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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 
Mountain View News Saturday, March 28, 2026 
OUT TO PASTOR 
A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 
RETIRING MY INSANITY 
SENIOR HAPPENINGS 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …MARCH BIRTHDAYS* 
Cathy Flammer, Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella 
Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, NancyFox, Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Sharon Murphy, Heather Sheets,
Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, Carol Cerrina, AmyPutnam 
* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 
626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 
WHERE TO GET HELP WITH MEDICARE 
DECISIONS 
THE COST OF ASSISTED LIVING 
The cost of assisted living in the San Gabriel 
Valley has risen significantly, and one of the 
most important factors families need to un-
derstand is how much location truly drives 
pricing. 
While some online sources suggest costs 
can start as low as $3,000 per month, this 
is rarely realistic in today’s market. In most 
San Gabriel Valley cities like Glendora and 
Arcadia, assisted living typically starts clos-
er to $4,500 per month—and that often re-
flects shared rooms or very minimal care. 
For a more typical situation, such as a private room with moderate assistance, families should expect 
costs between $5,000 and $7,000 per month. However, averages only tell part of the story. 
In higher-demand, more affluent areas like Pasadena and Sierra Madre, pricing is significantly high-
er. Many communities in these areas regularly exceed $10,000 per month, 
and it is very common for total monthly costs to surpass $12,000, espe-
cially when higher levels of care, memory care services, or premium ac-
commodations are involved. These real-world costs are often far above 
what published averages suggest. 
By comparison, families who are open to looking outside the immediate 
San Gabriel Valley—into areas like Riverside and surrounding Inland Em-
pire communities—can often find similar levels of care starting in the low-
to-mid $4,000 range. This difference is largely driven by lower real estate 
and operating costs. 
Beyond location, pricing is also influenced by the level of care needed,
including medication management, mobility assistance, and memory care, 
all of which can significantly increase monthly expenses.
It is also important to note that assisted living is primarily private pay, as 
Medicare does not cover these costs. 
Understanding these regional differences helps families set realistic expec-
tations and make informed decisions—balancing budget, care needs, and location when choosing 
the right community. 
After some months of 
intense reflection, I have 
come to the conclusion 
that it is time for myinsanity to retire. The 
evidence before me is so 
overwhelming that I'm not sure I have any 
other choice. And believe me, I have looked. 
Not that I haven't benefited from my in-
sanity. Looking back over my years, I can't 
help but notice how my insanity has been 
a positive thing in my life. I never would've 
thought this way before, but after consider-
able thinking, I believe this is so. 
Not too many people can see the positive 
side of insanity. However, in my reflection, Ihave discovered how effective it has been in 
my life and in my relationships. At the time,
I never would've thought so. 
For example, I may be discussing something 
with someone, a friend of mine, and theylook at me rather strangely and say, "Are 
you insane?" At the time, I was a little of-
fended by that remark. And I would reply,
"I am not insane and I am offended by you 
saying that." 
Reflecting on that situation, I can't help but 
agree with my friend that I was indeed in-
sane. But it helped me out of a little situation 
there and many more such situations. 
Being insane helps explain a lot of things in 
my life, especially my life as a husband. Of-
ten, I will be explaining something to The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She will 
look at me with one of "her looks", put both 
hands on her hips and say very dramatically,
"Are you insane?" The last time she said that 
to me, I replied, "Yes I am insane. Thanks for 
noticing." She just walked away, shaking her 
head. 
In retrospect, that explains a lot of things in 
my life that, at the time, I didn't understand 
what was going on. Now, because I have ac-
cepted my insanity, everything I do I can ex-
plain. That sure is satisfying. 
Another positive side to insanity is that you 
don't have to live up to the standards of ev-
erybody around you. All my friends believe 
they are perfect and expect me to live up to 
their standard. For years, I have tried to do 
that. I have discovered that there are no per-
fect roots in my life anywhere. 
Now that I understand the insanity aspect of 
my life, I no longer have to live up to other 
people's standards. I can relax and enjoy life 
as it is without fulfilling other people's ex-
pectations nor being intimidated by them. 
When I came to understand that my life took 
on a very positive attitude. 
Now that I have reached the point in life 
where I will be retiring my insanity, I need to 
make some changes. No longer will I accept 
my failures and go on with life. Now that the 
insanity element has been retired, I need to 
take more responsibility for my actions. That 
was not something I really understood when 
I began thinking about retiring my insanity. 
I know it's a good idea for me to retire myinsanity, but I sure am going to miss it. I 
can't remember the times when, at the end 
of the week, I sat in my easy chair drinking 
some coffee and reflecting on all the insane 
elements of my week. Those were wonderful 
reflections and really encouraged me. 
