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Mountain View News Saturday, September 20, 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! SEPTEMBER Birthdays*

Clem Bartolai, Pat Hall, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy 
Gunther, Ellen Hoffman, Tom Hoffman, Esther Macias, Sheila 
Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Patti O’Meara, Judie Cimino, 
Mary Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, Denise Reistetter and 
Nehama Warner, Virginia Mullaney, Gwen Robertson

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


FALL SAFETY AND WELLNESS TIPS FOR SENIORS


As autumn arrives with its crisp air and colorful leaves, 
it’s the perfect time for seniors to enjoy the season’s 
beauty. However, the fall months also come with unique 
challenges, from safety hazards to seasonal health concerns. 
By taking simple precautions, seniors can make 
the most of this cozy time of year while staying safe and 
healthy.

1. Preventing Falls and Accidents

Slips and falls are a common risk in fall, especially with 
wet leaves, frost, and uneven paths. To stay safe, clear 
walkways regularly, wear slip-resistant shoes, and ensure 
outdoor areas are well-lit as the days grow shorter.

2. Staying Warm at Home

With temperatures dropping, keeping the home comfortable 
is key. Check heating systems before the chill 
sets in, and make sure windows and doors are properly 
sealed to prevent drafts. Layering clothing and using 
warm blankets can help maintain body temperature indoors.

3. Eating Seasonal, Nutritious Foods

Fall offers an abundance of nutritious produce like squash, apples, and sweet potatoes, which are rich in vitamins 
and fiber. These foods support immunity, an essential consideration as cold and flu season begins. Remember to 
stay hydrated, even as temperatures cool.

4. Staying Active

Though it’s easy to slow down during fall, staying active is important for seniors. Enjoy gentle activities like walking 
or yoga, which can be done indoors or outside. Even light stretching can help prevent stiffness and improve 
balance.

5. Mental Wellness

As daylight hours shorten, seniors may experience seasonal depression or loneliness. Stay connected with 
friends and family through calls or social events, and take time for mindfulness or journaling to boost emotional 
well-being.

With these simple steps, fall can be a season of comfort, safety, and health for seniors.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

PEEK-A-BOO, I SEE YOU

WHAT SENIORS NEED 
TO KNOW ABOUT THIS 
FALL'S VACCINES

(As of 9/19/2025 9:00pm)


One of the most valuable gifts in life is the ability to see. I cannot 
imagine a day I cannot see.

I was having some trouble with my eyes about four years ago, and 
I had to go to my eye doctor and have cataracts removed from both my eyes. 
Before I had the surgery, I was really having a hard time seeing things. It wasn't 
easy to read or work on my computer. After the cataract surgery, I was blessed 
to be able to see very clearly. What a blessing.

Seeing clearly can also be a curse, especially in the mirror in my bathroom. If 
only you could look in my bathroom mirror and see what I see, you would go 
crazy. I know I have.

Before the cataract surgery, I looked in my mirror and I could hardly see anything. 
After the cataract surgery, I looked in my mirror, and oh boy, what I saw 
was horrific.

That was about four years ago, and several months ago, I started having some 
difficulty seeing. I have these things called floaters, which have scared me on 
several occasions, especially when driving.

I was watching television with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, and I 
started swatting. Looking at me, she said, "What are you doing over there?"

"I'm swatting these bugs flying around my head." Staring at me for a few moments, 
she finally responded, "Don't you know there are no bugs flying around 
your head?"

If anybody knows anything, it is The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I was 
swatting at things that didn't even exist. About four months ago, my right eye 
seemed foggy. That fog seemed to get thicker each day. Finally, I had to go to the 
eye doctor, and he diagnosed what I had and scheduled me for surgery on that 
eye.

Leading up to that surgery, I was having some difficult times. Especially at night, 
it was challenging to drive because I couldn't see much out of my right side. I was 
also having a hard time working on my computer and reading books.

The only benefit I had was in the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, everything 
was so foggy I couldn't really see anything clearly. That in itself was 
a blessing. Looking in my mirror and not seeing my face clearly was a happy 
beginning to my day.

When The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would ask my opinion about 
some work she was doing, I could only smile and say, "My dear, I really cannot 
see very clearly so I'm not sure what you have in your hand."

During those foggy times, there was a blessing really attached to it. I can walk 
around and not see anything that was around me. I could go to a store, walk 
around, and not see anybody I recognized.

I was going to enjoy those foggy moments as long as possible. Yes, there are moments 
of agitation when I couldn't actually read something, but those were few 
and far between.

I was going to milk those foggy days as much as possible. Enjoy something while 
you have it be-cause there will come a time when you don't have it. I knew in 
two weeks, all of that fogginess would disappear. Then, I would really begin to 
see things.

