Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 11, 2020

11

Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2020 

MEDICARE EXPANDS TELEHEALTH 
SERVICES TO HELP 
KEEP SENIORS SAFE AT 
HOME

Dear Savvy Senior::Does Medicare cover telehealth 
services? My 71-year-old mother has chronic type 2 diabetes but is very concerned about going 
to the doctor for fear of exposing herself to coronavirus. What can you tell us? Avoiding the Doctor

Dear Avoiding:

Yes! Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Medicare recently announced that it will be 
expanding coverage for telehealth services to help keep vulnerable seniors safe at home. Here’s 
what you and your mom should know.

Telehealth Services

If you’re not familiar with telehealth or telemedicine services, they are full visits with a health care 
provider who isn’t at your location using telephone or video technology device – i.e. smartphone, 
tablet or computer.

Telehealth services allow Medicare beneficiaries to take care of ongoing medical problems as well as 
new concerns, while following public health advice to stay home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Medicare patients with chronic health conditions now don’t have to postpone a regular follow-up 
visit with the doctor to keep safe. They can do it via Skype or FaceTime. And people concerned 
they may have the virus could see their doctor or nurse practitioner virtually to find out how to get 
tested. Nursing home residents will also be able to have telehealth consultations with their doctors.

If your mom isn’t familiar or comfortable with technology, you or another relative or friend can 
assist her. You may need to go over to her house to help her do this. Bring your smartphone, tablet 
or laptop – but remember, don’t visit if you’re feeling sick.

Risk of serious illness from the coronavirus is much greater for older people and those with underlying 
health problems such as lung conditions, diabetes or heart problems. Many seniors are also 
managing chronic health issues that put them at heightened risk.

Until recently, telehealth coverage under original Medicare has been limited to beneficiaries only 
in rural areas, and patients often need to go to specially designated sites for their visits. 

The expanded telehealth coverage, which will remain in effect during the coronavirus outbreak, 
now allows doctors and hospitals to bill Medicare for visits via telemedicine that previously had to 
take place in person, at a medical office or facility.

If your mom happens to get her Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, 
they will also be expanding their telehealth services. For coverage details, contact her plan directly.

Other Medicare Coverage

In addition to the expanded telehealth services, Medicare will also be covering all coronavirus 
testing costs to see your mom has been infected, and medically necessary hospitalizations, so if 
her doctor recommends that she remain in quarantine at the hospital rather than self-isolating at 
home, she will not have to pay for these costs.

And if your mom has a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, it will cover the coronavirus vaccine 
when it becomes available and will waive prescription refill limits so she can have extra medication 
on hand during the pandemic.

For more information on how Medicare is covering the coronavirus see Medicare.gov/medicare-
coronavirus. And for the latest information on the coronavirus, visit Coronavirus.gov. 

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.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …APRIL Birthdays*

Howard Rubin, Anita Hardy, Hattie Harris, Wendy Senou, Mary Harley, Bette 
White, Dorothy White, Doris Behrens, Freda Bernard, Beth Copti, Terri Cummings, 
Marilyn Diaz, Virginia Elliott, Elma Flores, Betty Jo Gregg, Barbara Lampman, 
Betty Mackie, Elizabeth Rassmusen, Maria Reyes, Marian DeMars, Anne Schryver, 
Chrisine Bachwansky, Colleen McKernan, Sandy Swanson, Hank Landsberg, Ken 
Anhalt, Shannon Vandevelde * To add your name to this distinguished list, please 
call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


Seniors Communications Plan

The City of Sierra Madre is following these procedures 
to provide current communication in light 
of COVID-19 and keep the Senior Community 
and families informed of essential information and 
resources. City staff are monitoring email communication 
daily, and although employees are minimizing 
direct engagement and practicing social 
distancing in the community, please note that voice 
messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely 
manner.

If at any moment additional information is needed, 
please contact City Hall Administrative Services at 
(626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 
5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing 
the appropriate person.

For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please 
note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily 
at the Community Services Department, (626) 355-
5278 x702.