Perfection is now going to be a factor in my 
consideration. I don't know how I'm going to 
deal with that. Dealing with my insanity was 
a lot better than dealing with my perfection. 
However, I will give it a try. I'm waiting for 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage to 
one day look at me with both hands on her 
hips and say, "Are you perfect or what?" That 
certainly will be a turning point in my re-
tirement from insanity. She always noticed 
my insanity; now let's see if she notices my 
perfection. 
I must confess that I will allow my insanity 
occasionally to come out of retirement just 
for a moment. After all, life is hard without 
something to support it. At this point in mylife, being personally responsible for your 
activities and actions is a real hard deal. I 
never expected it to be this hard, but then, 
that's life. As I enter into this new phase of 
my life, I'm going to do it with a great deal of 
positivity. I will fail a lot, but it is failure that 
enables a person to work on their perfection. 
I know I will miss my insanity, but I'm go-
ing to have to get used to it. Life goes on, 
and I need to keep up. There will be some 
moments in my life when I will get a little 
confused, and without knowing it, my insan-
ity will reappear. There's little I can do about 
that. But, I plan to work on being more per-
fect than I was yesterday. 
Starting on my perfection journey I was re-
minded of an interesting verse of scripture.
Philippians 3:12 - “Not as though I had al-
ready attained, either were already perfect: 
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend 
that for which also I am apprehended of 
Christ Jesus.” 
I agree with Paul that I’ve not reached per-
fection, but I am striving after that perfect in 
Christ. I’m not influenced by other people’s 
standard, but only by God’s standards re-
flected in Christ. 
Dear Savvy Senior, 
I’ll be 65 in a few months and could sure use 
some help sorting through all the confusingMedicare options that are available to me. 
Where can I get help with my Medicare deci-
sions? --Baffled Bob 
Dear Bob,
With around 11,400 Baby Boomers turning 65 
every day in 2026, you’re asking a very timely 
question. 
Many people approaching Medicare are confused 
by all the choices available today. In addition to 
original Medicare (Part A and B) that has been 
around for more than 60 years, you also have the 
option of enrolling in a Part D prescription drug 
plan, and a supplemental (Medigap) policy – both 
of which are sold by private insurance companies. 
Another option is a Medicare Advantage plan. 
These plans, also offered by private insurers, bun-
dle hospital coverage, medical care, prescription 
drugs, and often extra benefits like vision, den-
tal, and hearing into one policy. Most operate as 
HMOs or PPOs and require you to receive care 
within a defined network of providers in your 
area. 
Medicare Advantage plans have also faced in-
creased scrutiny in recent years over prior-au-
thorization requirements that can delay or deny 
certain services. 
To help you determine which path makes the 
most sense for your situation, there are several 
reliable resources available, depending on how 
much assistance you need. 
Tools and Resources 
A good starting point is the “Medicare & You” 
handbook, which provides a clear overview of the 
program and your options. You can download 
a copy at medicare.gov/medicare-and-you, and 
you should receive a printed version in the mail 
about a month before your 65th birthday. 
The Medicare website also features a helpful 
“Find a Medicare Plan” tool at medicare.gov/
plan-compare that allows you to compare health 
plans, prescription drug coverage, and supple-
mental policies available in your area. If you pre-
fer to speak with someone directly, call Medicare 
at 800-633-4227, and a representative can walk 
you through your options over the phone. 
Another excellent free resource is your State 
Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), 
which provides unbiased Medicare counsel-
ing either in person or by phone. To locate 
your local SHIP office, visit shiphelp.org or call 
877-839-2675. 
You can also contact the Medicare Rights Center 
(medicarerights.org) at 800-333-4114 for help 
with specific questions. 
In addition, HealthMetrix Research publishes a 
free Cost Share Report at medicarenewswatch.
com that compares Medicare Advantage plans by 
area based on cost-sharing and health status. 
Get HelpIf you’d like more hands-on help, you can work 
with a Medicare insurance agent. 
Keep in mind that agents are paid commissions byinsurance companies, so it’s important to choose 
an independent agent who represents multiple 
insurers – not just one. That gives you access to a 
broader range of options. 
Also understand that commissions are typicallyhigher for Medicare Advantage plans than for 
Medigap and Part D policies used with Original 
Medicare. As a result, some agents may have a fi-
nancial incentive to recommend Advantage cov-
erage. That doesn’t mean the advice is wrong, but 
it’s wise to ask questions and understand all your 
choices before enrolling. 
You can search for licensed agents through nabip.
org, the website of the National Association of 
Benefits and Insurance Professionals. 
Taking the time now to compare your options 
carefully can help you avoid costly mistakes and 
give you confidence in the coverage you choose. 
Send your questions or comments to questions@
savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070.