choices

In addition to Medicare Part A and B, when you and 
your wife become Medicare eligible, each of you will 
also need to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan 
if you don’t have credible drug coverage from your 
employer or union. And, you may want to purchase 
a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy too, to 
help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare 
like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Or, 
you may want to consider an all-in-one Medicare 
Advantage plan.

For more information on Medicare choices and 
enrollment rules visit Medicare.gov or call 800-
633-4227. You can also get help through your State
Health Insurance Assistance Program (see shiphelp.
org), which provides free Medicare counseling.

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.


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.

YOUR FIRST 5K

You’ve never gotten into running. You don’t even go 
for daily walks. Thinking about attempting a 5K this 
year may seem like an impossible task. But it isn’t. If 
you start now, you can not only start and finish a 5K 
this year but have a lot of fun in the process. Here’s 
what you need to know.

First, don’t think you have to run the event. Many 
people walk. Some walk and run. Others have worked 
their way up to a full run. It doesn’t matter which you 
are able to do, what’s important is to get out there and 
try. A 5K is often a short, family-oriented fun run that 
brings a lot of different people together. People of all 
ages, sizes, and fitness levels.

Also, don’t pressure yourself into thinking it’s a race. Unless you’re an elite athlete, the event is meant to be 
enjoyable. A way to socialize with friends and family.

How do you begin? Find a trail or running path. Measure its length using your car or Google Maps. If the 
course has been used for a 5K before, it likely already has a marked route to achieve the 5K distance.

Preparing for Your First 5K

1. Set Your Goal: Decide whether you want to walk, jog, run, or do a combination. This decision will
guide your training plan.

2. Create a Training Schedule: Start slowly. If you’re a beginner, begin with walking. Gradually increase 
your pace and distance over time. A typical training period is 8 to 12 weeks. There are plenty of beginner
5K training plans available online.

3. Invest in Good Shoes: This is crucial. Visit a specialty running store to find shoes that support your
foot type and gait.

4. Find a Buddy or Group: Training with others can increase your motivation and make your workouts 
more enjoyable. Look for local running groups or enlist a friend to join you on this journey. Running
groups have all types of members, they aren’t just hard core running aficionados. Many offer beginners a
group of their own to help them get started safely without pressure to do too much.

5. Stay Consistent: Try to stick to your training schedule, but also listen to your body. It's okay to rest
if you're feeling sore or fatigued.

6. Mix It Up: Incorporate cross-training to build overall fitness. Activities like cycling, swimming, or
yoga can enhance your strength and flexibility, reducing the risk of injury.

7. Track Your Progress: Use a fitness app or journal to record your workouts and progress. Seeing how
far you’ve come can be a huge motivator.

8. Plan for Race Day: Familiarize yourself with the course beforehand. Plan your transportation and
arrival time to avoid any last-minute stress.

9. Dress Rehearsal: A week before the event, do a "dress rehearsal" with the outfit and gear you plan to
use on race day to ensure everything is comfortable.

10. Stay Hydrated and Eat Right: Good nutrition and staying hydrated are key to your training. Focus
on a balanced diet with plenty of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats.

On 5K day, begin slowly to warm up your muscles. Set a comfortable pace that you've maintained during 
training. With the excitement around, it's easy to start too fast so tell yourself to go especially slow. Take 
time to enjoy the experience: the scenery, the community spirit, and the accomplishment of each step. 
Crossing that finish line, regardless of your method, is a victory.

Most 5K’s are created to raise funds for important causes. Find a cause you’re passionate about or that 
has affected your life personally and start with a 5K that raises awareness for it (i.e., breast cancer, autism, 
childhood obesity, etc.). You’ll meet other people who have the same devotion for the cause and you may 
even make lifelong friends. Being outdoors is also very satisfying. Many of us are stuck indoors all day and 
don’t get to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors as much as we would like. In fact, spending time in nature has 
been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression (ecotherapy).

Completing a 5K is an excellent goal, more accessible than you might think. It's about more than physical 
fitness; it's about setting a goal, working towards it, and enjoying the process. Whether you walk, jog, or 
run, the key is to have fun and celebrate your progress. Remember, every participant started somewhere, 
and this 5K could be the beginning of a lifelong love for an active lifestyle. Lace up those shoes, set your 
sights on the finish line, and get ready for an incredible journey!


