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Mountain View News Saturday, March 8, 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 


MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR SENIORS: 

 STAYING SAFE AND ORGANIZED

Managing medications can be a challenge for seniors, but proper oversight is crucial for maintaining 
health and preventing complications. With multiple prescriptions, varying dosages, and potential 
interac-tions, staying on top of medication regimens requires careful planning.

The Importance of Medication Management As individuals age, they often require medications for 
chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. However, improper use—
whether through missed doses, accidental overdoses, or harmful drug interactions—can lead to serious 
health risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medication-
related issues contribute to a significant number of emergency room visits among older adults each 
year.

Tips for Effective Medication Management

1. Use a Pill Organizer – A weekly or monthly pill organizer helps seniors keep track of their 
daily medications and prevents missed doses.

2. Set Reminders – Alarms, smartphone apps, or even written schedules can serve as helpful 
re-minders to take medications on time.

3. Keep an Updated Medication List – A comprehensive list, including dosages and purposes, 
should be maintained and shared with healthcare providers.

4. Understand Drug Interactions – Seniors should consult their doctors or pharmacists to ensure 
medications do not interact negatively with one another.

5. Review Medications Regularly – Periodic reviews with healthcare professionals can help 
elimi-nate unnecessary medications and adjust dosages as needed.

6. Proper Storage – Medications should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from children and 
pets, and properly disposed of when expired.

The Role of Caregivers and Family Caregivers and family members play a crucial role in assisting 
sen-iors with medication management. Regular check-ins, assisting with prescription refills, and 
monitoring side effects can significantly improve medication adherence and overall health outcomes.

By implementing these strategies, seniors and their caregivers can minimize risks and ensure medica-
tions are taken safely and effectively. Staying organized and informed is key to maintaining health 
and independence in later years.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

MAKE ROOM FOR LAUGHTER

After about two months in recovery mode, I had an opportunity to 
go to the neighborhood Publix. It's been a long time since I've been 
in a store, and I was happy to get out of the house and give The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage a break.

While walking around, I noticed everybody seemed very sad. It looked like everybody 
was worried about something and had no solution.

There is something about me that makes me want to bring a smile to someone 
who is sad. I'm not always successful, but at least I try. Walking around, I tried to 
think of what I could do to make somebody smile. 

Maybe I could do something to make at least one person smile. I might not have a 
good prank, but how do I know until I try? I approached an older couple pushing 
a cart and said, "Pardon me, do you know who I am?" They both looked at me a 
little confused and shook their heads. The woman said, "No, I don't know who you 
are." I smiled at them and replied, "That's great. I thought I was the only one who 
didn't know who I was. Thank you."

As I walked away, I heard them giggle and laugh. I heard the man say, "He sure was 
crazy." Then they laughed some more.

I was satisfied that I at least got someone to laugh. If you go through a whole day 
without laughing, you have wasted that day.

There are so many things that I laugh about that I rarely have a day or an hour 
in which I am not laughing at something or someone. I don't know how many 
people laugh at me, but I hope there are some. I also noticed the store staff seemed 
rather stressed. The store was overly crowded with customers, and particularly, the 
people at the checkout counter seemed rather stressed.

I got what I was shopping for, went up to the checkout counter, and stood in line 
for several minutes, waiting for those in front of me to get fully processed. As I was 
waiting there, I was trying to think of what I could do to brighten up that young 
lady behind the checkout counter, who seemed quite stressed.

Then, an idea came to me. I laughed as I thought of it, and I didn't know if it was 
a good joke, but you never know until you process it, and I was in the processing 
mood at the time.

I grinned as I waited in line, and finally, my turn came. I looked at the lady behind 
the register and said, "There was a lady in the back of the store that told me if I 
mentioned how nice you look today, you could give me a discount." Then I smiled, 
the biggest smile I had all day. Looking at me, she said, "What?" I knew she was 
under stress, so I repeated it to her and asked her what kind of discount I would 
get.

At first, she didn't know what to do and looked over her shoulder to see if anybody 
was watching her. Then she finally looked at me and said, "Sir, I’m new here and 
have never heard of that discount before, and I do not believe that I can do it for 
you today. I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding." Then, much to my surprise, she 
smiled. After all, that's all I wanted.

