Mountain View News Saturday, October 10, 2026 
77SENIOR HAPPENINGS Mountain View News Saturday, October 10, 2026 
77SENIOR HAPPENINGS 
OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

I REALLY DO LISTEN, I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER 

At my age, people, particularly The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, believe

that I do not listen when people talk. Of course, some people aren't worth 

listening to. But I digress. 
When I'm around people, I don't have any problem talking with everybody and responding to everyconversation. My main goal is to make people laugh, and I'm pretty good at it, especially among myrelatives. Seriously, I’m not quite sure if some are laughing with me or at me. 

Some things I remember as if they were happening right now. I can remember some things thathappened years ago as if they were happening right now. But then, there are quite a few things that, no 
matter how far back I go, I don't remember. 

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has noticed this in my life. She thinks that when she's talkingto me, I am not listening. Often, she says, "Are you listening to me?" She says this several times, and Istare at her while nodding my head in the affirmative. Of course I’m listening; I just don’t know whento respond. 

Sometimes I get up and go to my office for my normal workday, and The Gracious Mistress of theParsonage comes to the door and says, "Are you ready?" 

I look at her as though I don't know what she's saying and respond, "Oh, yes, I'm ready to work for the 
rest of the day. Thanks for asking." 

She never accepts that and responds, "Do you remember what I told you the other day?" 

To me, that is a trick question because she tells me a lot of things every day; how am I going to remembersomething she told me several days ago? 

"No, my dear, I’m sorry, I don't remember what you told me the other day. What was it?" 

Looking at me with a grimace all over her face, she said, "I told you the other day that we were goingto go across town and have lunch with our friends. You agreed to that appointment at the time. Areyou ready now to go?" 

I rarely forget a dinner date, especially with friends. But sometimes I get so busy with everyday thingsthat I forget important things. So I smiled back at her and said, "I'm sorry, I'm ready to go now if you 
are." 

One question I get asked a lot from The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is, "Do you hear anythingI'm saying?" 

Of course I hear everything she's saying, but the problem is remembering what she said and when shesaid it. If I could remember everything she has said to me, my brain would explode. 

She often tells me that God gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. And I agree with her, butshe doesn't understand that just because I hear something doesn't mean I remember it the next day. 

It's not that I have memory failure. I can get behind the pulpit and sometimes preach without evenhaving notes. Sometimes I don't even refer to my notes as I preach. I don't forget my sermon because 
it's rather important to me. 

Over the years, I have memorized Scripture that I still remember to this day. 

So it's not my "listening"; it's my "remembering" that’s the issue. 

The one thing that I cannot remember has to do with birthdays. 

I always remember my wife's birthday because it is two days after my birthday, and I never forget mybirthday. But when it comes to our children and relatives, I have no idea whose birthday is on whatday. 

Sometimes at breakfast, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will clear her throat and then say, "Do 
you know whose birthday it is today?" 

There is absolutely no way that I can know whose birthday it is today or any other day, for that matter. 

When she asks me that question, I look at her very seriously and say, "I thought that was your job?" 
Then I smile at her, but she doesn't return it. 

Of course, she doesn't smile back but says, "You should remember our children's birthday as well as 
our grandchildren's birthday." 

I don't even know my siblings' birthdays. There are only two of them, but I cannot remember their 
birthdays. I was alive when they were born, but for the life of me I can't remember the day they were 
born. 

In The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage's craft room, one section is dedicated to birthday cards. She 
hasn't bought a birthday card in I don't know how long. But she makes birthday cards herself. To makethe birthday cards, she has to know whose birthday it is. 

When I'm having a conversation with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I hear everything shesays, and I can respond quite intelligently. I hear everything she says. However, give me two days, andI won't remember a word she just spoke. 

As I reminisced about all of this, I was reminded of a verse in the Bible that sorta settles some of it. 

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13). 

I have discovered that when I speak before I hear the whole sentence, I get it all wrong. I am still on thelearning curve with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! OCTOBER Birthdays* 


Gloria Schauer, Janda Ferris, Darlene Traxler, Margit Johnson, Sole Krieg,
Mary Jane Baker, Dixie Coutant, Jill Frank, Cathleen Cremins, Adie Marshall,
Susan Gallagher, Maggie Ellis, Gloria Giersbach, Ellen O’Leary, JennyPiangenti, Anita Thompson, Linda Boehm and Angela Stella *

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper 
at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 
HOME CARE VS. HOME HEALTH CARE: 
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? By Elaine K. Howley 

Support for aging in place can take a variety of forms, but there are two basic categories:
senior home care and senior home health care. 

Senior home care (nonmedical care)

What it is: This category involves help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such asdressing, bathing and eating, says Danielle Pierotti, vice president of health sciencesand chief nursing officer at Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota. 

These caregivers are not typically licensed to provide health care services, and thespecific training they receive varies from company to company. 

Who pays: The senior or their family typically pay out of pocket for this form of care. 

Services typically include: 

Light housekeeping, such as cleaning and laundry servicesMeal preparation or delivery and diet monitoringHelp with personal care tasksAssistance with shopping and other errandsCompanionship and social interactionTransportation 

Senior home health care (medical care)

What it is: This category of care, which can include both medical and personal care 
components, involves a licensed professional, such as a registered nurse or a physical 
therapist, and follows a physician's orders, Pierotti says. 

Who pays: Medicare or a private insurer usually covers these services, but you'll need 
to double-check your specific policy. And, Rees notes, “before coverage kicks in, yougenerally need to be seen face-to-face by a doctor to certify that you are in need of homehealth care services.” 

Services typically include: 

Skilled nursing care, such as wound dressing, IV therapy, health monitoring, paincontrol and other nursing duties 

Physical or occupational therapy 

Speech-language pathology services 

Injectable osteoporosis drugs for women 

Durable medical equipment and other medical supplies for home use 

In-home visits from the doctor or telemedicine checkups 

Medical social services, such as counseling and identifying community support and 
other resources 

Medication management or reminders 

For additional information go to:

https://health.usnews.com/home-care/articles/senior-home-care-aging-in-place 


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