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Mountain Views-News SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2025

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JULY Birthdays*

Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Betty Hansen, Melinda Rogers , 
Christine Durfort, Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, 
Dorothy Montgomery, Bess Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Barbara Watson, 
Pat Alcorn, Karma Bell, Alice Clark, and Betty Dos Remedios, Bonnie 
Diener, Jan Greteman, Linda Heller

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


STAYING COOL AND SAFE: SUMMER TIPS FOR SENIORS


As summer temperatures rise, it’s important for seniors to take extra care to stay healthy and safe during 
the warmer months. High heat and humidity can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or even heat 
stroke—especially in older adults whose bodies don’t regulate temperature as efficiently.

One of the most important things seniors can do is stay hydrated. Aim for at least eight glasses of water 
a day, and avoid too much caffeine or alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Lightweight, light-colored 
clothing helps keep the body cool, while wide-brimmed hats provide protection from the sun.

Outdoor activities should be limited to mornings or evenings when temperatures are cooler. If you 
enjoy walking or gardening, try to avoid the peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Remember to 
use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Air conditioning is key during hot spells. If you don’t have it at home, visit local senior centers, libraries, 
or shopping malls during the hottest parts of the day. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and heat 
advisories.

Staying active is important, but on very hot days, consider indoor activities like puzzles, reading, or 
light exercises like chair yoga. Summer is also a great time to connect with friends and family, attend 
community events, or explore indoor hobbies.

Finally, always listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, weak, or nauseous, get to a cool place, hydrate, and 
rest. Don’t hesitate to call for medical help if needed.

With a little preparation and awareness, seniors can enjoy a safe and pleasant summer season.

HOW TO GET RELIEF FROM DRY EYES


Dear Savvy Senior

What kinds of treatments are available to 
combat dry eyes? Since I turned 55, my eyes 
have become increasingly dry and sensitive.

Blinking Brenda

Dear Brenda,

Dry eye is a very common problem that affects an estimated 16 million Americans. But you don’t have 
to just put up with it. There are lifestyle adjustments and multiple treatment options available to keep 
your eyes moist and healthy. Here’s what you should know.

Dry Eye Problems

Dry, red, burning, irritated eyes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the eye doctor, but 
discomfort isn’t the only problem of dry eyes. Light sensitivity and blurred or fluctuating vision are 
common problems too, and worse yet, dry eyes are more likely to get scratched or infected, which 
could damage your vision permanently.

The reason people get dry eyes are because they either don’t produce enough tears to keep their eyes 
properly lubricated, or because they produce poor quality tears.

In some cases, dry eyes can be triggered by medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, 
allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. It can also be brought on by age (tear 
production tends to diminish as we get older), eye conditions, eyelid problems, certain medications, 
environmental factors and even LASIK and cataract surgery. Dry eyes are also more common in women, 
especially after menopause. 

Lifestyle Adjustments

The first step experts recommend in dealing with dry eyes is to check your lifestyle and surroundings 
for factors that might be contributing to the problem and make these adjustments: 

Avoid blowing air: Keep your eyes away from air vents, hair dryers, oscillating and ceiling fans and 
consider buying a home humidifier.

Blink more: When you’re reading, watching television, or using a smartphone, tablet or computer, take 
frequent breaks because these activities cause you to blink less often. 

Avoid irritants: Avoid smoke-filled places and if you swim, wear goggles to cut down exposure to 
chemicals.

Use moisture chamber eyeglasses: These goggles/glasses wrap around the sides of your face to seal off 
your eyes from wind, dust and other drying irritants. These are available in many styles, and some in 
the Airshield collection from 7Eye.com can be made with prescription lenses.

Check your meds: Dozens of prescriptions and over the counter (OTC) drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, 
diuretics, beta-blockers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and Parkinson’s medications can 
all cause dry eyes. If you’re taking any of these, ask your doctor about alternatives.

Get more omega-3s: Studies show that eating more fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (or 
take a supplement) helps some people. 

Treatment Options

If adjusting your environment and habits doesn’t do the trick, there are a variety of OTC eye drops 
called artificial tears, along with moisturizing gels and ointments that may help your eyes feel better. If 
you experience a lot of burning, try another product or opt for a preservative-free formula. Or, if you 
have itchy dry eyes, you may get more relief from antihistamine eye drops, like olopatadine (Pataday) 
and ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor), or decongestant eye drops like naphazoline/glycerin (Clear Eyes).

