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Mountain View News Saturday, February 1, 2025

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-
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SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS*

Tracy Verhoeven, Beatrice DaRe, Catherine Adde, Hilda Pittman, Anne-
Marie Stockdale, Susan Henderson, Allie Attay, Ursula El-Tawansy, ladys 
Moser, Sylvia Lorhan, Ana Ptanski, Winifred Swanson , Janet Gillespie, 
Marian DeMars, Vickie Vernon, Mary Beth Knox, Sharon Lefler.

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


FALL RISK FOR SENIORS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE

Falls are a leading cause of injury among seniors, often leading to fractures, head trauma, and loss of 
independence. As we age, various factors increase the likelihood of a fall, making prevention critical 
for maintaining safety and quality of life.

Physical changes are a major contributor to fall risk. Weakened muscles, slower reflexes, and reduced 
balance are common as we age. Additionally, conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease 
can further impair mobility and coordination. Vision problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma, also 
make it harder to see potential hazards, increasing the risk of tripping.

Medications are another significant factor. Many common drugs, including those for blood pressure, 
anxiety, and sleep, can cause dizziness or drowsiness, making falls more likely. Regular check-ups 
with a doctor can help manage medications and monitor conditions that affect balance and mobility.

Environmental hazards in the home are a top concern. Cluttered hallways, loose rugs, poor lighting, 
and uneven flooring can all create tripping dangers. Installing grab bars in bathrooms, using non-
slip mats, and improving lighting can make a big difference in preventing falls. It’s also important to 
regularly remove obstacles that could cause trips and to keep walkways clear.

To reduce fall risk, seniors should engage in exercises that improve strength and balance, such as 
walking, tai chi, or strength training. Wearing proper footwear with good arch support and non-slip 
soles is essential. In some cases, using a cane or walker can help provide extra stability.

By taking these steps—both medical and environmental—families can help ensure their loved ones 
stay safe and independent as they age. Preventing falls is all about vigilance, small adjustments, and 
a commitment to maintaining health and safety.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

MY DAYS OF WONDER IN THE HOSPITAL

My plans for the New Year were horribly changed by ending up in 
the hospital.

Around the middle of the month, it seemed like I may have had the 
flu. After all, everybody around me had the flu, and I just wanted to fit in with society 
in general.

I had to cancel my Sunday ministry because of this which is something I do not 
like to do. But, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage said I had to do it to protect 
anybody who would come to the service and catch my flu.

Everybody around me seemed to have the flu, so I went along with her.

A certain incident happened on a Sunday afternoon. It was the first Sunday in a 
long time that I had not been at our Sunday morning ministry. I was in the bathroom, 
and on the floor of the bathroom was a little rug so that I wouldn’t get water 
all over the floor.

When I stepped on that rug, it slipped out from under me, and I went crashing to 
the floor. It was unexpected at the time. As I lay there on the floor, I could not, for 
some reason, get back up on my feet. I didn’t seem to have any strength.

With no other option, I had to call out to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
to come and help me. It took me several minutes to put that all together, and I had 
no other choice.

She came and was not able to help me get up, so she immediately called the ambulance, 
who came and helped me out of the bathroom and into my bed. But the 
situation was a little more than I understood, and so the Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage had the ambulance take me to the hospital for some examination.

That was the beginning of four days of wonderment. By that, I mean every day, I 
wondered if this would be the last day and if I would go home today. I had never 
wondered so much in my life.

The medical team assumed I probably had a heart attack, and so I was up for every 
examination known in the civilized world. I had so many needles plunged into my 
body that I began looking like a porcupine.

I went through one examination after another after another. They were trying to 
find out some evidence I had a heart attack. But, to my satisfaction, I did not have a 
heart attack. They did find out I probably had pneumonia.

Because I fell, I was not allowed to get out of bed without a nurse supervising. I had 
to go to the bathroom so many times, but I needed a nurse to help me get out of 
bed. If a nurse wasn’t there, a little motion light and siren went off if I stepped away 
from my bed.

In order to go to the bathroom, I had to call for the nurse to come and make sure I 
didn’t fall. Many times, the nurse wasn’t available at the time.

