Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 15, 2015

THE GOOD LIFE Mountain Views News Saturday, August 15, 2015 
12 THE GOOD LIFE Mountain Views News Saturday, August 15, 2015 
12 
MOBILE SAFETY PRODUCTS THAT CAN 
HELP SENIORS ON THE GO 



Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any medical alert SOS buttons forseniors that work away from the home? I would liketo get one for my 80-year-old mother, but would liketo find one that’s not limited to the house. 
Shopping Son 

Dear Shopping,
There are actually a number of medical alertproducts on the market today that give seniors theflexibility to call for help both inside and outside thehome. 

For years, medical alert devices (also known as“personal emergency response systems” or PERS)
have been popular home safety products for elderlyseniors that live alone. These systems come with awearable SOS pendent button – usually a necklaceor wristband – and a base station that connects to 
the home phone line.

At the press of a button, your loved one could calland talk to a trained operator through the system’sbase station receiver, which works like a powerfulspeakerphone. The operator will find out what’swrong, and will notify family members, a neighbor,
friend or emergency services as needed.

But these devices are limited because they onlywork in and around the house. If you’re away fromhome and need help, you’re out of luck. But today,
there are numerous mobile products that workanywhere. Here are some top options. 

High-End DeviceIf you’re interested in getting your mom acomprehensive, high-end medical alert device thatworks everywhere, consider the Philips LifelineGoSafe system. It provides a necklace pendentbutton, which works like a two-way communicationdevice, allowing your mom to speak and listendirectly through the pedant.

If your mom were to fall or need help at home,
she could press the button and the home-basecommunicator system would be activated to makethe call to the response center, who would thendispatch help as needed. But if she fell or neededhelp away from home, the system’s AT&T wirelessnetwork would kick in and place the call.

This system also has six sophisticated locatingtechnologies so the response center would knowyour mom’s exact location, even where GPS signalsare weak. And it has fall detection sensors built into 
the pendent that can automatically summon help if 

a fall is detected and your mom is unable to pushthe button. 

The GoSafe is available at lifelinesys.com (or 855276-
7761) for $149, with monthly services fees thatstart at $55. 

Most Affordable Alert 
If the GoSafe is more than your mom needs, anotheroption that’s easier on the budget is the GreatCallSplash, which costs only $50, with a $35 activationfee and monthly service fees that starts at $20.

This pendent-style waterproof device, which fitsin the palm of your hand, works like a cell phonewith GPS tracking capabilities, and can be worn ona belt, around the neck or attached to a key chain.

To call for help, your mom would push onebutton, and an operator from the device’s 
emergency monitoring service would be on the lineto assist her, and because of the GPS technology, hergeneral location would be known. Or, for even morepeace of mind, there’s the Splash with fall detectioncapabilities (this option costs $35 per month, andthe pendent must be worn around the neck for it towork) that will automatically call for help when afall is detected. 

The Splash can be purchased at GreatCall.com(or 800-918-8543), or at Walmart, Sears, Best Buyand Rite Aid Pharmacy stores. 

Other OptionsIf you want some additional options to shop andcompare, there are other good companies thatoffer moderately priced mobile alerts, includingConsumer Cellular (consumercellular.com/ally);
Bay Alarm Medical (bayalarmmedical.com); 
MobileHelp (mobilehelp.com); Medical Alert 
(medicalalert.com); Life Alert (lifealert.com) andSafeGuardian (safeguardian.com). 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today showand author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 

KATIE Tse..........This and That 
TO *KEEP* A MOCKINGBIRD


Some people are “cat” 

people, and some people 

are “dog” people. And then 
there are the crazy “bird” people, which is thegroup to which my parents and I belong. Nearlyevery year they wind up taking in birds found bytheir friends, and after a week or so of feeding,
they release them into the backyard. This yearmy mom’s friend, Florence, brought her a pairof baby mockingbirds. (Yes, this is the sameFlorence referenced in many of my other articles.
She is a not only a source of endless laughs, butalso moonlights as 
a “wildlife support 

coordinator” --just 

window while 

kidding.) The 

we were eating 

mockingbirds were 

lunch. Talk about a 

progressing nicely, 

“peeping” tom! 

so my parents 

 Baby 2 was so

released them 

intent on my parents

into the backyard

feeding it that it 

after about a week. 

willingly reentered

Normally, that 

its cage, which 

would be the end of 

made its feeding 

the story.

sessions much 

 Not so this 

easier than when it 

time! On the day

was holed up in the

of the failed launch, 

bushes. For a while 

both mockingbirds 

it wasn’t looking 

(we’ll call them 

good for Baby 

Baby 1 and Baby 2)

2. Mockingbirds 
spent a good part of

are notoriously

the day dawdling in

delicate and often 

the oak tree by the

don’t make it when 

back porch. My 

being rehabilitated 

parents could hear 

by humans. Week 

them far into the 

three of captivity

night, but assumed

came and went, an 

they would adjust 

unheard of long stay

to outside life as 

for baby birds! Then 

easily as all theirpredecessors had. 
The next day Dad was working on a windowat the other end of the house, when Baby 2suddenly flew toward him and “landed” on thewindow screen! We were all impressed withBaby 2’s ability to navigate an unfamiliar areaand to recognize Dad from outside the house.
They kept Baby 2 for about another week andthen attempted to launch him into the wildagain.

