Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, March 25, 2017

THE GOOD LIFE

10

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 25, 2017 

ESCORT SERVICES THAT CAN HELP SENIORS WITH 
THE RIGORS OF TRAVEL

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …March Birthdays*

Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, 
Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, Martha Cassara, Rita 
Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, Carol Cerrina, Amy 
Putnam, Sally Contreras 

* 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

 

 

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m. to 
11a.m. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula. 

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to join. 
May be canceled if less than five people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11a.m. to 12p.m. No appt. is necessary. 

Brain Games: Thursdays, 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m., improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Senior Volunteers.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesdays from 10:30a.m. to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is 
available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury. 
Appointments are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Senior Club: Meets every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 
11:30a.m. 

Tax Assistance: Every Wednesday beginning on February 1st through April 12th from 1:00p.m. 
to 2:00p.m. - Don Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required by 
calling 626-355-7394.

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. 3rd Monday of each 
month, a variety of balance exercises are practiced. All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed! 

*A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required.

Case Management: 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 Hart Park House 
Office at 626-355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House, share some free 
birthday cake provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club.

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00p.m. Come join this group of Seniors in a poker game. 
Other games are offered to all. Please note time change. 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45p.m. to 1:30p.m. with Lisa Brandley. This 
energetic class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All class materials are provided.

Stress, Resilience, Positivity: Finding Balance - by The Kensington Sierra Madre Four Tuesdays, 
March 7 - 28th from 2:00 - 4:00p.m. Register by calling 213-821-6919 or 213-821-6908. 



SENIOR EXCURSIONS

 MARCH EXCURSION

 ***Save the Date***

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

Date: Thursday, March 30, 2017

Time: 9:15a.m. to 2:30p.m.

Meeting Location: Hart Park House

Cost: $20.00 (Not Including Lunch)

Description: Get up close and personal with the stunning theaters and spaces. The docent-lead tours 
take visitors through much of the interior space and throughout the gardens while presenting the 
highlights of the architecturally stunning building. Please Note: Tour does not include the

auditorium due to the constant rehearsal and performances. Lunch will be on your own near

Union Station or Olvera Street. Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs.

Final registration date is Monday, March 20th.

Level of walking: High;

APRIL EXCURSION - SAVE THE DATE

 Tanaka Farms Strawberry Tour (Irvine)

 Date: Thursday, April 27th

 Time: 9:30a.m. to 2:30p.m.

 Meeting Location: Hart Park House

 Cost: $20.00 (Not including Lunch)

 

Come experience a real working farm in the heart of Orange County. Tour includes a guided wagon 
ride around the 30-acre Farm. Learn about and sample different fruits and vegetables in season. Pick 
and eat fresh, juicy strawberries. You will be given a one-pound container to fill with berries. Things to 
consider:

- Wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

- The farm is not handicapped accessible; and wagon rides on dirt

roads will be bumpy.... and lots of bending to pick berries.

- Bring your sack lunch to eat at the picnic tables.

- Spending money is optional for market shopping.

Level of walking: Medium – High.

Please call the Hart Park House for reservations at 626-355-7394.


Dear Savvy Senior,

Do you know of any services that help seniors with 
the rigors of traveling? My youngest daughter is 
getting married in a few months and would love to 
have my 82-year old mother attend, but she needs 
help flying across the country. 

Searching Daughter

 

Dear Searching, 

Traveling can be daunting under the best 
circumstances but for elderly seniors, those with 
disabilities, or those recovering or rehabilitating 
from an illness or injury, it can seem particularly 
overwhelming or unmanageable. 

 Fortunately, there are a number of companies 
that provides traveling companion/escort services 
to help older adults with the rigors of travel.

 Whether it’s seniors going on vacation or 
grandparents wanting to join their far-off families 
for weddings and graduations, travel companions 
help clients who need help moving through airports, 
managing luggage, navigating busy terminals and 
hotel lobbies and much more.

 Some companion services even provide personal 
care like medication reminders, dressing, bathing 
and feeding. And for those with specific medical 
needs, traveling nurse services are available too.

 But be aware that these services aren’t cheap. 
You will pay for the travel companion’s tickets, 
the companion’s hotel room if necessary, meals, 
incidentals and fees for the service. The price to 
accompany a client on a plane trip within the 
United States – including the companion fees and 
travel costs for all parties – can range anywhere 
from $1,500 to $5,000 or more for coach airfare. 
Business or first class would cost more.

 To locate a travel companion service in your 
area, search online for “senior travel companion” or 
“senior travel escort,” followed by your mom’s city 
or state. Or use an experienced national service like 
Flying Companions (FlyingCompanions.com) or 
FirstLight Home Care (FirstLightHomeCare.com), 
which has a national network of franchises that 
provides in-home care for seniors, and offers travel 
companion programs in about one-third of its 130 
franchises.

 Or, for medical travel companions do a search 
for “traveling nurse escort” or “medical travel 
companion," or checkout Travel Care & Logistics 
(YourFlightNurse.com), which provides registered 
nurses as escorts. 

 

If, however, your mom doesn’t require a lot of 
assistance, or if you can’t afford a travel escort, 
consider asking a trusted family member or friend 
that has some air travel experience.

 

Questions to Ask

If you’re interested in hiring a travel companion 
service to help your mom, there are a number of 
things you need to check into to ensure you get the 
right escort.

 First, if you mom requires personal or medical 
care while traveling, find out if the escort is trained 
to manage her healthcare needs. What sort of 
medical certifications do they have? (Nursing 
credentials? C.P.R. training? etc.)

 Also, find out how many trips the companion 
has taken with clients. Have they completed trips 
with travelers like your mom? How long has the 
travel service company been in business? What 
is the company’s safety record? And what sort of 
insurance does it carry, and what and who does it 
cover?

 Also, get a quote breaking down exactly 
what you’ll be required to pay, in addition to the 
companion’s fees. And, get a list of two or three 
clients/references who has used their service and 
call them.

 

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today 
show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.


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