Mountain View News Saturday, October 17, 2026 
77SENIOR HAPPENINGS Mountain View News Saturday, October 17, 2026 
77SENIOR HAPPENINGS 
THE POSITIVE APPROACH TO 
CARE: LEARNING FROM TEEPA 
SNOW WHEN CARING FOR 
SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA 

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be 
challenging, emotional, and exhausting. Asmemory fades and communication becomes 
more difficult, families often struggle to 
understand how to respond to changingbehaviors. Fortunately, there are techniques that 
can help make caregiving more compassionate 
and meaningful.
One valuable resource is Teepa Snow, a nationallyrecognized dementia care educator and thefounder of Positive Approach to Care (PAC). Herphilosophy focuses on understanding the personbehind the diagnosis rather than concentratingonly on what the person can no longer do.
The Positive Approach to Care encouragescaregivers to change the way they communicate,
interact, and respond to someone living with dementia. Instead of correcting a loved one or arguingwhen they remember something incorrectly, caregivers can learn to enter their world, acknowledge 
their feelings, and provide reassurance.
For example, if a loved one repeatedly asks to go home, explaining that they already live in a safe placemay not ease their anxiety. Instead, try asking what they miss about home or offering comfort andcompanionship. Often, the emotion behind the question matters more than the words themselves.
Teepa Snow also emphasizes the importance of body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, andapproaching someone from the front rather than startling them from behind. Giving a person timeto process information, using short and simple sentences, and offering one choice at a time can makeeveryday interactions less stressful.
Another important lesson is to preserve dignity and independence. Even when someone needsassistance, allowing them to participate in familiar activities can help maintain confidence and asense of purpose.
Families can learn many of these techniques for free on YouTube. Search for “Teepa Snow Positive 
Approach to Care” to find helpful demonstrations on communication, personal care, managingdifficult moments, and understanding dementia-related behaviors.
As someone who understands the challenges families face when a loved one needs additional care, Iencourage caregivers to seek education, support, and help when needed. You do not have to navigate 
this journey alone. 


Courtesy of Safe Path for Seniors LLC- Assisting families with their care journey- (626) 999-6913 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

DO I HAVE A LICENSE TO DRIVE MY WIFE 
CRAZY? 

In the news recently, there was a story about a man involved in an automobileaccident, which wasn’t his first time. I can’t remember how many accidents he wasinvolved in, but it turned out he never had a driver’s license. 

How can people get in a car, drive across town, and not have a driver’s license?
I couldn’t wait until I turned 16 to get my driver’s license. It was one of the most memorable days ofmy life. What a privilege it was to drive a car. 

But now I'm hearing about someone who never had a driver’s license, was driving a car, and wasinvolved in several accidents. How foolish can a person be? 

While watching the news story, a thought hit me. I’d never thought this before, and it was ratherinteresting. 

Since there’s a license for everything in the world, do I need to get a license to drive my wife crazy?
I must come clean and say that for the last 55 years I have been driving The Gracious Mistress of theParsonage crazy. I own up to it and take responsibility. 

The important issue that I had to work out was: where did I get my license to drive my wife crazy? Ithought a lot about this question because much of my life rests on it. 

After several days of pondering this query, I finally concluded I did get my license to drive The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage crazy. 

You might say, “Where did you get your license?” 

I got my license to drive The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage crazy 55 years ago, in a church, beforea minister I said, “I do.” That is all the license I need. 

I only wish I’d thought of this years ago, but I’m not going to waste my time regretting what I haven’tdone. Instead, I'm going to focus on driving her crazy. After all, I’ve had a lot of practice throughthe years developing this driving skill. I will not brag, but I believe that I have become a professionaldriver in this area. 

Although it took me a long time to figure all of this out, I’m not going to be wasting any more time inthe future. I know I have my license, so I am going to do as much driving as I can. I’m going to make 
good use of my license. 

I’m not sharing this information with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage because I want to getaway with as much as possible. 

My license has not expired, so it is legitimate. I love it when a plan comes together. I now need to getmy game in order and figure out how to drive her crazy. At least crazier than she is already. 

Now that I know I have this driver’s license, I can make the most of it. The one thing I need to becareful about is not letting her know I have a license to drive her crazy. 

Oh, this is going to be so much fun. 

This demands quite a bit of planning on my part. I certainly don’t want to get caught. 

