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 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, July 13, 2024

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


FREE ASSISTED LIVING PLACEMENT SERVICE

 

 Discover the perfect assisted living community with 
Safe Path for Seniors. Our compassionate advisors 
specialize in assisting individuals with unique needs. 
Benefit from our extensive network and affordable 
options. Plus, we offer personalized tours to help you 
explore each community firsthand. Call (626) 999-
6913 or visit www.safepathforseniors.com for free 
assistance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JULY Birthdays*

Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Betty Hansen, Melinda 
Rogers , Christine Durfort, Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, 
Dorothy Montgomery, Bess Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Barbara Watson, Pat 
Alcorn, Karma Bell, Alice Clark, and Betty Dos Remedios, Bonnie Diener

Jan Greteman, Linda Heller

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


From The Desk of Steve Sciurba, Safe Path For Senior


CHOOSING THE RIGHT CARE FACILITY: SMALL BOARD AND 
CARE HOMES VS. LARGER ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES

When selecting a living arrangement for seniors, families often weigh the benefits and drawbacks 
of small board and care homes against larger assisted living communities. Here, we break down 
the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed decision.

Small Board and Care Homes

Small board and care homes offer personalized care with a higher staff-to-resident ratio, 
ensuring that residents receive more individualized attention. These homes provide a homelike 
environment, offering an intimate and comforting atmosphere that closely resembles a family 
home. With fewer caregivers, residents can form stronger, more personal relationships, and these 
homes can more easily accommodate specific needs and preferences.

However, the limited number of residents can result in fewer social interactions and organized 
activities. Small board and care homes typically lack extensive facilities like fitness centers and 
game rooms and often have less access to specialized medical care and equipment.

Larger Assisted Living Communities

Larger assisted living communities offer a wide range of activities, providing various social, 
recreational, and educational options to keep residents engaged. These communities come with 
extensive amenities, including fitness centers, libraries, and game rooms. They also provide more 
comprehensive care options, such as memory care and physical therapy, and with more residents, 
there are increased opportunities for social interaction and forming friendships.

On the downside, the higher number of residents can lead to less individualized attention 
from staff. Larger facilities can sometimes feel more like an institution and less like a home. 
Additionally, higher staff turnover and more shift changes can result in inconsistencies in care.

Key Considerations

When making a decision, it's important to evaluate the level of care required, especially for 
specialized medical needs, and compare expenses to determine what fits your financial situation. 
Proximity to family and friends can be crucial for maintaining personal connections. Consider 
whether the individual is more comfortable in a larger group setting or a smaller, more intimate 
environment. Touring both types of facilities can provide valuable insights and help make a well-
informed decision.

Ultimately, choosing between a small board and care home and a larger assisted living community 
depends on the specific needs, preferences, and priorities of the individual requiring care. By 
carefully considering the pros and cons of each option, families can ensure their loved ones 
receive the best possible care in a setting that feels like home.

Courtesy of Safe Path for Seniors LLC / (626) 999-6913 / https://www.safepathforseniors.com


HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT AGE RELATED MACULAR

DEGENERATION


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


Dear Savvy Senior:

Is macular degeneration hereditary? My mother lost 
much of her vision from it before she died, and now at 
age 65, I’m concerned I may get it too. What can you tell me?

Brown Eyed Betty

Dear Betty:

Unfortunately, having a parent or sibling with macular degeneration does indeed increase your 
risk of getting it by three to four times. But the good news is there are things you can do to protect 
your eyesight, and a number of treatments that are available if you do happen to get it. Here’s what 
you should know.

What is AMD?

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (or AMD) is the most 
common cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60, affecting an estimated 20 million 
Americans. 

AMD is a progressive eye disease that damages the macula, the part of the eye that allows us to 
see objects clearly, causing vision loss in the center of your vision. This affects the ability to read, 
drive, watch television and do routine daily tasks, but it does not cause total blindness. 

There are two types of AMD – dry and wet. Dry AMD, which affects about 85 to 90 percent of all 
people that have it, progresses slowly and painlessly over a period of years.

While wet AMD is much more aggressive and can cause severe vision loss in a matter of 
weeks or months.

Factors that can increase your risk of getting AMD include age (60 and older); smoking; excessive 
exposure to sunlight especially if you have light-colored eyes; certain genetic components; a 
family history of AMD; high blood pressure; obesity; and being Caucasian.

What You Can Do

For anyone over the age of 65, it’s a smart idea to get your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist 
every year. They can spot early signs of AMD before vision loss occurs. Early signs, however, may 
include shadowy areas in your central vision or unusually fuzzy or distorted vision. 

The Amsler grid is also an excellent tool to check your eyes for AMD at home. Visit Macular.org, 
and search “amsler chart” to test your sight. 

While there’s currently no cure for AMD there are things you can do if you’re high risk, including: 
eating antioxidant-rich foods such as dark green, leafy vegetables, and cold-water fish for their 
omega-3 fatty acids; protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing UV protective sunglasses; 
controlling high blood pressure; exercising regularly; and if you smoke, quit.

