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Mountain View News Saturday, September 14, 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! …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
From The Desk of Steve Sciurba, Safe Path For Senior
SENIORS AND DIABETES
Diabetes is a growing concern among seniors, affecting a significant portion of the aging population.
Type 2 diabetes, in particular, is prevalent in older adults due to factors such as decreased physical
activity, weight gain, and age-related changes in insulin sensitivity. Managing diabetes in seniors
requires a tailored approach, as they often have multiple health conditions that complicate care, such
as hypertension, heart disease, and kidney problems.
One of the key challenges for seniors with diabetes is maintaining blood sugar control. Aging
affects how the body processes glucose, making it more difficult to regulate blood sugar levels.
Medications, diet, and lifestyle changes can help, but seniors may face additional barriers such as
cognitive decline, mobility issues, and the need for assistance with daily tasks. Additionally, the risk
of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is higher in older adults, which can lead to serious complications
like falls, confusion, and even hospitalization.
Proper management includes regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, medication adherence, and
a healthy diet. Exercise, even moderate, can improve insulin sensitivity and help maintain a healthy
weight. However, balancing activity and rest is important to prevent fatigue or injury.
Family members and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting seniors with diabetes. They can
assist in medication management, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and help monitor for signs
of complications. Health professionals should also provide ongoing education and adjust treatment
plans as necessary to accommodate the unique needs of older adults.
In summary, diabetes in seniors requires comprehensive management to prevent complications and
maintain quality of life. By combining medical treatment with lifestyle interventions, older adults
with diabetes can lead healthier, more independent lives.
HOW TO ASSESS WHAT YOU NEED IN A WALKER
Dear Savvy Senior:
Can you give me some tips on
choosing an appropriate walker
for my elderly father? He has some
balance issues along with arthritis in
his hips and could use a little more
help than a cane provides.
Wobbly in Wisconsin
Dear Wobbly:
When it comes to choosing a walker, there are several styles and options to consider, but selecting
the best one for your father will depend on his needs, as well as where he’ll be using it. Here are some
tips that can help you choose.
Types of Walkers
There are three basic types of walkers on the market today. To help your dad choose, consider how
much support he’ll need. Then, pay a visit to a medical equipment store or pharmacy (see Medicare.
gov/medical-equipment-suppliers) that sells walkers so he can test-walk a few. Here are the different
types he’ll have to choose from.
Standard walker: This is the most basic style of walker that has four legs with rubber-based feet (no
wheels), is very lightweight (5 to 6 pounds) and typically costs between $30 and $100. This type of
walker must be picked up and moved forward as you walk, so it’s best suited for people who need
significant weight bearing support, or who are walking very short distances.
Two-wheeled walker: This has the same four-leg style as the standard walker except it has wheels on
the two front legs that allow you to easily push the walker forward without lifting, while the back
legs glide across the floor providing support while you step forward. These are best for people with
balance issues and are priced at around $50 to $150.
Rollator: This is a rolling walker that has wheels on all (three or four) legs. Four-wheel rollators
typically come with a built-in seat, basket and hand-breaks and are best suited for people who need
assistance with balance or endurance inside or outside the home. Some rollators even come with
pushdown brakes that engage with downward pressure and will lock if you sit on the seat. Or, if you
dad needs to navigate tight spaces at home, three-wheel rollators, which don’t have a seat, are a nice
option. Rollators typically run between $60 and $250.
Other Tips
After deciding on the type of walker, there a few additional things you need to know to ensure
it meets your dad’s needs.
First, be sure the walker’s height is adjusted appropriately. To do this, have your dad stand with his
arms relaxed at his sides. The handgrips of the walker should line up with the crease on the inside
of his wrist.
If your dad is a large person, verify that the walker’s weight capacity will support him, and if he
chooses a four-wheel rollator, that his body can fit between the handgrips when sitting. Heavy duty
(bariatric) rollators with higher weight capacities, bigger wheels and wider seats are also an option.
Your dad also needs to test the handgrips to make sure they’re comfortable and be sure to purchase
a walker that folds up (most do) for easier storage and transport.
There are also walker accessories that can be added for convenience such as food tray attachments,
tote bags for carrying personal items, oxygen tank holders, and tennis ball walker glides that go over
the feet of a standard walker to help it slide more easily across the floor.
