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Mountain View News Saturday, January 17, 2026


Free assistance placing seniors in assisted living or 
memory care communities

Seniors Embrace Exercise 
for Health and Longevity

As the global population ages, the importance 
of exercise for seniors has never been more evident. 
Research consistently shows that regular 
physical activity not only improves physical 
health but also enhances mental well-being, 
making it essential for older adults.

Local community centers have seen a surge in 
senior fitness programs, offering tailored classes 
such as yoga, tai chi, and water aerobics. 
These programs are designed to accommodate 
various fitness levels, promoting both strength 
and flexibility. "Exercise is crucial for maintaining 
mobility and independence," says Sarah 
Jenkins, a fitness instructor specializing in senior wellness. "It helps combat common issues like 
arthritis and balance problems."

The benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical. Studies indicate that engaging in regular 
activity can significantly reduce the risk of depression and anxiety in seniors. Many participants 
report improved mood and social connections through group classes. “I used to feel isolated after 
my husband passed away, but now I look forward to my weekly classes and the friends I've made,” 
shares Mary Thompson, a 72-year-old participant.

Healthcare professionals emphasize that even moderate exercise, such as walking or gardening, 
can lead to substantial health improvements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week for seniors, 
alongside muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days.

Communities are encouraged to support senior fitness initiatives, recognizing the profound impact 
of exercise on quality of life. Local governments are increasingly investing in accessible parks 
and recreational facilities to promote active lifestyles among older residents.

As more seniors prioritize their health through exercise, they are not only enhancing their longevity 
but also inspiring younger generations to adopt healthier habits. The message is clear: 
staying active is key to aging gracefully.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JANUARY BIRTHDAYS*

Gerald Day, Mary Tassop, Judy Webb-Martin, John Johnson, 
Mary Bickel, Marlene Enmark, Shirley Wolf, Ross Kellock, Ruth 
Wolter, Sandy Thistlewaite, Bobbi Rahmanian, Fran Syverson, 
Joy Painter, Judy Zaretzka and Becky Evans. * To add your name to 
this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required


OUT TO PASTOR

What It Was, Was a Coughing and 
Sneezing Contest

Dr. James L. Snyder

The New Year started rather nicely for us. After all the 
exciting holiday activities, it was nice to settle into a more 
relaxed frame of mind. We had a whole week before us 
with nothing really to do and no place to go. What could be better?

I like it when there’s not much to do, but The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage has a very opposite view. If she’s not doing something in her craft 
room, she can’t handle it.

However, some things have a way of changing.

Halfway through the first week of the New Year, The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage came down with flu-like symptoms. She was coughing, sneezing, 
and all that’s associated with the Flu.

She was sitting on the couch with her eyes closed, and as lunchtime approached, 
I said, “Would you like me to make lunch today?”

She always makes lunch, and I thought this was an opportunity to help 
her out with the lunch plan.

She opened her eyes, looked at me very strangely, and then said, “Heavens 
no. I’m sick enough as it is, I don’t need any more.” She then got up, went to the 
kitchen, and began making lunch. At least I tried to help.

By the time she finished lunch, I started coughing and sneezing. My nose 
was running so much that I couldn’t handle it. It was then that it occurred to 
me that whatever she had, she gave to me.

It wasn’t long before both of us were sick, and I couldn’t help but laugh at 
how our ‘Flu’ had turned us into a couple of couch potatoes. We were coughing, 
sneezing, and feeling miserable, but somehow, it made our start of the 
New Year memorable in a funny way.

I often wonder why they call it “Flu” when it never flies away. I want to say, 
“Whatever I had, it Flu away. But this Flu has a very exaggerated fascination 
with me. And of course, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

This went on for at least a week. For six days, I never got out of my pajamas. 
It was like I never got out of bed in the morning. I didn’t have the energy 
to put on my work clothes, so I just stayed in my pajamas.

The only work I was doing was walking into the living room, taking a cup 
of coffee, and sitting down in my easy chair. It took a lot of work to get here.

Not only did I not change out of my pajamas, but The Gracious Mistress 
of the Parsonage did the same. One thing was quite strange: she never left the 
house to go shopping. That was the real clue that she was sick.

We couldn’t handle much activity, but then The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage invented some game for us to play. She called it the “Cough and 
Sneeze Challenge.” I never heard of that before, but I was in for it. I had nothing 
else to do, and there was no way I could stop from coughing or sneezing.

