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Mountain View News Saturday, March 1, 2025

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! …MARCH BIRTHDAYS*

Cathy Flammer, Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella 
Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Nancy Fox, 
Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Sharon Murphy, Heather Sheets, Mercedes 
Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, Carol Cerrina, Amy Putnam, 
Michael Murphy and Sally Contreras turn 100 this month!

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


MANAGING ALLERGIES AND SPRINGTIME HEALTH: 
A GUIDE FOR SENIORS

As spring arrives, so do its many joys—blooming flowers, singing birds, and warmer temperatures. 
But for many seniors, this season also brings sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes due to seasonal 
allergies. With aging immune systems, older adults may ex-perience stronger reactions to allergens, 
making effective management essential for a comfortable and enjoyable spring.

Recognizing Allergy Triggers

The first step in managing allergies is identifying what causes symptoms. Pollen from trees, grasses, 
and flowers is a major culprit. Mold spores and dust mites can also ag-gravate symptoms. If you’re 
unsure about your specific triggers, an allergy test can help pinpoint them, allowing for a more targeted 
approach to prevention and treatment.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens

Seniors can take several steps to minimize exposure:

• Stay indoors on days with high pollen counts, especially in the morning and on windy days.

• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent pollen from entering the home.

• Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce indoor allergens.

• Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors to remove lingering pollen.

• Wear sunglasses and hats when outside to keep allergens away from the eyes and face.

Medications and Treatment Options

For many seniors, over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays provide relief. 
However, some medications may interact with existing prescriptions, so it’s best to consult a doctor 
before starting any new treatment. If symptoms persist, a doctor may recommend stronger treatments, 
including allergy shots (immunotherapy), which can provide long-term relief.

Strengthening the Immune System

A strong immune system can help lessen allergy symptoms. Seniors should focus on maintaining a 
healthy diet rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Staying hydrated, engaging in 
light exercise, and managing stress through relaxation techniques can also improve overall health 
and make allergy season more managea-le.

Conclusion

Spring allergies don’t have to put a damper on the season. By taking preventive steps, consulting with 
healthcare providers, and prioritizing overall wellness, seniors can breathe easier and fully enjoy the 
beauty of spring. A little planning goes a long way in ensuring a happy and healthy season ahead.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

HOW COFFEE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE

Recently, I was sitting drinking a nice hot cup of coffee. It's the first 
thing I do, and I can't get an-ything done until I do. I was thinking 
about this coffee as I was drinking it and remembered there was a 
time when I did not like coffee at all.

When I was young, my parents made coffee in the morning, and it was the worst 
coffee you could ever drink. I tried it and could not get beyond the first sip. I tried 
it with cream and sugar, black, cream, and sugar, but none of those ingredients enabled 
me to drink any of that coffee.

I couldn't understand why my parents drank that coffee in the morning. It didn't 
make sense to me, but then a lot of things my parents did, made no sense at the 
time.

My father had to have a cup of coffee just before he left for work. He also took a 
thermos of coffee to work. It never made sense to me.

It wasn't until many years later that I realized why that coffee was so terrible.

After graduating high school, I went to a Bible college where I met the future Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage. My life changed in so many ways that it would take 
a series of books to ex-plain them all.

The one thing that really changed my life had to do with coffee. Up until this point 
in my life, I never drank coffee. When I went out with friends to a restaurant, I was 
the only one who did not order coffee. I didn't notice until we were married that 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was highly ad-dicted to coffee. I don't know 
how I missed that before we married, but I did.

After we were married, one of the first things she bought was a coffee maker. That 
was the first time I really saw a genuine coffee maker. Every morning, the Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage would make coffee. The smell of that coffee filled the little 
apartment we lived in then. It was an aroma I had never smelled before, and I just 
couldn't quite place it.

On our first morning in our apartment, she said, "How do you like your coffee?"

I looked at her, smiled and replied, "I like my coffee in the coffee pot." She didn't 
understand what I was saying, but she let it go.

Several weeks later, I began to think through this coffee business. What puzzled 
me was why her coffee smelled so much better than I remember my parent’s coffee.