I thanked her for her service, smiled, and told her to have a great day.

As I walked out, I could hear some customers behind me giggling. They were 
talking, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. At least I got a couple of 
people to smile.

Driving home from the store, the traffic was rather congested. People were going 
home from work, and many were not very patient. There was a lot of horn blowing 
and some old guys screaming. I'm unsure how that solved their problem, but I 
guess they had no other option. They must have had a hard day at work.

I just smiled as they drove by, not knowing their story. Why can't people just learn 
how to smile? I looked at all of them as they went by and smiled as best I could.

A couple of drivers looked a little religious in my mind. I'm unsure what they were 
yelling at me, but one person pointed me to heaven. I smiled and was very appreciative. 
I nodded, affirming that I was planning to go to heaven. I noticed, though, 
that, being as religious as he was, he got his fingers mixed up and used the wrong 
finger to point to heaven.

Instead of being offended, I just smiled and even got to the point of laughing.

My day was successful because I made about five people laugh and several others 
smile. That makes for a great day.

I couldn’t help but think 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).

Laughter is the best medicine we could possibly have. And, we never run out of 
this medicine no matter our circumstances. My goal is to share my medicine with 
as many people as possible.

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 REPLACE IMPORTANT 
LOST DOCUMENTS

Dear Savvy Senior,

How do I go about replacing some important documents that were lost when our home of 50 years burned down? 
We lost everything including our house deed, car titles, old tax returns, Social Security and Medicare cards, birth 
certificates, marriage license and passports.

Suffering in SoCal

Dear Suffering,

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your home, but you’ll be pleased to know that replacing 
most of the lost documents you mentioned is pretty easy once you know where to turn. Here are 
the resources to help you get started.

Birth certificates: If you were born in the United States, contact the vital records office in the state 
where you were born (see CDC.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm for contact information). This office will 
give you specific instructions on what you need to do to order a certified copy and what it will cost 
you – usually between $10 and $30.

Car titles: Most states offer replacements through a local department of motor vehicles office. You’ll 
need to complete a replacement title application form and pay the application fee, which varies by 
state. You’ll also need to show ID and proof that you own the car, such as your vehicle registration 
or your license-plate number and VIN (vehicle identification number).

Property deed: To access your house deed, contact your county clerk’s office, where deeds are usually 
recorded. You may be charged a small fee to get a copy.

Marriage certificate: Contact the vital records office of the state you were married in to order a copy 
(see CDC.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm). You’ll need to provide full names for you and your spouse, 
the date of your wedding, and the city or town where the wedding was performed. Fees range from 
$10 to $30.

Social Security cards: In most states, you can request a replacement Social Security card online for 
free at SSA.gov/myaccount. When you get there, click on “Replace your Social Security Card” and 
answer a few questions to verify your identity.

Medicare cards: If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, you can replace a lost or damaged Medicare 
card by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227, or by logging into your MyMedicare.gov account, where 
you can print or request a new card to be mailed to you for free. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare 
Advantage Plan, such as an HMO, PPO, or PDP, you’ll need to call your plan to get your card replaced. 
And, if you get Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you can get a replacement card by calling 
877-772-5772.

Tax returns: To get copies of old tax returns start with your tax preparer, who usually keeps copies 
of your returns on file. You can also get copies of federal returns directly from the Internal Revenue 
Service. You’ll need to fill out and mail in IRS form 4506. To download this form IRS.gov/pub/irs-
pdf/f4506.pdf or call 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a copy. The cost is $30 for each return 
requested.

And to get copies of your state tax returns, contact your state’s department of revenue who will also 
require a request form. See TaxAdmin.org/fta-members for state contact information.

Passports: If your U.S. passports were valid, you’ll need to first report them as lost or stolen so they 
can be canceled. You can do this online at PPTform.state.gov or in person when you apply for a new 
passport at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility, which are located in many U.S. post offices. 
See iafdb.travel.state.gov to locate one near you. You’ll also need to submit Form DS-64 and Form 
DS-11. The replacement fee is $130 per passport.

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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