If the lifestyle and OTC treatments don’t help, see an ophthalmologist. He or she can offer additional 
advice and may prescribe a medication. There are several FDA approved medications for dry eye like 
Restasis, Xiidra and Miebo.

If your dry eye is severe and does not improve, you doctor might recommend some office procedures 
like punctal plugs, thermal pulsation, meibomian gland expression, and intense pulsed light (IPL) 
therapy. These procedures target the underlying causes of dry eye, such as meibomian gland dysfunction 
or tear drainage issues.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, 
OK 73070.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

ONE MORE CANDLE ON ANOTHER CAKE

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were finishing our supper. 
If anyone can put together a marvelous supper, it is she. If anybody 
can eat a marvelous supper, it is me.As we were finishing, she 
looked over at me and said, "My dear, do you know what we will be 
celebrating next week?"

She caught me off guard because I had no idea what holiday was coming up. I'm 
not a holiday person. I don't mind celebrating holidays, but I can't keep up with 
them.

Rubbing my chin, I said, "Well, we just celebrated the 4th of July a week ago, so I'm 
not sure what that next holiday is."

"Oh, you silly boy," she said, laughing at me. "Just think for a while and maybe 
you'll come up with the right idea."

At my age, it's tough to think, even for a while. I had no idea what she was talking 
about, so I just inserted, "Is it one of our grandchildren's birthday?"

I couldn't think of anything else at the time. I know we have a bunch of children 
and grandchildren, and so I was suspecting that one of them was having a birthday. 
But, for the life of me, I couldn't tell her which one was having a birthday.

"No, no, no," she said, laughing at me. "None of our children or grandchildren are 
having birthdays rather, it is someone sitting here at our table."

"Oh," I said, "so you're having a birthday next week. How old are you going to be?"

"You're right about that," she said, "but somebody else is having a birthday next 
week. You have any idea who that might be?"

I thought for a moment, and then it finally hit me. "Do you mean I'm going to have 
a birthday next week?"

I looked at her and said, "But how is that possible? I just had a birthday not long 
ago." "That was 12 months ago now you're facing another birthday." She looked at 
me and laughed.

I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I was having another birthday. 
Why is it that birthdays come so fast the older you get?

When I was young, I could hardly wait for my birthday. When you're young, a 
birthday means a whole lot more than when you get older

.

I remember my 16th birthday; I was thrilled because I could now get my driver's 
license.

I looked back and thought of all my birthdays and what they meant to me. It wasn't 
until a few years ago I realized that having a birthday meant you were one year 
older. Getting older has many positive aspects, but it also has some less desirable 
aspects.

Two days after my birthday The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has her birthday. 
If my birthday was not two days before hers, I probably would never remember 
when her birthday was. Because she reminded me of my birthday by giving me 
a birthday card and gift, I remember her birthday was in two days.

I married the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage for many reasons. The best part 
of marrying her was that her birthday was two days after mine. That would enable 
me to keep up with my birthday.

One thing I have learned in my marriage is that women, especially wives, remember 
birthdays. She knows every birthday of every person on her side of the family, 
as well as all of our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. I don't know how she can 
remember all those birthdays, but she does, and that's a good thing.

With another candle on my birthday cake, I now celebrate the fact that I am older 
today than yesterday. That has some benefits associated with it. I just can't think 
of any.

The older I get, the less I can remember things. It's interesting; I can remember 
things that happened in my childhood, but who's to say they actually did? When 
you get old, you can do that sort of thing, and nobody is going to correct you. I 
make up my memories when I need to know them.

The best thing about my birthday being two days ahead of hers is that once my 
birthday is celebrated, I can then go out the next day and get a birthday card and 
present for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. If it were the other way around, 
she would never get a birthday present on time from me.

I have a hard time remembering my age.

I checked my driver's license to find out how old I am this year. I never thought 
I would reach 74 years of age. My father was 78 when he died. In September, my 
mother will turn 95. I may have inherited my father's age or my mother's age. Only 
time will tell.

Getting old is a blessing in many ways. One of the blessings is memory failure. 
There are some things that I don't want to remember, and at my age, I'm not able 
to.

At my age, I have discovered that the only important thing is today. Not yesterday 
or tomorrow, but today.

I was reminded of one of my favorite Bible verses. “This is the day which the Lord 
hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

I can’t change yesterday or predict tomorrow, but I can rejoice in Today.

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

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