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 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, July 20, 2024

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

FREE ASSISTED LIVING PLACEMENT SERVICE

 

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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


WHY FANILY CAREGIVERS ARE A KEY FOCUS IN THE 2024 
ELECTION - Insights From AARP

The Credit for Caring Act aims to help families with annual out-of-pocket caregiving costs. On 
June 26, 2024, hundreds of AARP employees, volunteers from all 50 states, and nearly two dozen 
actors from The Creative Coalition went to Capitol Hill to urge elected representatives to support 
family caregivers.

A recent poll in competitive congressional districts shows that family caregivers account for 1 
in 5 likely voters aged 50+ and cite financial stress as a major concern ahead of November. The 
bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which AARP has vigorously supported, would help cover the 
$7,200 many families spend yearly on caregiving costs.

“During this election cycle, when voters aged 50+ will be the deciding factor, we urge Congress 
to prioritize what matters most to older Americans, such as caregiving,” said Nancy LeaMond, 
AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “This Congress 
has an opportunity to pass bipartisan legislation that benefits over 48 million family caregivers 
nationwide, including the Credit for Caring Act, which would provide much-needed financial 
relief. As the voice of older Americans, we will continue advocating for what matters most to this 
critical voting bloc.”

“Family caregivers like me make tough decisions all the time. From driving a loved one to doctor's 
appointments to leaving a full-time job, we put in enormous effort to ensure our older loved ones can 
age comfortably,” said actor Yvette Nicole Brown, Chair of The Creative Coalition Entertainment 
Industry. “That’s why TCC and I were proud to join AARP on Capitol Hill today to talk face-to-
face with lawmakers about the daily challenges caregivers face—and how commonsense policies 
can support us.”

AARP's focus also includes lowering prescription drug costs, improving retirement security, 
advocating for nursing homes, and protecting Social Security.

Actors who joined AARP are members of The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit addressing issues 
important to the arts and entertainment industry, including caregiving

 

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OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

DING-A-LING THERE GOES SPRING

In my life, time has a way of getting out of control. If I could control time, 
I would be a very happy dude. My one question in life is, where does time 
go? And, can I retrieve it?

The other night, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I sat in the living room 
watching a little TV.

I then heard a deep sigh from the other resident in the room. Looking over I said, “Is 
anything wrong?”

Looking back at me with one of “her looks,” she said, “Why is it so hot?”

At first, I thought she was talking about me as a hot dude. But after thinking more about 
it, I concluded that I was not the hot dude she was talking about. She was talking about 
the weather.

Sighing very deeply she said, “I just can’t stand all of this hot weather anymore.”

She was born and raised in New York, and when the weather gets over her age, she can 
hardly handle it. The weather was not too much over her age, but it was over her age.

I waved my hand at her and said, “Oh, my dear, we are in Florida.”

Scowling at me, she said, “I know that, but it wasn’t this hot the other week.”

Chuckling on the inside, I responded, “Well, my dear, Spring is over and Summer is here. 
It’s the climate change, silly.”

I thought about that, and it’s pretty interesting that things go as quickly as they do. Why 
can’t Spring stay with us just a little bit longer? Why can’t Summer be shortened a month 
or two?

Time does have a way of flying by quickly; if you don’t pay attention, it will be gone before 
you know it.

Looking at me, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage replied, “I know Spring is gone, I 
know Summer is here, but why does it have to be so hot?”

Knowing her as well as I know her, I realized that was a rhetorical question. She wasn’t 
asking me for any information and so, I wasn’t going to volunteer any information 
whatsoever. That’s what usually gets me into trouble.

But I couldn’t help but think about that myself. Lately, we’ve been having some very hot 
and humid days. It’s been 100° or more almost every day. Some meteorologists are saying 
these are record hot days.

I don’t know if the record exists, but I would rather not play those records very long.

One thing about a hot day is that you can’t do very much activity, especially outside. I was 
outside one day doing some things, and pretty soon, I could hardly breathe, and my energy 
had all but disappeared. I think it went inside.

I came in after that, got a nice glass of iced tea, and sat in my easy chair.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said, “So, why are you in the 
house?”

Without thinking, which is my usual MO, I replied, “It’s just too hot outside for me.”

“Oh,” she said sarcastically, “so Spring has disappeared?” And then she said, “Do you 
think it just might be Summer.”

I hate it when what I say comes back to haunt me.

On the other hand, these hot days do have a cool element.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came the other day and said, “I’m going shopping, 
would you like to come with me?”

Usually, I have no way of getting out of going shopping with her. But the heat spell has 
given me a good excuse. “Oh my dear,” I said rather sadly, “I would love to but it’s just too 
hot out there for me and I cannot handle all that heat. I’m so sorry.”

Looking at me with one of her smiles, I knew what she was thinking. That was, I was 
using the heat spell to get out of going somewhere shopping with her. Although she loves 
shopping, it is certainly not one of my favorite activities.

As she went out the door, I said rather quickly, “Don’t forget to get me some Klondike bars. 
I’m getting low on them.”

Looking back at me as she walked through the door, she said, “Well, if you were with me 
I probably would remember.”

When she left, I got a cup of coffee and went to my easy chair to sit and think about the 
morning. Sometimes, the most important thing in life is having a good excuse for not 
doing something.

When I think about the seasons of the year, everyone has something good to say about 
it. And, every one has something bad about it. I’m trying to learn to focus on the good 
aspects of a season. If I focus on the bad aspects, it just gets me down.

Every bad aspect has a good slant to it. My challenge is finding that good slant and using 
it for pleasure.

I thought of a verse in the bible that addresses this. Psalm 31:14-15 - “But I trusted in thee, 
O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of 
mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”

No matter my circumstances, I can trust God for my time today, tomorrow and forever. 
Spring comes, Spring goes but nothing changes as far as God is concerned. I’m in His 
hands.


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