1. Community Services Department will continue 
email communication with Senior residents and 
aging community members.

If you know of family members or neighbors who 
may benefit from accessing information electronically, 
and to receive the department’s Seniors Newsletter 
via email but may not otherwise have been 
included on an email group list, please send your 
request with email address to the following team 
members:

Lawren Heinz Lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com and

Clarissa Lowe Clowe@cityofsierramadre.com.

2. Community Services Department will continue 
Electronic Seniors Newsletter on a weekly-basis 
distribution.

3. Community Services Department will continue 
with mail drop-off of newsletters at the Sierra Madre 
U.S. Post Office Box (unless otherwise advised).

4. City Social Media will continue via Facebook as 
well as Instagram, and information sharing will include 
updates as details becomes available.

5. Mater Dolorosa - Sierra Madre Meal Pick-Up 
Program provides seal-packaged frozen meals, 
5-per person every Thursday, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 
at Hart Park House Senior Center 222 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. Donations are accepted. Call (626) 
355-5278; x702 or 704. 6. YWCA Intervale Meal 
Program - Effective Wednesday, April 1, 2020

YWCA has transitioned their distribution of take 
home meals at the Sierra Madre Hart Park House 
Senior Center to a home-delivery meal program.

Rev 4/1/2020

Participants previously reserved for meal pick-up 
as of Wednesday, 3/25/20 were informed that they 
would begin to have their meals delivered to their 
homes, beginning next Wednesday, April 1, 2020 
until further notice.

For any additional participants calling in that are 
at a high risk and need meals delivered to, please 
provide us their name, date of birth (they must be 
60+), address and phone number and Community 
Services Department will forward this information 
to our County Contact.

7. Food Banks Support

Seniors & Families:

If someone is outside of our local area and in need 
of a food bank, they can find one nearest them by 
going to www.lafoodbank.org and typing in their 
zip code; or call from the list here:

1) First Church of the Nazarene-Pasadena

3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

626-351-9631

Wednesday 10:30 am-12 pm

2) Pasadena Senior Center

85 E. Holly St. Pasadena

626-685-6732

April 3rd 8 am-10:30 am

3) Foothill Unity Center

415 W. Chestnut Ave. Monrovia

626-358-3486

Monday 1 pm-3:30 pm, Wednesday & Friday 9 am-
11:30 am

4) Lifeline Community Services & Economic 
Development

2556 N. Lake Ave Altadena

626-797-3585

2nd and 4th Wednesday 12 pm-2 pm & 8:15 pm-9 
pm

5) Morning Star Outreach Ministry

1416 N. Mentor Ave Pasadena

626-794-4875

2nd & 4th Saturday 11 am-1 pm 

8. Questions About Volunteering, or Do You Need 
Help? Seniors (65+), Active Seniors (55+), Families 
and Neighbors in Sierra Madre that currently need 
help since they are confined to their homes, are at 
risk during this pandemic, or individuals offering 
to help please visit Sierra Madre Thrives, www.
sierramadrethrives.com. Community Services is 
serving as a city-partnered referral to community-
based organizations including Sierra Madre Thrives 
for volunteers and seniors who have reached out to 
our agency, while providing assistance on helpful 
resources according to your needs.

9. NIXLE Alerts which send messages through public 
safety agencies via cell phones and social media 
networks will be issued through the Sierra Madre 
Police Department. This enables local response 
agencies to get that information into the community 
as quickly as possible. VOICE TO TEXT messages 
from Police Department will further offer 
automatic pre-recorded voice messages that reach 
approximately 4,000 phones within our community. 
Social Media platforms will include direct phone 
numbers provided by PD to the pre-recorded messages 
for accessibility.

Anyone interested in receiving the NIXLE alerts 
may do so from their mobile phone:

hit 888-777 and follow the prompts. OR go to Nixle.
com and do the same. For non-emergency help or 
guidance on Nixle, please call 626-355-1414.

10. Sierra Madre Channel 3 will provide information 
and what the city is doing for the Senior Community, 
including transportation and food services.

