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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