I didn't address it because it wasn't necessary. But as the days and weeks went by, I 
soon be-came addicted to the aroma of that fresh coffee in the morning. I tried to 
figure out what the dif-ference was between her coffee and my parent's coffee.

One morning, as she made her coffee, she said, "Why don't you try some of my coffee 
this morning? I think you just might like it."

It took me several weeks to accept her invitation, but I finally agreed to have a cup 
of coffee.

"Do you want cream and sugar in your coffee?" I agreed, so she fixed my coffee and 
brought it to me. I smelled the coffee, which smelled so wonderful that I couldn't 
believe it was coffee. After look-ing at the coffee for a while, the Gracious Mistress 
of the Parsonage said, "Are you going to taste it or not?"

Looking at her and smiling, I nodded and took my first sip of real coffee. It was 
the most wonder-ful sip I've ever had. I responded, "This is wonderful." "See," she 
replied, "I knew you would like it."

It didn't take long for me to drink that first cup of genuine coffee. My wife offered 
to get me an-other cup of coffee, and I did not stop her.

When she brought the coffee back, I looked at her and said, "Why is this coffee so 
much better than the coffee my parents made?"

"I'm not sure," she replied, "maybe your parents were making instant coffee. There's 
a great difference between instant coffee and real coffee."

I looked at her for a while and remembered those days when I lived at home. When 
my parents got up early in the morning, my mother would heat water on the stove, 
put instant coffee in both their cups, and then pour the hot water into each cup. I 
did not realize at the time that they were not drinking real coffee. I started giggling, 
and my wife said, "What are you giggling about?"

With a huge smile on my face, I looked at her, raised my coffee cup, and said, "This, 
my dear, is the real thing." From then on, I have enjoyed many cups of real coffee 
daily. It has wonderfully changed my life.

Thinking on this I was reminded of a scripture, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which 
believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye 
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Many misquote this verse. But to know God’s word is to know the truth which will 
set you free from all hypocrisy. I want the real truth not some artificial truth.

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


WHEN TO WORRY ABOUT 
YOUR MEMORY

Dear Savvy Senior,

At age 70, I’ve become more and more forgetful lately and am concerned it may be an early sign of 
dementia. Are there any memory screening tools or services that you can recommend to help me 
gage my problem, without going to a neurologist? Forgetful Frank

Dear Frank,

Many older adults, like yourself, worry about memory lapses as they get older fearing it may be the 
first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness 
of your problem, here are some tips and resources you can turn to. 

Warning Signs

As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as forgetting names or misplacing items from 
time to time – are associated with normal aging. But the symptoms of dementia are much more than 
simple memory lapses.

While symptoms can vary greatly, people with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, 
keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering 
appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood.

To help you recognize the difference between typical age-related memory loss and a more serious 
problem, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10 warning signs that you can assess at 
10signs.org.

They also provide information including the signs and symptoms on other conditions that can cause 
dementia like vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, 
Huntington’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and others – see ALZ.org/dementia.

Memory Screening

A great resource and first step to help you get a handle on your memory problem is the Alzheimer’s 
Foundation of America, which offers a National Memory Screening Program. This is a free, confidential, 
face-to-face memory screening done virtually in real-time that takes about 10 to 15 minutes 
to complete and consists of questions and/or tasks to evaluate your memory status. Once the screening 
is complete, the screener will review the results with you.

Available to everyone, these memory screenings are done daily Monday through Friday, and are 
given by doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers or other healthcare professionals 
across the country.

A smart phone, computer, tablet or any other device with a webcam and Internet capability is all 
that’s needed. Appointments can be requested online at ALZFDN.org/memory-screening or by calling 
866-232-8484.

It’s also important to know that this screening is not a diagnosis of any particular condition but can 
indicate whether you should see your doctor for more extensive assessment.

See Your Doctor

If you find that you need further evaluation, make an appointment with your primary care doctor 
for a cognitive checkup and medical examination. Depending on what’s found, you may be 
referred to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or 
Alzheimer’s disease.

Keep in mind that even if you are experiencing some memory problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean 
you have dementia. Many memory problems are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, 
thyroid disease, side effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies and other medical 
conditions. And by treating these conditions he can reduce or eliminate the problem.

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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