Currently, Sierra Madre transit support has been 
operating in accordance with our regular schedule 
and will continue as such. Extra precautions are 
being taken with the sanitization and cleaning of 
buses due to the recent circumstances.

11. Pasadena Senior Center, a collaborator of the 
Sierra Madre Senior Community, has also provided 
a resource, Telephone Reassurance Program, which 
offers daily calls to home bound seniors to provide 
support and contact with others on a regular basis. 
If any senior, in this time of emergency, finds themselves 
home bound and needs to talk with someone, 
please refer them to (626) 685-6732 and they are 
available Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 
a.m.

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges


HOW TO SURVIVE THE CORONA-VIRUS INSANE 
“LOCK-DOWN”

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “How to Survive Anywhere,” 
“Extreme Simplicity,” and “Self-Sufficient Home.” He has lectured, taught, and 
led field trips since 1974. He can be reached at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com or 
Box 41834, Eagle Rock,CA 90041]

We all have a lot of time right now, wondering what has happened, 
and why. Yes, we know that there is this virus, and that people have 
died, and that it is contagious. And a lot of people have discussed that the virus was 
probably on the West Coast back in the fall of 2019, causing a possible “herd immunity” 
which has resulted in far fewer numbers of infection and death than some “experts” 
predicted. We do know that we’re still way below the numbers of infection and death 
for a normal flu season, and that the number of pneumonia deaths are way down this 
season, leaving some to believe that many of the deaths by pneumonia are just being 
reported as Covid-19. Lots, and lots of ideas and speculation, most of which you and 
I can do nothing about.

 

Lord, give me the strength to change the things I can change, and to accept those I cannot, 
and the wis-dom to know the difference. Wise words by a wise person.

 

Let’s focus now on the things we can change, regardless who is right or wrong in the 
political decisions that surround this virus.

 

When I look at the actual verifiable numbers, and compare these with the Swine Flu 
a few years back, and even with “normal flu season” statistics, I am not very worried 
about getting this flu and dying.

 

I am far more concerned about the drastic economic impact that the political decisions 
will cost us, very likely for years into the future. But let’s talk about a mindset 
of healthful living, and keeping the immune system strong, and then we’ll look about 
what it takes to be mentally strong.

 

 

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Dr. James Adams in his book “The Balanced Diet,” discusses what it means to live in 
balance. He tells the story when he was seven years old and his grandfather said that he 
should learn to live in bal-ance. So he asks grandfather, “I don’t know what it means 
to live in balance.”

His grandfather replied, “Love God, Love your family, Respect all people, Take only 
what you need, Keep yourself thin and strong, Work for your community, and Work 
for your environment. 

Adams explores each of these seven precepts in his book, and explains how they not 
only make you feel good about yourself, but that these are the principles of living that 
give you a healthy immune sys-tem.

He advises a five-step guideline to living well:

1. Eat a low-fat diet, such as lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.

2. Drink only one alcoholic beverage every day.

3. Never smoke anything.

4. Keep yourself thin.

5. Exercise about one to two hours every day.

He points out that this is how he lives his life; he takes no drug, and his blood pressure 
and blood cho-lesterol are normal.

 

Enrique Villaseñor is an educator who promotes the use of prickly pear cactus to improve 
your body’s immune system. 

“Complete health is really about complete balance,” he explains, and by “balance” he 
means that each of us need to find balance physically, spiritually, socially, and financially 
within our community and fami-ly. “You should work at each of these every day,” 
he explains.

 Thanks to all who have supported this fundraising effort. You will never know how 
much it is appreciated by myself, the newspaper staff and the community! We are mov-
ing toward our goal and have been able to publish 3 editions since we began but we still 
have a way to go. Please share this campaign with your friends.

Villaseñor points out that the natural immune boosters include sleep, a plant-based 
diet, exercise, not-smoking, having minimal stress in your life, maintaining a healthy 
weight, minimal alcohol consumption, maintaining healthy relationships, and avoiding 
infections. 