I spent several hours looking back over the years, figuring out how I have driven her crazy in the past.
At the time, I didn’t know I was doing it. Now, I can do it and know that I am doing it. Does life getany better than that? 

One thing I need to consider is that when I am driving her crazy, I’m in the passenger seat. So, I needto be very careful in planning. I certainly don’t want anything to go wrong. After all, I’m going to havea lot of fun with this. 

Right after we were married, I taught her how to drive a car. She didn’t have a license when we got 
married, so I helped her learn to drive and then took her to get her driver's license. So I have experience 
along this line that I want to use for my personal fun. 

I need to organize my plans carefully around this. I don’t want her to know that I am the personbehind this “crazy.” If I can make it seem like it’s anybody else’s fault but mine, I’m going to get awaywith it. 

The one thing that really drives her crazy is a cockroach. They seem to be very plentiful around ourhouse. So, I like to get one and put it where she will notice it. And when she notices a cockroach, shegoes crazy trying to find a broom in the house to get rid of it. I’m going to make the brooms a littleharder to find, which will stretch out her “crazy.” 

That’s just one ingredient in my plan to drive her crazy. I’m just getting started; I have a lot more to do.
My plan was coming together, and I was anxious to get it rolling. 

Then I remembered a Bible verse. 
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews13:16). 

Looking at my plan, I asked myself a serious question. Will this plan of mine really please God?
Spontaneously driving my wife crazy is one thing, but deliberately planning to drive her crazy iscompletely different. God always comes first in my plans. 

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352216-
3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com. 

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, 
Jenny Piangenti, 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 
EXERCISE AS MEDICINE: HOW PHYSICAL 
ACTIVITY HELPS MANAGE CHRONIC DISEASE 

(HealthDay News) — Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high bloodpressure, arthritis and certain types of cancer are leading causes of disability and deathworldwide. Traditionally, these conditions have been managed through medication,
dietary changes and medical interventions. 

However, there is a growing recognition of the pivotal role that regular physical activityplays in both the prevention and management of chronic disease — a concept oftenreferred to as “exercise as medicine.” 

Physical activity exerts a multitude of beneficial effects on the body. For individualswith type 2 diabetes, exercise improves insulin sensitivity and helps control bloodglucose levels, reducing the risk for complications. 

Patients with cardiovascular disease who exercise benefit from improved heart function,
lowered blood pressure and reduced cholesterol levels. In those with arthritis, regularmovement helps maintain joint flexibility, reduce pain and improve overall mobility. 

Beyond disease-specific benefits, regular exercise combats systemic inflammation — akey driver in many chronic conditions. It also supports weight management, which isimportant as obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. Exercise alsoenhances mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety that oftenaccompany chronic illnesses. 

There are several reasons that exercise leads to these benefits. On a cellular level, physicalactivity improves mitochondrial function, your body's ability to process oxygen and 
convert substances from the foods you eat into energy. It also improves circulation andpromotes the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals that boost mood andreduce pain perception. 

Importantly, exercise prescriptions should be tailored to each individual’s needs,
abilities and medical history. For some, this may mean structured aerobic or resistancetraining, while for others, gentle activities like walking, swimming or yoga may bemore appropriate. Even small increases in daily movement can yield significant healthimprovements. 

Healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the importance of includingexercise guidance in treatment plans. Initiatives such as “Exercise is Medicine,” a globalmovement launched by the American College of Sports Medicine, encourage cliniciansto assess and promote physical activity as a standard part of care. 

Exercise is a powerful, accessible and cost-effective tool in the management of chronicdisease. By adopting physical activity as a cornerstone of therapy, individuals canimprove disease outcomes, enhance quality of life and reduce the need for medication.
In the modern era of medicine, exercise is not just an adjunct — it is a vital prescriptionfor long-term health and well-being. 

More information 
Find out more on exercise as medicine from the American College of Sports Medicine. 

BEST FRIENDS 

FABULOUS FOUR! 

No, we don’t expect you to adopt allfour (although it has been done). Justone or two would suffice. 

Mix n match! There’s the one girl,
Dottie, a real “girly girl” who lovesto be petted. Ollie is one of the boys.
playful and social. 

Then there’s Sammy, sweet and 
loving. 

Last but not least is Rocky, who is veryconfident and loves attention. These 
four are fully vetted and healthy. 

They are 2 years old, superset, andgreat with cats and people. 

Which ones will you choose? 


Apply to meet them at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/mindys-kittens.html, or use theqr code. 

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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 
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