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Mountain View News Saturday, December 6, 2025

THOUGHTFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS 
SENIORS CAN GIVE—WITHOUT 
BREAKING THE BUDGET

Christmas gift-giving can be joyful, but it can also 
feel overwhelming for seniors living on a fixed income. 
Thankfully, meaningful gifts don’t have to 
be expensive. With a little creativity, seniors can 
give heartfelt presents that friends and family will 
truly appreciate—without straining the budget.

Homemade gifts are always special, and many require 
only simple, low-cost materials. Seniors who 
enjoy crafting might knit small dishcloths, crochet 
ornaments, or create handmade greeting cards. 
These personalized items often become treasured 
keepsakes. Baking also makes a wonderful gift: a 
tin of cookies, a small loaf of banana bread, or a jar 
of homemade jam adds a warm, personal touch to 
holiday celebrations.

For seniors who prefer practical presents, small everyday 
items can still feel thoughtful. A pocket calendar, 
a pretty bookmark, or a set of inexpensive 
candles can be both useful and festive. Dollar stores 
and local markets often carry charming seasonal 
items perfect for stocking stuffers.

Memory-based gifts offer another meaningful option. 
Seniors can write short letters sharing favorite 
family stories, recipes, or life lessons. Compiling 
a small photo envelope or selecting a few printed 
snapshots for loved ones can spark joy and connection, 
especially for younger family members.

Experience gifts require little to no money and can be even more valuable. Offering an afternoon of 
help with childcare, sharing a favorite recipe during a cooking session, or promising a monthly phone 
call or coffee visit can create lasting memories. These “gifts of time” often mean more than anything 
wrapped under the tree.

For seniors, the true spirit of Christmas lies in thoughtfulness, not price tags. With simple materials, 
creativity, and a personal touch, they can give gifts that warm hearts—even on a modest budget.

 
Free assistance placing seniors in assisted living or 
memory care communities 
• Personalized recommendations based on your 
loved one’s needs and budget 
• Local network of communities vetted for quality 
and compassion 
• Guidance through every step of the process, 
including tours of communities 
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Serving seniors and families in Southern California 
📞📞📞📞📞📞📞📞 (626) 999-6913 
📧📧📧📧📧📧📧📧 Steve@SafePathForSeniors.com 
🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐 SafePathForSeniors.com 
SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! DECEMBER Birthdays*

Maria Decker, Nancy Dorn, Prudence Levine, Pat Karamitros, Joan 
Hufnagel, Mary Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, Helen Reese, Levon 
Yapoujian, Toni Buckner, Lottie Bugl, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, 
Eleanor Hensel, Sylvia Curl, Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher, Cindy 
Barran, Melissa Stute, Hanna Jungbauer, Sheila Woehler. 

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


BE WARY OF WINTER HEART ATTACKS

Dear Savvy Senior:

I’ve heard that people with heart problems need 
to be extra careful during the winter months 
because heart attacks are much more common. 
What can you tell me about this?

AFib Alan

Dear Alan:

Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but many don’t know that it’s also the prime season for 
heart attacks too, especially if you already have a heart condition or have suffered a previous heart 
attack. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

In the U.S., the risk of having a heart attack during the winter months is twice as high as it is during 
the summertime. Why? There are a number of factors, and they’re not all linked to cold weather. 
Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay 
extra attention to this winter.

Cold temperatures: When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to 
help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to go up and makes the heart work harder. 
Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase 
the risk for blood clots. So, stay warm this winter and when you do have to go outside, make sure 
you bundle up in layers with gloves and a hat, and place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm 
up the air before you breathe it in.

Snow shoveling: Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days 
after a major snowstorm, usually a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity 
that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with cold temperatures 
and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, hire a 
kid from the neighborhood to do it for you, or use a snow blower. Or, if you must shovel, push rather 
than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm, and take frequent breaks.

New Year’s resolutions: Every Jan. 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part 
of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If you’re 
starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types and 
how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

Winter weight gain: People tend to eat and drink more and gain more weight during the holiday season 
and winter months, all of which are hard on the heart and risky for someone with heart disease. 
So, keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and avoid binging on fatty foods and alcohol.

Shorter days: Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop “seasonal affective 
disorder” or SAD, a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked 
at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from 
sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, consider taking a 
supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day.

Flu season: Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. It’s known 
that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead 
to heart attacks in vulnerable people. So, if you haven’t already done so this year, get a flu shot and 
Covid-19 booster for protection. And, if you’ve never been vaccinated for RSV or pneumococcal 
pneumonia, you should consider getting these vaccines too.

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.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

A SURPRISED PRE-CHRISTMAS GIFT SPECIAL

I enjoy everything about Christmas except that I'm not so fond of 
Christmas shopping. That is not something I enjoy. Compared to 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, who is the Queen of cash registers, I am 
not qualified to do shopping.

Mostly, I don't know how to get a present for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
because she has everything she needs. And for me to find out one thing that she 
needs for Christmas would be a miracle in and of itself.

Something happened this week that encouraged me in this line. I got a pre-Christmas 
gift that I was not expecting.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was using a paper cutter for her Christmas 
card work in my office. All of a sudden, I heard her groan in agony.

She walked out carrying a paper cutting board, and told me it broke while cutting 
some paper.

"I'm just going to throw it away and use another board."

"Wait a minute," I said, "maybe I can fix it for you?"

It took her a while to calm down from hilariously laughing at me. Then she said, 
"What, you fix something?" and continued laughing.

One of the levers popped out of its socket, and it was almost impossible to put it 
back in.

She handed it to me, walked away snickering, and I began looking at the little 
board, trying to figure out what I could do.

I thought about this for a while, thinking it would be an excellent opportunity to 
challenge that image of me. What would happen if I could fix this little cutting 
board and hand it back to her?

Looking at that cutting board, I didn't know where to start. You have to know 
where to start in order to fix something, and I needed to figure how to begin this 
project.

After fiddling with it for several minutes, I suddenly saw how it could be fixed. I 
was surprised at myself. But with a little twisting and turning, I could pop that lever 
back in where it belonged. When I did that, the board was back to normal. I’m not 
sure I was.

I was so happy I didn't know what to do, and I certainly didn't want to sing. But I 
called The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and said, "Oh, my dear. Would you 
please come in here for a moment?"

She showed up very quickly, and I handed the cutting board back to her and said, 
"I fixed it for you so now you can continue using it."

She looked at me, then at the board I had just handed her, and in a low tone, she 
said, "How in the world did you fix that?"

Getting an early Christmas present is a very wonderful thing. I could not have gotten 
a better one than this.

As I was musing over this great gift, I couldn’t help but think of the greatest gift in 
the world.

The verse that came to mind was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he 
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life.”

Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest gift coming into the world. During 
this illustrious celebration, I do not want to forgot what God’s gift has done for me. 
The gift from God is “everlasting life” that comes to those who believe in Him.

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