For more tips on how to choose and use a walker, visit Mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-
aging/in-depth/walker/art-20546805. It’s also a smart idea to work with your dad’s doctor or a
physical therapist, and be sure to get a written prescription, as Medicare will cover 80 percent of
the cost.
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.
OUT TO PASTOR
A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder
ONE MAN'S APPLE FRITTER IS PURE DELIGHT
One thing I have learned in life is there are times when things do
come together.
For the last several months, I have been struggling to keep up with
my schedule, and I was getting behind in some things I do. That is
always frustrating for me. I like finishing what I start, but I like finishing it on time.
Just the other day, I finished my manuscript for my publisher and sent it in, and I
was in great relief that that job was done. I sat back in my chair and just enjoyed the
feeling of being caught up.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and some girls in the family had taken
a two-day trip out of town for whatever they were going to do. I have learned not
to get involved in what the girls are doing. I know from The Gracious Mistress
of the Parsonage’s side that it has a lot to do with thrift store shopping. If there is
something I like less than thrift store shopping, I have never met it yet.
Being alone for a couple of days, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being caught up. I was
trying to think of some way to celebrate this achievement, and I wanted something
very special because this was a special time.
My thinking sometimes is not always on schedule, and I do not always even have
thoughts that I can think of. So, I was having a little trouble figuring out what I
could do to celebrate this breakthrough in my work.
I’ve never had this kind of breakthrough, so it was new to me. I was trying to
think of something special to celebrate my accomplishment.
Thinking for some time while sipping coffee, I realized I had not expected a
thought to come dancing into my head. I can tell when a thought comes into my
head because that’s a rare occasion. But this time, this thought brought a great deal
of pleasure to me.
I don’t share my thoughts with too many people because I don’t have that many
thoughts to share. So I was leaning back in my chair, celebrating this situation and
rejoicing over this thought that just came into my head.
This thought dancing in my head had to do with a fresh Apple Fritter or two. I
cannot celebrate any better than with several Apple Fritters, particularly one in
each hand.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is not too happy with Apple Fritters.
For some reason, she thinks they are bad for me. On the other side of the table, I
believe there is nothing better in the entire world than an Apple Fritter. After all,
it is a fruit.
Broccoli is on the other side of the table, and The Gracious Mistress of the
Parsonage thinks it is solid gold in her mouth. I can’t even look at broccoli, let alone
eat it. But when she wants to celebrate, that’s the first thing on her mind. Believe
me, it is the last thing on my mind.
But that idea of an Apple Fritter was very alluring to me. I couldn’t get it out of
my head. Three blocks down the road, I could get a fresh Apple Fritter. I could even
walk there if I wanted to.
Since the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was not home, I had the freedom to
do whatever I wanted. When she left the other day, she said, “You behave yourself
while I’m gone. Do you hear me?”
Boy, did I hear her? I’m only thinking t whether she heard what she said. If I’m
going to behave myself, I will behave like myself. And one of the most important
things about myself is my adoration of Apple Fritters. When I have an Apple Fritter
in each hand, I behave myself better. I am more myself with an Apple Fritter than
anything else.
The more I thought about this, the more I knew I needed to get one of those Apple
Fritters or maybe even two.
After thinking about it, I decided to flip a coin to see what I should do. If the coin
is heads, I win; if it is tails, the Apple Fritter wins. Who can lose with that?
With great delight and anticipation, I got into my truck and drove down to Publix,
where I usually get my Apple Fritters. The problem was that everybody in that
public store knew my wife and her thoughts about Apple Fritters.
However, across the town, about 15 minutes away, is another public store that sells
Apple Fritters. The thing about this Publix is that nobody knows my wife.
That evening, I sat in my easy chair, leaned back, sipped some hot coffee, and
began nibbling on my Apple Fritters. As I was nibbling, I couldn’t help but think
how wonderful it is to get caught up in life’s projects and then celebrate with the
most amazing treat: the Apple Fritter.
I thought of one of my favorite Bible verses. “A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
It’s very difficult to find someone with a “merry heart.” There is so much pain and
stress in this world that a merry heart is absent. It doesn’t matter what’s on the
outside if my inside (heart) is focused on Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.
e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com
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
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