The only area I was concerned about was going into the bathroom and looking 
in the bathroom mirror. I have asked The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
100 times if I could remove my mirror in my bathroom. She would shake her 
head, laugh, and walk away.

The only difficulty I didn’t have was being able to hear. I may not see very clearly, 
but unfortu-nately, I can hear. Trying to make an excuse for not hearing her, I 
said, "My dear, I don't see what you're saying." I hid a little chuckle under my 
breath when I said that. 

Looking at me, she said rather sternly, "It's not your eyes I'm concerned about 
it's your ears."

I tried to get away with it, but being who she is, The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage is very hard to trick. Not that I haven't tried, I just haven't succeeded.

I went to the eye doctor, had my eye fixed, and I can see very clearly now.

It's amazing what those doctors can do. I walked out of the doctor's office being 
able to see as clearly as I've ever seen before. My sight is now back to normal.

As The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage drove me home from the eye doctor, 
she said rather cheerfully, "It's great that you got your sight back, and now you 
can see everything. Are you happy about that?"

I told her I was happy to see very clearly. Then I told her, "There's only one more 
thing that needs to be fixed. That is the mirror in my bathroom. Can you do 
something about that?"

The look she gave me revealed that it wasn't going to happen; I didn't have to 
hear it. I knew it from past experiences. Later on, I thought of a Bible verse that 
explains this. Proverbs 20:12, “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath 
made even both of them.”

God has enabled me to hear and see, and the combination is a great gift to our 
lives. Each day, I must appreciate this amazing gift.

Dear Savvy Senior,

With a longtime vaccine critic leading the nation’s health departments, can you give me updated information on 
which vaccines are recommended for Medicare seniors this fall? Medicare Mary 

Dear Mary,

Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undergoing major cultural changes and 
upheaval, the overall fall vaccine recommendations for “older adults” resembles last year, with exception of the 
Covid shot. Here’s what you should know. 

Flu Shots for Seniors

Just as they normally do, the CDC recommends a seasonal flu shot to everyone 6 months of age and older, but 
it’s especially important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing 
dangerous flu complications compared with younger, healthy adults. 

For people age 65 and older, there are three different FDA approved flu vaccines (you only need one) that are recommended 
over traditional flu shots. These include: the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent 
(recombinant, egg free vaccine), and Fluad Quadrivalent. 

These vaccines are formulated to create a more robust immune response, helping the body pro-duce more antibodies, 
which makes them more effective in preventing the flu. 

All flu vaccines are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy 
agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. 

RSV Shots 

In addition to the flu shot, the CDC also recommends a single-dose of RSV (respiratory syncyti-al virus) vaccine 
for all adults age 75 and older, as well as to high-risk adults between ages 50 and 74. These are people who have 
chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, di-abetes with complications, severe obesity, or who 
live in long-term care facilities.

RSV is responsible for 6,000 to 10,000 deaths and up to 150,000 hospitalizations each year. 

The three RSV vaccines approved and available in the U.S. – Arexvy, Abrysvo and mResvia – are all covered 
under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. But note that if you got an RSV shot last year, or when it first 
became available in 2023, you do not need to get a second dose this year. For now, only one dose of RSV vaccine 
is recommended.

Covid Booster

If you haven’t had a Covid booster shot lately, the Food and Drug Administration recently ap-proved the 2025–
2026 Covid‑19 vaccine, which has been updated to target the dominant strain.

This vaccine has been recommended for all adults 65 and older and younger people that have a health condition 
that makes them vulnerable to severe Covid. But the new, CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices 
just announced that they are no longer recommending Covid shots. Instead, they are recommending 65 and older 
adults and immunocompromised younger people should decide individually or with a doctor.

Covid still causes at least 40,000 hospitalizations and approximately 47,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Covid 
shots are covered by Medicare Part B.

Pneumonia Vaccines

If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococ-cal vaccine this 
fall. These vaccines are now recommended by the CDC to adults age 50 and old-er, instead of age 65, which was 
the previous recommendation.

Pneumonia causes a whopping 1.2 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. each year 
and causes roughly 50,000 deaths.

If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the PCV20 (Prevnar 20) or PCV21 (Capvaxive) are the top choices 
because they cover the most common serotypes. 

Medicare Part B covers pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once.

Side-Effects and Safety

You should be aware that all these vaccines can cause mild side effects like pain or tenderness where you got the 
shot, muscle aches, headache, fever or fatigue. 

Also note that it’s safe to receive these vaccines at the same time, but it may be best to spread them out a week or 
two because multiple vaccinations on the same day may cause increased side-effects.

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


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