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Mountain View News Saturday, February 8, 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-
6913 or visit www.safepathforseniors.com for free 
assistance.

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 


SENIOR HEALTH: THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING SLEEP APNEA

As we age, maintaining good health becomes even more critical. Many seniors focus on nutrition, 
exercise, and medical checkups but often overlook the impact of sleep disorders like sleep apnea 
on overall well-being. Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during 
sleep, is common among older adults and can contribute to serious health problems if left untreated.

1. The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Senior Health

Sleep apnea disrupts sleep patterns, leading to daytime fatigue, memory issues, and increased fall 
risk—all major concerns for seniors. More importantly, untreated sleep apnea is associated with 
high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, worsening existing health conditions.

2. Recognizing the Signs

Many seniors may not realize they have sleep apnea. Common symptoms include loud snoring, 
gasping for air during sleep, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Partners or caregivers 
often notice these signs before the individual does.

3. Treatment Options

The most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is using a CPAP (Continuous Positive 
Airway Pressure) machine, which keeps airways open during sleep. Other approaches include 
weight management, positional therapy, and avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bedtime.

4. Lifestyle Changes for Better Sleep and Health

• Maintain a Healthy Weight – Excess weight increases the risk of airway ob-struction.

• Exercise Regularly – Physical activity helps improve breathing patterns.

• Establish a Sleep Routine – Going to bed at the same time each night improves sleep quality.

• Monitor Blood Pressure – Sleep apnea and high blood pressure often go hand in hand.

By addressing sleep apnea, seniors can improve their overall health, reduce fatigue, and lower the 
risk of serious medical conditions. If you suspect sleep apnea, consult a doctor for proper diagnosis 
and treatment.


SERVICE DOGS CAN HELP SENIORS 
WITH DISABILITIES


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

Dear Savvy Senior,

What can you tell me about service dogs for seniors with disabilities? My 67-year-old father has chronic arthritis 
and Parkinson’s disease, and I’m wondering if an assistance dog could help make his life a little easier.

Dog Loving Leah

 Dear Leah,

For people with disabilities and even medical conditions, service dogs can be fantastic help, not to mention 
they provide great companionship and an invaluable sense of security. But be aware that service 
dogs can be very expensive to purchase and the waiting list to get one can be long. Here’s what you should 
know.

 While most people are familiar with guide dogs that help people who are blind or visually impaired, 
there are also a variety of assistance dogs trained to help people with physical disabilities, hearing loss 
and various medical conditions.

 Unlike most pets, assistance dogs are highly trained canine specialists – often Golden and Labrador 
Retrievers, and German Shepherds – that know approximately 40 to 50 commands, are amazingly well-
behaved and calm, and are permitted to go anywhere the public is allowed. Here’s a breakdown of the 
different types of assistance dogs and what they can help with.

 Service dogs: These dogs are specially trained to help people with physical disabilities due to multiple 
sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, chronic arthritis and many other disabling conditions. 
They help by performing tasks their owner cannot do or has trouble doing, like carrying or retrieving 
items, picking up dropped items, opening and closing doors, turning light switches on and off, helping 
with balance, assisting with household chores, barking to indicate that help is needed and more. 

 Service dogs can also be trained to help people with medical conditions like epilepsy or other seizure 
disorders, autism, diabetes, PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities.

Guide dogs: For the blind and visually impaired, guide dogs help their owner get around safely by 
avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs and steps, navigate shopping centers and buildings, find doors, 
seats, pedestrian crossing buttons and more.

 Hearing dogs: For those who are deaf or hearing impaired, hearing dogs can alert their owner to specific 
sounds such as ringing phones, doorbells, alarm clocks, microwave or oven timers, smoke alarms, 
approaching sirens, crying babies or when someone calls out their name.

 Finding a Dog

If your dad is interested in getting a service dog, contact some credible assistance dog training programs. 
To find them, use the Assistance Dogs International website (AssistanceDogsInternational.org) which 
provides a listing of around 80 accredited members and 25 candidate programs in North America.

 After you locate a few, you’ll need to either visit their website or call them to find out the types of training 
dogs they offer, the areas they serve, how long their waiting list is and what they charge. Most dog training 
programs charge anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 or more for a fully trained service dog, however, 
most programs can assist with fundraising or grant applications for those in need. None of that cost is 
covered by health insurance or Medicare.