It was rather strange that I sneezed three times. I couldn’t sneeze just once 
or even twice, but three times.

At the beginning, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was far ahead 
of me in her coughing and sneezing. After all, she got this flulike thing way 
before I did. But it did not take long for me to catch up with her.

We were sitting together in the living room, coughing and sneezing in 
turn. I would let her go first, and then I would follow not long after. I tried 
to be a gentleman about it, but pretty soon I was no longer in control of my 
coughing and sneezing.

She had a couple of hours ahead of me, but it wasn’t long before I caught 
up.

After my last coughing and sneezing fit, I looked at The Gracious Mistress 
of the Parsonage and said, “When will this game be over?”

She coughed and sneezed and then cleared her throat and said, “It will be 
over when one of us wins the contest.”

I really didn’t know what she was talking about or how to respond. It went 
on for five days, and each day seemed worse than the one before. We got up 
in the morning coughing and sneezing, and it continued throughout the day, 
and then we went to bed coughing and sneezing.

“I have an idea,” I said to her, “if I surrender and let you win can we then 
call it quits?”

HOW TO TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON 
TINNITUS

Dear Savvy Senior,

What treatments are recommended to 
help with tinnitus? I started noticing a 
subtle ringing in my ears about 10 years 
ago, but it’s gotten much more bothersome since I turned 60.

Ringing Ronnie

Dear Ronnie,

Tinnitus is actually one of the most common health conditions in the country. According to the 
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders around 10 percent of the 
U.S. adult population – over 25 million Americans – experience some form of tinnitus.

For most people tinnitus is merely annoying, but roughly 5 million people struggle with chronic 
tinnitus and 2 million find it debilitating.

While there’s no cure, there are a range of different strategies you can employ to reduce the symptoms 
to make it less bothersome. Here’s what you should know. 

What is Tinnitus? 

Tinnitus (pronounced TIN-a-tus or tin-NIGHT-us) is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, 
roaring, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present.

The sounds, which can vary in pitch and loudness, are usually worse when background noise is 
low, so you may be more aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep in a quiet room.

Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. 
The best way to find out what’s causing your tinnitus is to see an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist 
– a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases (commonly called an ENT). The 
various things that can cause tinnitus are:

Hearing loss, which is the most common cause.

Middle ear obstructions usually caused by a build-up of earwax deep in the ear canal.

Side effects of many different prescription and over-the-counter medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, 
certain blood pressure medicines and diuretics, some antidepressants, cancer medicines and 
antibiotics.

Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, allergies, 
thyroid problems, ear or sinus infections, Meniere’s disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, otosclerosis, 
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a tumor, an injury to the head or neck, traumatic 
brain injury, depression, stress and more.

 

Treatment Strategies

There are many ways to treat tinnitus depending on the cause. For example, if your tinnitus is 
caused by a wax build-up in your ears or a medical condition like high blood pressure or a thyroid 
problem, treating the problem may reduce or eliminate the noise.

Or, if you’re taking a medication that’s causing the problem, switching to a different drug or lowering 
the dosage may provide some relief. If you have hearing loss, getting a hearing aid can help 
mask your tinnitus by improving your ability to hear actual sounds.

Another strategy that can help suppress or mask the sound so it’s less bothersome is “sound therapy.” 
This can be as simple as a fan or white noise machine, or you can use sound therapy apps 
like ReSound Tinnitus Relief, myNoise or NatureSpace.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling can also be helpful, as can tinnitus 
retraining therapy (TNT). This combines counseling and sound therapy to train your brain to 
ignore the sound in your ears. The new MindEar app offers TNT.

There are even new innovations like the FDA approved device Lenire (lenire.com) that uses electrical 
stimulation of the tongue to alleviate symptoms.

There are also certain medications that may help. While there’s no FDA approved drugs specifically 
designed to treat tinnitus, some antianxiety drugs and antidepressants have been effective 
in relieving symptoms.

Your audiologist or ENT can help you figure out the best treatment options. 

Other things you can do to help quiet the noise is to avoid things that can aggravate the problem 
like fatty foods, salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tonic water, tobacco and caffeine. Also 
be sure to drink plenty of water as dehydration can worsen symptoms. And protect yourself from 
loud noises by wearing earplugs.

 

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