Every day, I asked if this was the day I was going to be released from the hospital. 
Much to my discouragement, the nurses all said that I would have to wait one more 
day. The next day, the same news came to me: I had to wait just one more day. Oh, 
just one more day.

I wanted to figure out how I could get out of here.

All of the nurses looked at me and said that I was not allowed to leave the room. I 
told them I wanted to sneak out, run away, and go home. All of the nurses looked 
at me and said, “I will never allow you to do that.”

As I lay in bed one afternoon, I thought of how I could escape this hospital room. 
Then, it oc-curred to me that if I could harass the nurses enough, they would get so 
perturbed that they would want to let me go immediately.

I worked on my little plan and tried to figure out ways to harass the nurses to make 
them want me to leave. However, the more I harassed them, the more they made 
sure they were not going to let me leave.

There are times in life when I wish I wasn’t so charming, and this was one of them. 
I wanted to be one of those patients the nurses wanted to get rid of quickly.

Every time I did something to harass the nurse, that nurse would always look at me 
and laugh out loud, and then, with both hands on her hips, would look at me and 
say, “That’s not going to work today.” Then, she would leave the room laughing.

I needed some plan to get out of the hospital, and I wondered day after day how can 
I accomplish that.

Laying on my hospital bed some scripture came to my mind.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, 
that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect 
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Either the stress in my life can frustrate me or, I can let it work for my good. I’m 
anxious to see the good that will come out of this frustration.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE A

HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR


Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you offer me any tips on choosing and using a home blood 
pressure monitor? I just found out I have high blood pressure and 
my doctor recommended I get a home monitor so I can keep tabs on it. Just Turned 63

Dear 63:

Everyone with high blood pressure (130/80 or higher) should have a home blood pressure monitor. Home 
monitoring can help you keep tabs on your blood pressure in a comfortable setting. Plus, if you’re taking 
medication it will make certain it’s working, and alert you to a health problem if it arises.

Here are some top-rated blood pressure monitors to consider along with some tips to help ensure you take 
an accurate reading.

Best Monitors

The most accurate and easiest to use home blood pressure monitors today are electric/battery powered 
automatic arm monitors, which are more reliable than wrist or fingertip monitors. With an automatic arm 
monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep and with the push of one button the cuff inflates and 
deflates automatically giving you your blood pressure reading on the display window in a matter of seconds.

Many automatic monitors also come with additional features such as irregular heartbeat detection that 
checks for arrhythmias and other abnormalities; a risk category indicator that tells you whether your blood 
pressure is in the high range; a data-averaging function that allows you to take multiple readings and get an 
overall average; multiple user memory that allows two or more users to save their readings; and downloadable 
memory that lets you transmit your data to your smartphone or computer. 

The top five automatic arm monitors as recommended by Consumer Reports for 2025 are the Omron Platinum 
BP5450 ($90), Omron 10 Series BP7450 ($70), Omron Evolv BP7000 ($70), A&D Medical UA767F 
($55), and Omron 3 Series BP7100 ($55). And the top wrist monitors are the Omron 7 Series BP6350 ($55) 
and the Equate (Walmart) 4500 Series ($40).

You can purchase these blood pressure monitors at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online and you 
don’t need a prescription to buy one. Prices, however, will vary slightly depending on where you buy.

How to Measure

After you buy your monitor, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office so they can check its accuracy 
and make sure you’re using it properly. Here are some additional steps to follow to ensure you get accurate 
measurements at home.

Be still: Don’t exercise, smoke or drink caffeinated 
drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes 
before measuring. Empty your bladder 
and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before 
measurements.

Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and 
supported (on a dining chair, rather than a 
sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and 
your legs should not be crossed. Your arm 
should be supported on a flat surface (such 
as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. 
Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed 
directly above the bend of the elbow. Check 
your monitor’s instructions for an illustration.

Don’t measure over cloths: Put the cuff directly 
on your bare skin. Putting it over clothes 
can raise your systolic (upper) number by up 
to 40 mmHg.

Measure at the same time: It’s important to 
take the readings at the same time each day, 
such as in the morning before taking medications, 
or evening before dinner.

Take multiple readings: Each time you measure, 
take at least two readings one minute 
apart and record the results.

For more information on high blood pressure 
numbers and how to accurately measure it at 
home, visit Heart.org/HBP.

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.

 
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