 To get an assistance dog, your dad will need to show proof of his disability, which his physician can provide, 
and he’ll have to complete an application and go through an interview process. He will also need to 
go and stay at the training facility for a week or two so he can get familiar with his dog and get training 
on how to handle it.

 It’s also important to understand that assistance dogs are not for everybody. They require time, money, 
and care that your dad or some other friend or family member must be able and willing to provide.

 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.

A NEEDLE NAMED MISS OUCH

My father has been gone for 15 years. It hardly seems that long, but 
time goes by, and you can’t stop it.

One of my father’s “jokes” was, “Son, I’m so sick and tired of being 
sick and tired.” Then he would laugh, and I would, of course, join in with his laughter. 
Although I was laughing, I did not get the punch line. I may be getting a little 
closer to understanding that joke, but believe me, I’m not laughing.

In the hospital recently, I thought about my dad’s “joke.” And believe me, I was sick 
and tired of being sick and tired of the hospital. I think I was there for four days 
and four nights, but I can’t be too sure.

One thing I learned during my time in the hospital was how important nurses and 
the nursing staff are. Everything I needed was at their disposal, and all I had to do 
was ask—and sometimes, I didn’t even have to ask.

I had about six nurses in my room daily, including nursing staff and technical 
nurses. They were cheerful and encouraging, and I enjoyed getting to know them.

I was, however, very anxious to leave the hospital and go home. I didn’t have anything 
against the hospital staff; I just wanted to go home. I was sick and tired of 
being sick and tired in the hospital.

Every morning, I would ask one of the staff if I was going home today. It was the 
first thing on my mind when I woke up. Is today the day?

The staff always replied, “No, I don’t believe you’ll be going home today. Maybe 
tomorrow.”

Well, everybody knows that tomorrow never comes. And I was sorry to hang 
around in this atmosphere much longer.

Every day, I had nurses coming in with their favorite instrument, the needle, to 
give me my shots for the day. I’m not sure I counted right, but I think I had at least 
10 shots daily. Even now, my stomach is still black from all of the needles poked in 
my stomach. I’m not sure what the needles in the stomach were for, but they were 
there.

Pain is something that is not one of my friends. I don’t like pain. Those needles in 
the hands of those nurses created pain in this body of mine.

On the first day, when one of the nurses came in to give me my first needle shot, 
she said, “There’s no need to worry. This will not hurt in any way.” Then she smiled 
at me, a smile I’ll never forget until I’m in my coffin.

To this day, I do not know what she understood pain to be. But that very first 
needle shot in my stomach was painful, according to my definition of pain.

After I gasped most hurtful, the nurse said, “See, that didn’t hurt, did it?”

Since this nurse with the needle in hand was female, I responded to her as I would 
to my wife. I smiled and said, “I didn’t feel a thing.” She smiled back at me most 
wonderfully. That was just the beginning.

Every time the nurse came into my room, I froze in expectation of pain. I tried to 
hide behind a pseudo-smile so the nurse would think I wasn’t in pain.

After the third day of being stuck with needle after needle after needle, I leaned 
back in my bed and thought a lot about those needles. Then, a thought came to my 
mind. What that nurse held in her hand as she entered my room was “A Needle 
Named Miss Ouch.”

Every time I looked at Miss Ouch, my body froze in expectation of pain.

Those needles were causing me a lot of pain, and I wanted to do something to get 
rid of every needle in the hospital. It was those needles causing me pain.

Every time I got a needle shot in my stomach, the nurse always looked at me, 
smiled, and said, “This isn’t going to hurt.”

Of course, it’s not going to hurt her. Doesn’t she understand that the hurt is on my 
side of the needle, not hers?

As I was recovering from the last shot from Miss Ouch, I began to rethink this 
whole matter. Was it really that needle causing me pain? I thought about that for 
a while.

Then, my thinking went in the direction of the nurse. Would the needle pierce my 
stomach if it was not for the nurse? The pain is not a result of the needle but rather 
a result of the nurse. She is the source of my pain.

That caused me to think a little bit. Because the nurse was in control of the needle, 
it could be more or less painful, and I tried to make sure that it was going to be less 
painful. I tried to smile cheerfully at my nurse and not let her know I was in pain. 
I did not want to upset her because an upset nurse can cause more pain through 
the needle.

Resting in my bed a verse of scripture came to mind. James 1:2-3, “My brethren, 
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying 
of your faith worketh patience.”

With the needle came pain, but also, the medicine I need. Through pain comes my 
medical solution.

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


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