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Mountain Views News Saturday, June 21, 2025

FREE ASSISTED LIVING PLACEMENT SERVICE

 

 Discover the perfect assisted living community with 
Safe Path for Seniors. Our compassionate advisors specialize 
in assisting individuals with unique needs. Benefit 
from our extensive network and affordable options. 
Plus, we offer personalized tours to help you explore 
each community firsthand. 

Call (626) 999-6913 or visit www.safepathforseniors.
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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JUNE BIRTHDAYS*

Joanne Thrane, Nellie Haynes, Dorothy McKay, Diane Hatfield, Georgette 
Dunlay, Elizabeth Shula, Donna Doss, Mary Carney, Carol Handley, 
Marilyn McKernan, Pat Fujiwara, Beth Smith-Kellock, Ann Disbrow, Joan 
Ellison, Anne Montgomery, Trini Ornelas,, Pat Starkey, Kathleen Coyne, 
Jacque Persing, Jeanne Peterson, Roxana Dominguez, Carolyn Lanyi, Claire 
McLean, Suzanne Decker and Grace Sanders.


A JOYFUL AND SAFE SUMMER FOR SENIORS IN THE 
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY


As summer unfolds across the San Gabriel Valley, it’s a great time for seniors to enjoy the season while 
staying safe and well. With its blend of suburban charm, rich cultural life, and natural beauty, the Valley 
offers plenty of ways for older adults to stay active, connected, and refreshed.

Warm days call for extra care—especially for seniors. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, staying hydrated, 
and avoiding the midday sun are smart ways to enjoy the out-doors. Early morning strolls through local 
gems like the Los Angeles County Arboretum or the Huntington Library gardens are ideal for light 
activity in cooler hours.

The San Gabriel Valley is also home to vibrant community centers in cities like Alhambra, Pasadena, 
and Temple City. Many offer free or low-cost classes for seniors, including tai chi, watercolor painting, 
and technology help sessions. Outdoor concerts, movie nights in the park, and cultural festivals are in 
full swing during the summer months—many of them senior-friendly.

For indoor relaxation, local libraries and senior centers provide cool spaces to enjoy a good book, attend 
educational talks, or meet up with friends. The West Covina Senior Center, for instance, offers daily 
lunches, exercise programs, and social events.

Summer is also a time for family and reflection. Whether it’s a shaded picnic in Arcadia’s Eisenhower 
Park or simply sitting on the porch with loved ones, these moments help strengthen bonds and lift 
spirits.

With a thoughtful approach, seniors in the San Gabriel Valley can make this summer both safe and joyful—
celebrating the season in ways that nourish body, mind, and community.


WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY 

DISABILITY BENEFITS?


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

Dear Savvy Senior,

What do I need to do to get disability benefits 
from Social Security? I’m 60 years old 
and have a medical condition that doesn’t 
allow me to work at my job anymore, but 
I’ve read that getting disability benefits is 
very difficult. Need Help

 

Dear Need,

Getting Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI) when you’re unable to work can indeed be 
challenging. Each year, approximately 2 million people apply for SSDI, but around two-thirds of them 
are denied, because most appli-cants fail to prove that they’re disabled and can’t work. Here are some 
steps you can take that can help improve your odds.

 

Are You Disabled?

The first thing you need to find out is if your health condition qualifies you for Social Security disability 
benefits.

 

You generally will be eligible only if you have a physical or mental impairment severe enough that it 
prevents you from working in your current, or past line of work, for at least a year.

 

There is no such thing as a partial disability benefit. If you’re fit enough to work part-time, and you’re 
earning more than $1,620 ($2,700 if you’re blind) a month on average in 2025, your application will be 
denied. But, if you’re not working or are working but earning below those limits, your application may 
be considered.

 

Your skills, education and work experience are factors too. Your application will be denied if your work 
history suggests that you could perform a less physically demanding job that your disability does not 
prevent you from doing.

 

To help you determine if you’re eligible, use the SSA Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool at SSAbest.benefits.
gov.

 

How to Apply

If you believe you have a claim, your next step is to gather up your personal, fi-nancial and medical 
information so you can be prepared and organized for the application process.

 

You can apply either online at SSA.gov/disability or call 800-772-1213 to make an appointment to apply 
at your local Social Security office, or to set up an ap-pointment for someone to take your claim over 
the phone.

 

The whole process lasts about an hour. If you schedule an appointment, a “Disa-bility Starter Kit” that 
will help you get ready for your interview will be mailed to you. If you apply online, the kit is available 
at SSA.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm.

 

It currently takes six to eight months from the initial application to receive either an award or denial of 
benefits. The only exception is if you have a chronic illness that qualifies you for a “compassionate allowance” 
(see SSA.gov/compassionateallowances), which fast tracks cases within weeks.

