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Mountain View News Saturday, December 14, 2024


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.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS*

Maria Decker, Nancy Dorn, Prudence Levine, Pat Karamitros, Joan 
Hufnagel, Mary Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, Helen Reese, Levon 
Yapoujian, Toni Buckner, Lottie Bugl, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, Eleanor 
Hensel, Sylvia Curl, Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher, Cindy Barran, Melissa 
Stute, Hanna Jungbauer, Sheila Woehler. 

 * 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

CHECKING ON AN AGING LOVED ONE: SIGNS THEY MAY NEED ASSISTED LIVING


As loved ones age, their independence is important, but it can pose challenges to their safety and well-being. 
Regular check-ins help ensure they’re thriving and identify when additional support, like assisted living, may 
be needed. Here are key steps and signs to watch for.

Start with a Conversation

Approach the topic sensitively with open-ended questions like:

• "How have you been feeling?"

• "Is anything harder to manage around the house?"

These questions can encourage honest responses.

Observe Their Living Environment

Look for signs daily tasks are overwhelming:

• Cleanliness: Is the home unusually cluttered?

• Maintenance: Are repairs neglected?

• Safety Hazards: Check for tripping risks, like loose rugs or poor lighting.

Assess Physical Health

Notice signs of declining health:

• Weight Changes: Sudden loss or gain may indicate eating issues.

• Mobility: Are they struggling with stairs or walking?

• Medications: Are prescriptions organized and taken properly?

Evaluate Emotional and Mental Well-being

Look for mood changes, isolation, or memory issues. Have they stopped socializing or forgotten im-portant

 tasks?

Monitor Daily Task Management

Check their ability to prepare meals, handle hygiene, and manage bills. Difficulty in these areas may signal 

the need for help.

Recognize When Assisted Living Is Needed

Assisted living might be necessary if your loved one:

• Forgets medications frequently.

• Experiences frequent falls.

• Struggles with personal care.

• Shows signs of depression or cognitive decline.

Present Assisted Living as a Positive Step

Highlight benefits like round-the-clock care, social engagement, and relief from household responsibil-ities.

Visit communities together to explore options.

By staying proactive and supportive, you can help ensure your loved one remains safe and healthy, whether 
living independently or transitioning to assisted living.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

A SURPRISED PRE-CHRISTMAS GIFT SPECIAL

BE WARY OF WINTER HEART ATTACKS

I enjoy everything about Christmas except that I'm not so fond of 
Christmas shopping. That is not something I enjoy. Compared to The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, who is the Queen of cash registers, 
I am not qualified to do shopping.

Mostly, I don't know how to get a present for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
because she has everything she needs. And for me to find out one thing that she 
needs for Christmas would be a miracle in and of itself.

Something happened this week that encouraged me in this line. I got a pre-Christmas 
gift that I was not expecting.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was using a paper cutter for her Christmas 
card work in my office. All of a sudden, I heard her groan in agony.

She walked out carrying a paper cutting board, and told me it broke while cutting 
some paper.

"I'm just going to throw it away and use another board."

"Wait a minute," I said, "maybe I can fix it for you?"

It took her a while to calm down from hilariously laughing at me. Then she said, 
"What, you fix something?" and continued laughing.

One of the levers popped out of its socket, and it was almost impossible to put it 
back in.

She handed it to me, walked away snickering, and I began looking at the little 
board, trying to figure out what I could do.

I thought about this for a while, thinking it would be an excellent opportunity to 
challenge that image of me. What would happen if I could fix this little cutting 
board and hand it back to her?

Looking at that cutting board, I didn't know where to start. You have to know 
where to start in order to fix something, and I needed to figure how to begin this 
project.

After fiddling with it for several minutes, I suddenly saw how it could be fixed. I 
was surprised at myself. But with a little twisting and turning, I could pop that lever 
back in where it belonged. When I did that, the board was back to normal. I’m not 
sure I was.

I was so happy I didn't know what to do, and I certainly didn't want to sing. But I 
called The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and said, "Oh, my dear. Would you 
please come in here for a moment?"

She showed up very quickly, and I handed the cutting board back to her and said, 
"I fixed it for you so now you can continue using it."

She looked at me, then at the board I had just handed her, and in a low tone, she 
said, "How in the world did you fix that?"

Getting an early Christmas present is a very wonderful thing. I could not have gotten 
a better one than this.

As I was musing over this great gift, I couldn’t help but think of the greatest gift in 
the world.

The verse that came to mind was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he 
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life.”

Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest gift coming into the world. During 
this illustrious celebration, I do not want to forgot what God’s gift has done for me. 
The gift from God is “everlasting life” that comes to those who believe in Him.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.
jamessnyderministries.com

Dear Savvy Senior:

I’ve heard that people with heart problems need to be extra careful during the winter months because 
heart attacks are much more common. What can you tell me about this?

AFib Alan

Dear Alan:

Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, 
but many don’t know that it’s also the prime season 
for heart attacks too, especially if you already 
have a heart condition or have suffered a previous 
heart attack. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

In the U.S., the risk of having a heart attack during the winter months is twice as high as it is during 
the summertime. Why? There are a number of factors, and they’re not all linked to cold weather. 
Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay 
extra attention to this winter.

Cold temperatures: When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to 
help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to go up and makes the heart work harder. 
Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase 
the risk for blood clots. So, stay warm this winter and when you do have to go outside, make 
sure you bundle up in layers with gloves and a hat, and place a scarf over your mouth and nose to 
warm up the air before you breathe it in.

Snow shoveling: Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days 
after a major snowstorm, usually a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous 
activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with cold temperatures 
and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, 
hire a kid from the neighborhood to do it for you, or use a snow blower. Or, if you must shovel, push 
rather than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm, and take frequent breaks.

New Year’s resolutions: Every Jan. 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part 
of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If you’re 
starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types 
and how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

Winter weight gain: People tend to eat and drink more and gain more weight during the holiday 
season and winter months, all of which are hard on the heart and risky for someone with heart disease. 
So, keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and avoid binging on fatty foods and alcohol.

Shorter days: Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop “seasonal affective 
disorder” or SAD, a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked 
at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from 
sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, consider taking a 
supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day.

Flu season: Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. It’s known 
that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead 
to heart attacks in vulnerable people. So, if you haven’t already done so this year, get a flu shot and 
Covid-19 booster for protection. And, if you’ve never been vaccinated for RSV or pneumococcal 
pneumonia, you should consider getting these vaccines too.

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.


Wistaria Thrift Shop 
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
@ So. Side of Sierra Madre Woman’s Club 
Opened in 1957: 67 Years of Service to Our Community 
SShhoopp && DDoonnaattiioonnss CClloosseedd 
SSaatt.. 1122//2211//2244 –– TThhuurrss.. 11//22//2255 
Wistaria Shop & its SMWC Volunteers 
Thank You for so Wholeheartedly 
Supporting Us This (& Past) Years 
With your Shopping & Donations. 
You are our “Bright Lights” Partners! 
Proceeds help support our SMWC Philanthropies & Scholarships 
DONATIONS ACCEPTED AS OF FRI., JAN 3 
Want to Volunteer With Us? 626-355-7739 
SierraMadreWomansClub.org 
SierraMadreWomansClub 
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