Consuming prickly pear cactus daily is just one part of this overall balance. A healthy 
diet of good natu-ral foods, exercise, exposure to the sun, and a good mental attitude 
are all part of maintain a good im-mune system.

TO BE CONTINUED


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW 

For almost four weeks now, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have enjoyed 
some exceptional time together. It has been the rich experience I never thought I would 
experience until I retired from everything. But, if this is retirement, “Lord, let it be so.”

Nothing to complain about here. We have enjoyed spending quality time together and catching up on things that 
happened 50 years ago. Her memory is a lot better than mine, to be sure. This time off has really been a rejuvenating 
experience, at least for me.

I must confess that I have had a Pajama Dilemma I never experienced before.

When do I take my pajamas off in the morning, get dressed, and then later, when do I undress and put on my pajamas? 
This new schedule has not been clearly outlined, at least from my wife's per-spective. How long can I wear my 
pajamas? And, do you wear a tie with pajamas?

I tried to explain to my wife that we are saving a lot of water by not having to wash clothes as much as we used to. 
That does not sit well with her.

Although we may be on a rather relaxed schedule, she still maintains a schedule.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are always prepared at the same time every day. I would not mind if I munched on something 
(other than vegetables) all day long, particularly an Apple Fritter. But, no, we are on a strict diet. And when I say 
“strict,” I mean what she determines to cook.

Don't take me wrong; she is a terrific cook. It is the schedule that I have an issue with.

I said to her last week, “Why don’t you just fix up some nice food to eat and let me eat anytime I want to?”

That sounded like a beautiful schedule for me, but it did not go down very well with her. According to her, there is a 
time to eat, and then there is a time NOT to eat. She emphasized the word NOT. I got the message.

During the last several weeks, my wife spent a lot of time in her "Craft Room." She does a lot of crafts, and I am not 
allowed in that room.

The other day as I walked by the craft room, I looked in, and she said, "Is there anything you want?"

I knew the answer she was expecting, and so I gave it to her and went to the other end of the house. She does a lot of 
work in there. In fact, she has been making face masks for people.

With a smile on my face, I asked her, “Are you going to make me a face mask?”

Without even looking up, she said, “I don’t have enough material.”

There was no way I was going to ask her to explain what she meant by that. Down deep inside, I knew what she meant.

Every once in awhile, she would ask me to do something, and I would respond by telling her that I'll get to it and do it.

The difference between my wife and me is that she takes everything seriously, and I have yet to find anything that I 
will take seriously.

“I thought you were going to take out the garbage,” she said to me the other day.

“I will,” I mumbled to her as I was doing some reading.

“When?” She said with a very stern tone in her voice. “You said you would do it yesterday.”

Being very nonchalant, I said, "Well, there's always tomorrow." Then I would laugh. I noticed, though, she never 
laughed.

I am not quite sure how many times I pulled that one on her, but she finally had enough.

Looking at me, she said, "You said that yesterday. This is the tomorrow you were talking about yes-terday."

I had to stop and think about what she was talking about. Tomorrow and yesterday are just words as far as I am 
concerned.

During this hiatus, I didn’t think too much about the schedule. And so as far as I was concerned, yesterday and tomorrow 
have no real significance to me. One day is as good as the other.

My wife, on the other hand, has a schedule that she loves to keep to. In fact, since this hiatus, she has cleaned the house 
from top to bottom 117 times. At least it seems that way to me.

Our house is so clean that I have no reason to sneeze anymore. If was any dirt, pollen, or dust, it is completely gone. I 
did not know how much I enjoyed the dust.

We were watching television together the other night, and a ridiculous idea danced through my head. With nothing 
more to think about, this idea took focus.

Doing a commercial, I stared across the room, and my wife said, "What are you looking at?"

Staring intently, I pointed and said, “Is that dust I see over there?”

As I watched her search for that maverick dust particle, I could not help but think of a verse of Scripture. “Jesus Christ 
the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

One thing I have learned, and that is, all of my yesterdays, todays and tomorrows are in God's hands, and I have nothing 
whatsoever to worry about.

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. 

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