 

If Social Security denies your initial application, you can appeal the decision, and you’ll be happy to 
know that roughly half of all cases that go through a round or two of appeals end with benefits being 
awarded. But the bad news is, with a huge backlog of people waiting, it can take another eight to 10 
months or longer to appeal the decision, and another 15 months to get a hearing if reconsideration is 
denied.

 

Get Help

You can hire a representative to help you with your Social Security disability claim. By law, representatives 
can charge only 25 percent of past-due benefits up to a maximum of $9,200 if they win your case.

 

It’s probably worth hiring someone at the start of the application process if your disability is something 
difficult to prove such as chronic pain. If, however, your disability is obvious, it might be worth initially 
working without a representative to avoid paying the fee. You can always hire a representative later if 
your initial application and first appeal are denied.

 

To find a representative, check with the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives 
(nosscr.org) or National Association of Disability Representatives (nadr.org). Or, if you’re low-
income, contact the Legal Services Corporation (lsc.gov/find-legal-aid) for free assistance.

 

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, 
Norman, OK 73070.

DID MY BODY WARRANTY EXPIRE?

Just when I recover from the latest ache in my body within a few 
minutes, I will get a “Boo, I’m back.”

I’m not quite sure why these Aches and Pains love my body so 
much. Why don’t they just get over it and move on to another circus. The problem 
is, after I’m through with one ache, the next ache is just a wee bit more painful. 
I think the previous ache is just a practice for the next ache.

Getting up from bed the other day, I complained to The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage that my body was achy all over. I’m not sure why I thought she needed 
to know about all of these aches and pains, but I had to spill my beans.

After my lecture, she looked at me and said, “Maybe you need some body parts 
replaced.” Then she continued, “I know an antique store I could take you.”

I did not find that very funny, and smiled sarcastically at her and went to my office 
to complain to myself.

I’ve been to the doctor quite a few times in the last few years to deal with a variety 
of body aches and pains. He prescribed to me so much medicine that I kind of 
believe I’m a drug addict at this point. I have a pill for every ache and pain in my 
body along with subsitutes.

While in my office, the telephone rang, and it was, you guessed it, a call reminding 
me that my car warranty was about to expire. Of course, I have no such warranty 
on any of my vehicles. However, it did get me to think about something.

Is my body warranty on the verge of expiring?

I’m waiting for someone to call me and offer me a renewed body warranty. That 
would solve a lot of my problems, I think. In the meantime, I have to settle for 
what I got.

I started to chuckle. I discovered The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is having 
an affair with Mr. Arthur Ritis. He’s in her hand, fingers, and knee. No matter 
where she goes, Arthur goes along with her. I will never know why she puts up 
with Arthur.

Some of my worst pain is a pain in the neck. I get this so often as I get older. 
When I was younger, I had no pain of this nature. But getting older, I’ve had this 
pain in the neck. Personally, I want to be a pain in the neck to somebody, like The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I know what would happen if I were a pain 
in her neck. She would say something very nice at my funeral.

I was having a little trouble with my hip, and was tempted to ask her to take me 
to her favorite an-tique store. After all, what did I have to lose in that regard?

When I told her, she smiled at me and said, “I don’t think I can. I’m afraid they 
will want to keep you.” Talk about a pain in the neck?

As I get older, I am trying to learn how to deal with all the aches and pains that 
come daily. As soon as I get used to one pain, a new one shows up and I have to 
start all over again. Why isn’t there one pain pill to deal with all the pain in my 
body?

I tried several things to deal with my pain. First of course is the doctor. Every 
time the doctor sees me he smiles and greets me very heartily. I used to think 
he was happy to see me, but then I real-ized when I went to him, he was getting 
money out of my insurance, Medicare, and whatever else I have. Realizing this, I 
began to understand that to all those doctors I am an ATM machine. I guess I’m 
glad that my pain benefits somebody in this world.

Another thing I try to deal with is ignoring my pain. Pretending it doesn’t exist. 
That doesn’t always work.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing The Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage asks is, “How are your aches and pains today?”

It’s hard to ignore them when somebody is always talking about them.

Then there’s another aspect of this. I am learning that although these aches and 
pains are a curse, they are also a blessing. I never knew that before.

When The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage asks me to do something I don’t 
want to do, I start complaining. “Oh, dear, I’d love to, but my shoulder hurts so 
much. I just can’t do it.”

I’m not sure she believes me or not, but it works most of the time, and I’m happy 
with anything I can get.

I might never get used to my aches and pains. But if I can turn them into an advantage, 
that will be a very happy day for me.

I then thought of one of my favorite verses in the Bible. James 1:2-4, “My brethren, 
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the 
trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that 
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

A pain sometimes helps me to be patient and learn a new lesson of patience in 
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