 The second launching was similar to the first.
Baby 2 spent much of the day in the oak tree.
The next morning however, it actually landedon Dad and allowed Mom to feed it with an eyedropper. For a couple days Baby 2 hung aroundcloser and closer to the house, demanding to befed in low trees and bushes. The neighbors werevery considerate and never openly laughed at thesight of Mom stooping over shrubs or straddlingthe roof on a ladder when Baby 2 didn’t wantto move to a more convenient spot. FinallyBaby 2 got so desperately brazen that it landed,
chirping hungrily,
right outside the 

one day I came to

visit my parents and 
Baby 2 was gone. Thankfully the situation wasn’t 
what I thought.

 They told me that Baby 2 had been anxiouslyflapping around its cage that morning, andwhen they opened the door to the outside it tookoff like a shot! After a whopping four weeksBaby 2 finally matured and the last launch was a 
success. I guess three times the charm --at leastwith mockingbirds anyway. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 



HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … August Birthdays*

Bill Nelson, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss, 
John Luke, Jacquie Pergola, Maury Whitaker, Pat Miranda, Phyllis Chapman, Jerry 
Burnett, Margaret Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan 
Poulsen, Dorothy Quentmeyer, Genevieve Stubbs, Miep Tulleners, Ellie Baudino, 
Marcia Bent, Daryls Brechwald, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh and 

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


ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the 
Hart Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 

12:00 Noon 
(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.)
All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is 
a suggested donation of $2.00 for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily 
reservations are necessary as space is limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256 


TECH TALK: TECH TALK WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER WHEN OUR STUDENT 
VOLUNTEERS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL. 

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. 
Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula. 

BINGO: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people. 

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. 
is necessary. 

FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: Wednesday, August 19th from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

CHAIR YOGA: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of 
the month. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

BRAIN GAMES - NEW DATE AND TIME! 

Thursday, August 20th, 10:30am - 11:30am (Third Thursday of Each Month) Improve your memory 
and strengthen your brain with fun, hands-on activities. Each month brings new games and contests 
to facilitate brain stimulation. Bring your friends as you engage in friendly competition for prizes. 
Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, New Wave Home Care of Pasadena. For more information 
contact the Hart Park House office at 626-355-7394. 

CASE MANAGEMENT: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required and 
can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394. 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Every second Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House. The 
free birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

GAME DAY: Every Thursday starting at 12:00pm. (Please note the time change.) A regular group 
of seniors play poker. Other games available for use. 

FREE STRENGTH TRAINING CLASS: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa 
Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the 
class are provided. 

SENIOR CLUB: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00. 

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION 

Thursday, August 20th, 2015 beginning at 12:00pm 
Learn about French painter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. His immersion in the colorful and theatrical 
life of Paris in the late 19th century yielded a collection of exciting, elegant and provocative images 
of the modern and sometimes decadent life of those times. Tanya Mazzolini from The Kensington 
will give a talk on the painter while demonstrating a project in his style of art. If you would like to 
have lunch during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with the Senior Lunch Café at 626-3550256 
or you may bring your own. 


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS: 

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS 
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER (LOS ANGELES)


Date: August 12, 2015 Time: 9:30am to 5:00pm 
Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $28.00 (Does 
not include lunch) 
Description: The California Science Center in cooperation with the 
Israel Antiquities Authority is Proud to present the largest Dead Sea 
Scrolls exhibition ever mounted outside of Israel, featuring over 600 
ancient artifact on display. We will also see Jerusalem in the IMAX 
Theater. Through breathtaking aerial footage, eye-opening personal 
stories and remarkable historical perspective, Jerusalem takes views 
inside the heart of the ancient city in ways never seen before. Lunch will 
be on your own. There is Trimana-Grill, or Market and Coffee Bar at the 
Science Center for you to enjoy a meal or light snack during your visit. 

Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to register is Wednesday, 
August 5th. Level of Walking: High 

EXCURSION REFUND POLICY 

Notification of the cancellation must be made at least 3 business days before the excursion. 
A refund will only be issued 1) for a medical excuse or 2) if the Department is able to fill the 
patrons spot from a waiting list. This refund will be issued in the form of a credit which will be 
applied to the patron’s account with the City, less a $11 cancellation fee. The credit will remain 
on your account for one year from the date issued and the credit may be used for any program 
or service offered by the Community Services Dept. 

SENIOR CINEMA AT THE HART PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER 


August 5th - Whiplash (2014) -Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is anambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in pursuit of rising to the top of hiselite east coast music conservatory. Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an instructorknown for his terrifying teaching methods, discovers Andrew and transfers theaspiring drummer into the top jazz ensemble, forever changing the young man’slife But Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quicklyspirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher pusheshim to the brink of his ability and his sanity. Winner of3 Academy Awards, Start time: 1:00pm (run time 107minutes) 

August 19th – Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) - An American romantic 
comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, based on Trumancapote’s novel, this is the story of a young woman in New York City whomeets a young man when he moves into her apartment building. He is withan older woman who is very wealthy, but he wants to be a writer. She isworking as an expensive escort and searching for a rich, older man to marry.
This movie won two Academy Awards. Start time: 1:00pm (run time 115minutes) 


YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!
Call Patricia at 626-818-2698 Today!
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