Dry AMD Treatments

If you do happen to get AMD, your doctor may recommend you start taking a daily dose of 
antioxidant vitamins and minerals known as AREDS or AREDS2. Studies by the National Eye 
Institute have shown that while taking these supplements cannot prevent you from getting AMD, 
they can reduce your risk of progression from intermediate to advanced AMD by about 25 percent. 

You can purchase AREDS supplements – made by Bausch and Lomb and sold as PreserVision – 
over the counter in many drugstores and online for around $30 a bottle. 

There are also two new medications (Syfovre and Izervay) that were approved by the FDA last 
year to treat a late-stage form of AMD called geographic atrophy or GA. These treatments, which 
are given either monthly or every other month in the form of an injection into the eye, can slow 
the progression of GA.

Wet AMD Treatments

For wet AMD, there are several anti-VEGF medications like Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea that can 
stop vision loss and may even restore it. These medications, which have been around for more 
than a decade, are also given by injection into the eye and repeated every month or two. 

Newer anti-VEGF drugs, like Vabysmo and Eyla HD, are also highly effective but don’t require 
monthly treatments. Most patients on these medications can go three to four months between 
injections.

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.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER....OR IS IT?

Recently, one of our granddaughters reached the magical age of 16 and 
was applying for her driver’s license.

When I learned of that, it brought back so many memories of my own. 
I remember when I turned 16 and was going for my driver’s license. 
What a day that was.

I can’t remember how long ago that was. I don’t have a calendar in front of me.

The time leading up to my 16th birthday was exciting because I couldn’t wait to turn 
16 and get behind the wheel. That was the great goal of my life as a teenager. At 16, my 
life would change, and it did.

When I reached 16, my next goal was 21 because I would be an official adult, and my 
parents couldn’t tell me what to do.

I’m not sure what happened, but I never really became the official adult I dreamed 
about. I just became older.

Some people attach great significance to age. I remember my grandfather saying, 
“Son, age is just a number. Don’t you worry about it.”

Grandfathers can’t be wrong, or can they?

It’s been hard keeping up with my age because it changes every year. Why does my 
birthday have to come so often? There was a time when I couldn’t wait for my birthday. 
It was like it took five years for my birthday to come.

Now, my birthday comes every other month. How old am I really? Honestly, I don’t 
want to know.

Several years ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I celebrated birthdays 
at a res-taurant. Her birthday is two days after mine.

As we ate our birthday dinner, she looked at me and said, “So, my dear, how does old 
feel?”

Without even thinking, which is my MO, I reached across the table, grabbed her arm, 
started squeezing it, and said, “It feels rather nice.”

Well, there went my birthday present.

One day this past week, I was searching through my library for a book I wanted to 
read. As I was searching, I found my high school yearbook. I don’t remember the last 
time I saw that book.

I pulled it out, took it to my seat, sat down and started looking through that album. I 
saw things I had long ago forgotten about.

As I looked at the photographs, I remembered some of my friends from way back then 
and wondered how they might look today.

Then, I came across a name I recognized: James Snyder. I recognized the name, but I 
did not recognize the picture. Who was that person there using my name?

I stared at that picture for a while and did not remember anything. There it was, a 
young boy with lots of hair and rather skinny. I was tempted to go to the mirror and 
check out what I looked like today, but then I declined. Why ruin a good thing?

When my grandfather said that age is just a matter of numbers, I was beginning to 
think he was way off his rocker. What I looked like in 1969 when I graduated high 
school is far from what I look today.

I tried to remember back in those days, and some things came to me. I had a lot of fun 
playing baseball at school, and I did a lot of things that I wouldn’t have the energy to 
do today.

One of the things I remember was how hard it was to go to sleep at night. My parents 
had a cur-few at 10 o’clock at night, which is when we were supposed to be in bed 
sound asleep. I remem-ber those times and how hard it was to sleep at 10 o’clock at 
night.

Now, right after supper, I look at The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and say, “Are 
you thinking what I’m thinking?”

She will laugh and nod her head. One of the things that we try to find an excuse to go 
to bed ear-ly, like right after supper.

I couldn’t keep up with all the activities I did back then. In the morning, when I get 
out of bed, walk to the living room, and sit down, I need to rest for a moment because 
of all that activity. It doesn’t take very much to get me tired.

Thinking about this the other day, I wondered what my life would be like if I had 
the energy today that I had 50 years ago. But the more I thought about it, the more 
I realized that if I had that kind of energy today, I probably would be getting into 
trouble.

What I fail to remember about those days of endless energy is that it always got me 
into some kind of trouble.

Now that I’m old, I don’t have the energy to get into trouble. When you think of it, 
that’s a good thing. Getting old isn’t as bad as I once thought.

As I pondered this I was reminded of what good, old Solomon said. “Say not thou, 
What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not 
enquire wisely concerning this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10).

I may have some good things in my past, but my best day is today. I don’t have any 
guarantee for tomorrow. All I can be sure of is today, so I need to make today the best 
day of my life.

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