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

O ENERGY, O ENERGY, WHEREFORE ART THOU 

O ENERGY?

Since I have reached a certain 
age, I cannot reveal that age; 
my energy seems limited. I 
don't have the energy I once had. Where it has 
gone, I have not discovered yet.

I once inquired of The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage where my energy went, and she 
replied, "Silly boy, you're over the hill, and so 
is your energy."

 I almost asked her what that meant, but I 
didn't have the energy, and I didn't have the 
energy to climb back up that hill.

 Not having enough energy does have its 
good side. One thing is that it is an excellent 
excuse for not doing something. For example, 
when my wife asks me to do something that I 
really don't want to do, I say, "My Dear, I just 
don't have the energy or I would do it."

Of course, she scowls at me because I think 
she knows exactly what I'm saying.

 I have discovered that the word "retired" 
is something I didn't understand before. It 
means that I am tired over and over and over 
again. How I long for those pre-tired days of 
long ago. I didn't understand how tired I was 
until recently.

 A little over a year ago, our great-
granddaughter entered our lives. When that 
happened, the great-grandmother opened 
"Grandma's Playtime Center." Now, the great-
granddaughter is at our home during the 
week while her parents are working.

Seeing how much this little rascal grows 
within a year has been interesting. Somebody 
thought they were teaching her how to walk 
when, in reality, she learned how to run.

Hardly a step goes by with her that she's not 
running here and there.

 I open my office door, and before I fully open 
it, she ran inside before me. My challenge is 
finding the energy to get her out of my office.

Watching her running all day long it is a very 
tiring experience. I'm not sure where she gets 
all her energy but she seems never to run out. 
If only I could borrow some of her energy, it 
would be great. It would serve both of us well.

Since she's been staying with us throughout 
the week, I've realized how truly tired I was. 
Every day is a new level of tirement for me. 
I'm beginning to believe that there is actually 
no end to this tirement cycle.

 I still come back to that question: where did 
my energy go? If I can answer that question, I 
might solve some of my retirement problems.

Thinking back on my former years, I 
remember how much energy I had when I 
was younger. As a young kid, my parents 
made me go to bed early, and sleeping early 
was difficult. I sought ways to convince my 
parents to let me stay up longer. No matter 
when I went to bed, I still had energy that I 
hadn't used that day. Oh, if only I could tap 
into that energy today. Now, as I am older and 
in that tirement cycle, I look for excuses to go 
to bed earlier. It has become a game between 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and 
me. We try to find new excuses to convince us 
to go to bed earlier. 

Sitting in my chair, I will begin to fake a 
yawning session. Looking at me, my wife 
asks, "Are you ready for bed already?"

Looking at my watch and seeing that it's not 
even 9 o'clock, I respond by saying, "Oh, no 
not yet!"

"You will tell me when you're ready for bed, 
won't you?"

I'm not too fond when she puts all the 
responsibility on me. If I had the energy, I 
would challenge her, but where do I get that 
kind of energy?

Occasionally, I will sneak a peek in her 
direction, and sometimes, I will see her eyes 
closed. I then say, "You're not asleep are you?"

She would quickly open her eyes, looks at me, 
and says, "No, I was just praying."

Finally, just before the clock hit 10 o'clock, she 
looked at me and said, "I think I'm ready for 
bed. I have to get up early tomorrow to take 
care of our great-granddaughter."

Only she could come up with a legitimate 
excuse to go to bed early. If only I could come 
up with a legitimate reason but I had to get up 
early in the morning I might be able to cash 
in on that.

Usually, I'll respond by saying, "I'll join you 
when I find the energy to get up off of my 
chair."

Finding energy has become a hobby of mine. 
Unfortunately, I'm not too successful at this 
hobby.

I won't give up the search for energy. Surely, 
there is something I can do to tap into some 
kind of energy. Maybe the fault lies with 
climate change.

Thinking about this the other day, I 
remembered a Bible verse. “But they that wait 
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; 
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 
they shall run, and not be weary; and they 
shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Based on this, I have learned that waiting on 
God is the real secret to my daily energy. Like 
many people, I try to find my own energy and 
have failed many times. Only God can renew 
the strength I need to live each day for His 
glory.

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