Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 17, 2022

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 17, 2022 

Specializing in PlacingSeniors in Assisted Living and 
Memory Care Communities 

ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING 
HOME? 

There are many myths about Assisted 
Living being like Nursing Homes. 
This is not true at all. Nursing facilities 
are for those with chronic health 
issues who require care around the 
clock from medical professionals. 


In Assisted Living, one will get the support as needed, such as getting help with showering, grooming, 
and dressing. Again, these services are based on the seniors needs. 

There are many reasons in working with us. At Safe Path for Seniors, we will assess the senior and 
depending on their care needs and budget, make recommendations. For example, we may suggest 
that the right fit is a Board and Care Home (normally a 6-bedroom house) as opposed to an Assisted 
Living Community or a Memory Support Facility. You will work with an experienced agent who 
knows the industry well and will give you recommendations. The good news is that there is no 
cost for this service. 

If you have any questions about placing a loved one, visit www.safepathforseniors.com or call Steve 
at 626-999-6913 

HOW THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WILL LOWER YOUR 

DRUG COSTS 

Dear Savvy Senior:
What kind of changes can Medicare beneficiaries 
expect to see in the Inflation Reduction Act that was 
recently signed into law? I’m enrolled in original 
Medicare and have a Part D prescription drug plan 
but spent more than $6,000 out-of-pocket last year 
on medications alone. 


Overpaying Paul 

Dear Paul: 

The climate, tax and health care bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act that was passed by Congress 
and signed into law by President Biden last month includes significant improvements to the Medicare 
program that will kick-in over the next few years. 

These changes will lower prescription drug prices for millions of seniors by allowing the government to 
negotiate drug prices for the first time and capping seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 annually. 
Some other popular changes will include free vaccinations, lower insulin costs and expanded subsidies 
for lower income seniors. 

Here is a breakdown of the changes to expect in Medicare and when they will roll out. 

2023: Starting this January, all vaccines covered under Medicare Part D, including the shingles vaccine, 
will be free to beneficiaries. And the skyrocketing cost of insulin will be capped at $35 per month. This 
will be a significant saving for the more than 3 million Medicare enrollees who currently use insulin to 
control their diabetes. 

Also starting next year, drug makers will be penalized in the form of “rebates” that they would be forced 
to pay to the government if they impose price increases that exceed general inflation. 

2024: Cost sharing for catastrophic coverage in Part D will be eliminated. Under the current Part D 
benefit, once your out-of-pocket costs reach $7,050 in 2022, you enter “catastrophic” coverage but are 
still responsible for 5 percent of your prescription drug costs, with no limit. 

But in 2024, people with Part D coverage will no longer be responsible for any out-of-pocket drug costs 
once they enter catastrophic coverage. This is significant for seniors who use expensive medications for 
conditions like cancer or multiple sclerosis. 

Also starting in 2024 through 2029, Part D premiums will not be allowed to grow faster than 6 percent 
per year. 

And for lower income Medicare beneficiaries, eligibility for the Part D Low Income Subsidy (also 
known as Extra Help) will be expanded to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, from today’s limit of 
135 percent. This change will mean about 500,000 more seniors will qualify for financial assistance to 
help pay some or all of their prescription drug premiums and deductibles. 

2025: One of the biggest cost reduction measures for Medicare beneficiaries will begin in 2025 when 
out-of-pocket spending on Part D prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 per year. This will be a 
major savings for the more than 1.5 million beneficiaries who currently spend more than $2,000 out-
of-pocket each year. 

2026: When Medicare’s Part D program was enacted in 2003, negotiating lower drug prices was forbidden. 
But because of the Inflation Reduction Act, starting in 2026 Medicare will be empowered to begin 
negotiating prices with drug companies for 10 of the most expensive drugs covered under Part D. In 
2027 and 2028, 15 drugs would be eligible for negotiations and in 2029 and subsequent years, 20 drugs 
would be chosen. 

And, in addition to all the Medicare improvements, the Inflation Reduction Act also extends the Affordable 
Care Act (Obamacare) premium subsidies for three years that have helped millions of Americans 
gain coverage before they’re eligible for Medicare. 

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! …SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS* 

Clem Bartolai, Pat Hall, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy 
Gunther, Esther Macias, Sheila Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Patti 
O’Meara, Judie Cimino, Mary Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, 
Denise Reistetter and Nehama Warner, Virginia Mullaney, Gwen 

Robertson. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required 
SIERRA MADRE SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday from 11:30am-3:30 pm in the Hart Park 
House Senior Center. Join us as we celebrate birthdays, holidays and pay BINGO. Must be 
50+ to join. For more information call Mark at 626-355-3951. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park 
House The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or 
more trains, emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you 
may have. 

PAINT PALS 

Tuesday, 9/8 10:30 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water color, or 
making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, PAINT PALS!!! Bring 
a project that you are working on to the HPH and enjoy some quality art time with other artists 
looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB Tuesday Se3pt. 14 and Sept. 28 — 9:00 am 
Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss 
the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Tuesday, 9/6 and 9/20 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! Bring 
your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with likeminded fiber friends. 
We meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle 
stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and held 
in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the Hart Park House.. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower 
skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all 
the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Sept. 13 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Methodist Hospital will be holding a free to seniors clinic once a month in the Hart Park 
House. Walk in are welcome - no pre-registration required. 

