Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 25, 2023

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS

DISCOVER YOUR IDEAL ASSISTED 

LIVING COMMUNITY WITH SAFE PATH 
FOR SENIORS

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …November Birthdays*

Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, 
Joe Pergola, Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, Shirley 
Yergeau, Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg, Mary 
Bowser, Susan Clifton, Mary Higgins, Kim Buchanan, Leigh Thach, Sue 
Quinn, Jill Girod, Jeanne Martin. * To add your name to this distinguished 
list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required


SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday at Noon Hart Park House

Open to all seniors 50+ Fun - Games - And More! Call Mark at 626-355-3951 


SMART HOME DEVICES TO HELP SENIORS AGE IN PLACE

Dear Savvy Senior:

I’ve been talking to my mobility challenged mother, 
who lives alone, about automating her house with some 
smart home products to make it more convenient. She’s 
very interested but we’d like to get your opinion as to 
which types of smart devices are most helpful for seniors 
aging in place. Searching Daughter

 

Dear Searching:

If your mother is game, smart home products – such 
as smart lights, video doorbells and voice-activated 
speakers – can be very useful for aging in place. These 
devices can add safety and convenience to a home by 
providing voice and app-controlled operation, which 
is extremely helpful for seniors who have mobility issues 
or reduced vision.

 

Smart home technology can also provide family members 
peace-of-mind by giving them the ability to electronically 
keep tabs on their elder loved one when they 
can’t be there.

 

If you’re interested in adding some smart home products 
to your mom’s house, she’ll need home Wi-Fi installed, 
and she’ll need either a smartphone, tablet or 
smart speaker to operate them. To help you get started, 
here are some different types of devices to consider 
that are very helpful to older adults.

 

Smart speakers: A smart speaker – like the Amazon 
Echo, Google Nest or Apple HomePod – can serve as 
the brains of a smart home, controlling the devices 
with voice commands or automating them.

 

These devices can also play your mom’s favorite music, 
read audiobooks, make calls, set timers and alarms, 
provide reminders for medications, appointments and 
other things, check traffic and weather, answer questions, 
call for help in emergency situations and much 
more – all done by voice commands.

 

Smart light bulbs: To help prevent home falls – which 
are often caused by fumbling around a dark room 
looking for a light switch – smart light bulbs will let 
your mom turn on and off the lights by voice command, 
smartphone or tablet. These bulbs can also 
change brightness and color and be programmed to 
come on and off whenever she wants.

 

Smart plugs: These small units plug into a standard 
outlet and connect to the internet. That means your 
mom can control whatever she plugs into them – from 
a space heater to a coffee maker – using her voice or 
phone.

 

Video doorbell: Safety is also a concern for older 
adults, especially those who live alone. A video doorbell 
would let your mom see and speak to visitors at the 
door without having to walk over and open it.

 

Smart locks: For convenience and safety, smart locks 
would give your mom keyless entry to her home, provide 
customized access to family, friends and caregivers, 
and let you monitor who comes and goes from 
your mom’s house.

 

Smart thermostat: This lets your mom preprogram or 
manually control the temperature in her home with 
voice command or via phone, and let you monitor it 
too. 

 

Smart smoke alarms: These will alert your mom when 
smoke or carbon monoxide is detected and will also 
send alerts to your phone if a problem is detected.

 

Stovetop shut-off: To prevent home cooking fires, 
smart stovetop shut-off devices, like the IGuardStove, 
will turn off electric and gas stovetops when left unattended, 
and will alert you via text.

 

Medical alert system: These devices provide wearable 
wrist and/or necklace emergency buttons that would 
allow your mom to call for help if she were to fall or 
need assistance. Many systems today also provide 
voice activated and fall detection features, and caregiver 
tracking apps that will let you keep tabs on her.

 

Cameras and smart sensors: If your mom needs more 
in-depth monitoring, there are indoor cameras you 
can install so you can see, hear and talk to her from 
your phone. Or, if that’s too intrusive, you can install 
smart contact sensors on her doors so you can know 
when she comes and goes, or on her refrigerator door 
so you can know if she’s eating. 

 

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.


MINDFUL FITNESS by Michele Silence


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes and a weight management support group. 
If you have questions or ideas for this column 

contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.com. 

Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

In the journey towards optimal health and fitness, 
integrating mindfulness practices is gaining 
recognition for its profound impact on both the body 
and mind. Here are just a few of the ways mindful 
exercises can help you stay fit.

 1. Stress Reduction. At its heart, mindfulness 
means being completely in the present moment and 
noticing your thoughts and feelings without making 
judgments. This helps lower stress, which is good for 
your mental well-being and also has positive effects 
on your physical health. Stress can be a quiet enemy, 
causing problems like high blood pressure, a weaker 
immune system, and difficulty sleeping. Mindfulness 
tools, like meditation and deep breathing exercises, 
offer useful ways to handle stress, leading to a healthier 
lifestyle overall.

 2. Improved Mental Agility. Mindfulness helps boost how well your brain works, especially when it 
comes to focus and paying attention. In a world full of distractions, being able to concentrate during exercise 
and workouts is essential. When people practice mindfulness, they get better at staying fully focused on 
what they’re doing, whether an entire workout or a specific exercise. This makes them more connected with 
their bodies, leading to better performance and a more enjoyable fitness experience.

 3. Build Mental Resilience. Starting a fitness journey comes with challenges, obstacles, and times 
when it feels like you’re not making progress. Mindfulness becomes vital in these moments. It helps build 
mental strength by encouraging a positive and calm way of thinking. When people face challenges with this 
mindset, it’s a powerful tool for overcoming tough times. This mental strength is key for sticking with fitness 
goals over time, as it helps people handle the highs and lows with resilience and determination.

 4. Managing Emotions. Feelings are a big part of being human, and they also matter in fitness. 
Mindfulness helps people notice and understand their feelings without getting too stressed about them. 
When it comes to exercising, this means recognizing and handling emotions like frustration, anxiety, or 
impatience.

Consider a challenging workout routine that pushes you past your comfort zone. Without mindfulness, 
the associated discomfort and fatigue might lead to negative emotional reactions. Instead of becoming 
disheartened, channel these emotions into motivation, appreciating the challenge as an opportunity for 
growth.

 5. Physical Awareness. The connection between the mind and body is crucial in mindful fitness. 
Paying attention to how your body feels, moves, and breathes during exercise makes this connection 
stronger, promoting overall well-being. Imagine doing yoga. By concentrating on your breath and how your 
body moves, not only do you do the poses better, but you also build a stronger bond between your mind and 
body. In other forms of exercise, such as weightlifting or cardiovascular workouts, mindfulness helps you 
pay close attention to form and posture. This heightened awareness not only reduces the risk of injuries but 
also ensures that the intended muscle groups are engaged, maximizing the benefits of each exercise.

 6. Healthy Eating Habits. Mindfulness extends beyond physical activity to influence daily habits, 
particularly regarding nutrition. Mindful eating involves paying full attention to the sensory experience 
of eating and being present in the moment. This practice promotes healthier food choices, encourages 
moderation, and fosters a positive relationship with food—all of which are crucial aspects of overall fitness.

Think about a typical mealtime scenario where an individual practices mindful eating. Instead of rushing 
through a meal while distracted by other things, they savor each bite, paying attention to flavors, textures, 
and the sensation of fullness. This mindful approach reduces the likelihood of overeating, promotes 
digestion, and contributes to a healthier overall dietary pattern.

 7. Restorative Power. Quality sleep is crucial for physical health. Practices that relax and calm the 
mind, like meditation, can lead to better sleep. It’s like winding down at the end of the day. A mindful 
bedtime routine might involve gentle stretching or calming activities. It tells your body it’s time to rest, 
promoting more peaceful and refreshing sleep.

 8. Personal Growth. Mindfulness helps you know yourself better by boosting self-awareness and 
self-reflection. Recognizing what your body is telling you is paramount for getting the most out of your 
fitness routine. Take someone who exercises regularly and practices mindfulness - they become really tuned 
in to subtle signals, knowing when their body needs a break, when to change how hard they’re working out, 
and when they’re in their best physical state.

Mindfulness in fitness is a very simplistic approach to health. This involves listening to your body, managing 
stress, understanding emotions, and being fully present in each moment.

If you need help getting started with some simple mindfulness activities, contact me at my Facebook page 
for help.

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


ANOTHER TURKEY IN THE OVEN

What would Thanksgiving be 
without a turkey? I read somewhere 
that over 45 million turkeys 
are purchased during the 
Thanksgiving holiday. I’m unsure if that’s correct, 
but I believe it comes close to the mark.

Thanksgiving is always my favorite time because 
the focus of Thanksgiving is food. Nobody 
loves food more than I do. I am always 
anxious for our Thanksgiving dinner to come.

This year I had a bit of apprehension before 
Thanksgiving. The kitchen is just next to the 
living room, and I was in the living room taking 
a little snooze, and just as I was waking up, 
I heard from the kitchen, “I’m going to put that 
turkey in the oven today.”

I didn’t hear the conversation leading up to that 
phrase, but it was a little troublesome. Am I in 
trouble? What did I do to get in this kind of 
trouble?

My goal for the day was to find out why she 
would stuff me in the oven. Then, maybe I can 
figure out how to avoid that kind of a encounter.

Throughout the years, I know I have been 
somewhat of a turkey. I’m not exactly sure what 
that means, but it has been referred to me quite 
often by The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
But the resemblance I have with the turkey 
is above my pay scale.

Nevertheless, I will play this out as best I can, 
and if I end up in the oven, so be it.

Cautiously, I got up and tiptoed out to the 
kitchen, and looking at my wife, I said, “Is there 
anything I can do to help you?” Looking at me 
suspiciously, she asked, “What did you have in 
mind?” “Anything,” I said, “that would help 
you getting our turkey ready for Thanksgiving.”

Looking at me for a moment she burst out 
laughing. Then she said something that has 
troubled me to this very day. “You want one 
turkey to help another turkey?”

I had no idea what she was talking about, and 
for the life of me, I refused to ask her what she 
meant. If I would’ve asked her what she meant, 
the chances are pretty good she would’ve told 
me. If I had known what she meant, I probably 
would have been in deep trouble.

Slowly, I went back into the living room and 
set up my chair to ponder what had just happened. 
I then heard from the kitchen, “Yes, he 
said that.” Then, there was a burst of laughter. I 
wished I knew who she was talking to.

Despite this negativity, I decided I would live 
this Thanksgiving time with a great deal 
of positivity. After all, it might be my last 
Thanksgiving.

It’s easy to get down about something, particularly 
if you don’t have all the facts. I often hear 
somebody say something and misinterpret it 
because I don’t hear everything they say. That 
can get a person like me into trouble. I can’t recall 
all the times I got in trouble with The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage because I didn’t 
hear everything she said. She often tells me, “I 
know, my dear, you can hear but can’t listen.”

She’s right on that one. It has cost me a lot down 
the years not being able to listen. I can hear 
words, but sometimes I misinterpret them to 
mean something altogether different and what 
they mean.

That was a little over a week ago, and we had a 
wonderful Thanksgiving with the family. The 
turkey on the table was very delicious. I don’t 
think I’ve had a better turkey all my life.

Cautiously, as I took a bite of that turkey, I 
glanced over at The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage. I was trying to find out a clue as to 
what I heard on the telephone this past week. 
She was paying me no attention and just enjoying 
the family around the table.

The next day, after it was all over and all the 
family had gone home, I sat in the living room 
relaxing and watching a little TV. On my mind 
was that turkey we had yesterday. Then, a 
thought just got a hold of me at that time.

I thought that the center of our Thanksgiving 
dinner was the turkey. Everybody was talking 
about the turkey and how delicious it was. That 
got me thinking about my situation.

If the Thanksgiving turkey is the center of our 
family get-together, perhaps when my wife refers 
to me as a turkey, it means I’m the center of 
our family. That never occurred to me before. 
I didn’t want to test it with The Gracious Mistress 
of the Parsonage, I thought better.

Sometimes, what you don’t hear can be a 
blessing.

Thinking about this later that day I was reminded 
of what Jesus said. “If any man have ears to 
hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take 
heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, 
it shall be measured to you: and unto you that 
hear shall more be given” (Mark 4:23-24).

I have an obligation to listen to what I am hearing. 
This has a degree of obedience that is important 
in my Christian life. I will be held accountable 
to what I am hearing. That means it 
is important to hear everything. If I miss a word 
I could get the whole thing wrong which would 
have consequences in my life.

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