BINGO: Sept. 22 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmCome down to the HPH (Hart Park House) for a lively round of BINGO. Prizes await! 

SENIOR CINEMA Wednesday, 9/14— Beginning at 1:00 pm ELVIS PG-13 2h 39m 
The life of American music icon Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming 
a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex 
relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. 


Wednesday, 9/28—Beginning at 1:00 pm 9 to 5 PG 1 h 49 m Three female employees 
of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on 
him. Hart Park House. 

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

SIR FORGETS-A-LOT TO THE RESCUE 


Contrary to the idea that the 

older you get, the more you 

forget, it has never been my 

experience. I have forgotten 

things for as long as I can remember. 
I even forget things that never actually 
happened. 

It runs in our family, though it came to me 
legitimately down through the generations. A 
nut doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

As a young person, I was quite fascinated 
with uncle Fred. Everybody who knew him 
called him Sir Forgets-A-Lot. At the time, I 
didn’t know what they were talking about because 
good old uncle Fred seemed like a very 
nice guy. 

I remember once spending a whole day with 
him working on his farm. I forget what we 
were doing, but we spent our time together. 
He told me one funny story after another, and 
I enjoyed them all. 

Finally, I had come to the point of asking him 
about his nickname. 

“Uncle Fred, why do they call you Sir 
Forgets-A-Lot?” 

He looked at me, laughed, sat down and began 
explaining the situation. I was eager to 
hear the story from his perspective. 

“Well,” he said as he began his story, “it’s basically 
because I do forget a lot of things.” And 
then he laughed. 

He went on and on about forgetting people 
and situations and everything. As I was listening 
to him, I began chuckling on the inside. I 
was chuckling because I knew he was making 
up the story as he went along. I forget how I 
knew that. 

Then he said something that sort of stumped 
me. 

“Son,” he said with a very serious tone of 
voice, “sometimes the best thing you can do 
is to forget something.” 

Looking at him, I didn’t quite understand 
what he was talking about, and then he 
continued. 

“Sometimes, you can make up a story when 
you forget something, and people don’t know 
the difference.” 

At that time, I saw him staring off into space 
with a great big grin on his face. I knew he 
was thinking of something, but I didn’t know 
if he would tell me the truth or not. 

“It’s much easier to deal with people when 
you can say, ‘I’m sorry I just forgot.’” 

Then he explained that people understand 
that everybody forgets something at some 
time. And when you confess to forgetting 
something, he explained, people take you seriously, 
and they are eager to forgive. I can live 
with forgiveness. 

Then he gave me some illustrations. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t show up at your birthday 
party; I just forgot. Please forgive me.” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t send you that money; I just 
forgot. Please forgive me.” 

I began to understand why anybody who 
knew uncle Fred called him Sir Forgets-A-
Lot. He got out of trouble whenever he was 
in trouble by confessing that he had forgotten 
about it. 

After spending the day with uncle Fred, I 
wasn’t quite sure that he was as forgetful as 
most people thought. So whenever he would 
tell me one of those stories, he would look at 
me, smile and wink. 

He didn’t forget anything; he was simply manipulating 
people at the time. The great part 
was that very few people, maybe I’m the only 
one, ever knew what he was doing. 

I thought about him for a while, and the 
more I thought about him, the more I began 
to understand what he was talking about. So 
no matter what problem he was in, he could 
solve that problem by saying, “I just forgot. 
Please forgive me.” 

As a surviving relative of Sir Forgets-A-Lot, 
I have learned to handle situations in my life 
that I did know how to handle before. Uncle 
Fred taught me a lot. I’m not sure, but I’ve 
come very close to being crowned the Sir Forgets-
A-Lot of this generation. 

Uncle Fred passed away a few years back, and 
I can’t forget him. I now know why he was 
always smiling, and I am interested in what 
he was teaching me. Whether he was teaching 
me intentionally or not, I am becoming a 
grade A student. 

The test of all this is in front of The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage. She never knew 
uncle Fred, and I have yet to tell her his story. 
Some things are better forgotten, if you know 
what I mean. 

I’ve been trying to perfect my forgetting 
skill as best I can. I still have some work to 
do, but I’m busily engaged in my strategy of 
forgetting. 

When I come against The Gracious Mistress 
of the Parsonage, I must understand that she 
never forgets anything. In fact, I have suspected 
on many occasions that she remembered 
something that never actually happened. I 
have never addressed that in front of her. 
That’s why I’m a happy husband. 

Being as old as I am, it is a handy tool to use, 
particularly with The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage. She can’t forget anything. And 
there is nothing in life that I can’t forget. 

She will often query me by stating, “Did you 
remember….?” I always reply, “I’m sorry, my 
dear, I just forgot. Please forgive me.” 

Forgetting is not just the blessing of old age, 
it’s just a blessing. 

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, 
and their sins and their iniquities will I 
remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). 

Even God exercises the blessing of forgetting, 
for which I am so grateful. 

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