Mountain Views News May 9, 2026 
1010 
Mountain Views News May 9, 2026 
1010 
WHY MEDICATION 
MANAGEMENT MATTERS 
IN ASSISTED LIVING FOR 
RESIDENTS WITH COGNITIVE 
CHALLENGES 

As the population ages, more families are 
turning to assisted living communities to 
provide safe, supportive environments for 
loved ones experiencing cognitive decline. 
Conditionssuchas dementia andAlzheimer’s 
disease don’t just affect memory—they 
also make daily tasks, including managing 
medications, increasingly difficult. In this 
context, proper medication management is 
not just helpful—it is essential. 

For individuals with cognitive impairments, remembering when to take medications, understandingdosage instructions, or recognizing the purpose of each prescription can become overwhelming or 
even impossible. Missed doses, accidental double-dosing, or taking the wrong medication altogether 
can lead to serious health complications, hospitalizations, and a decline in overall well-being. 

Assisted living communities are uniquely positioned to address these risks through structured 
medication management programs. Trained staff members ensure that medications are administered 
correctly and on time, reducing the likelihood of errors. This consistency is especially important for 
medications that must be taken at specific intervals or under certain conditions to be effective. 

Beyond simply handing out pills, good medication management involves careful monitoring. Staff 
can observe how residents respond to medications, identify potential side effects, and communicate 
concerns to healthcare providers. This ongoing oversight allows for timely adjustments, which is 
particularly important for individuals whose cognitive conditions may evolve over time. 

Another critical aspect is coordination. Residents in assisted living often see multiple healthcare 
providers, leading to complex medication regimens. Without proper oversight, this can result in 
dangerous drug interactions or redundant prescriptions. Medication management systems help keep 
everything organized, ensuring that all prescriptions work together safely and effectively. 

Equally important is the sense of security it provides to families. Knowing that a loved one’s 
medications are being handled by trained professionals offers peace of mind and allows families to 
focus on maintaining meaningful connections rather than worrying about daily health risks. 

Critics sometimes raise concerns about autonomy, arguing that residents may lose independence 
when others take over medication responsibilities. However, in cases of cognitive impairment, this 
support is less about restriction and more about protection. Assisted living communities often strive 
to involve residents in their care to the extent possible, preserving dignity while prioritizing safety.
In the end, medication management is a cornerstone of quality care in assisted living settings for those 
with cognitive issues. It safeguards health, enhances quality of life, and provides a stable foundation 
for residents to live with as much comfort and independence as possible. 


STILL WORKING AT 65? HERE'S HOW TO HANDLE MEDICARE 

Dear Savvy Senior,
My wife and I are approaching 65, but I’m 
still working and have good health coverage 
through my employer. Do we need to enroll 
in Medicare at this point? --Almost 65 

Dear Almost, 

If you or your spouse is still working past 
age 65 and have health insurance through Period, which runs January 1 through March 31. 
your job, you may be able to delay enrolling in Coverage begins the first day of the month after 
Medicare without a late enrollment penalty. you enroll, but a 10 percent penalty is added 
However, the rules depend largely on the size of to your Part B premium for each full year you 
your employer. waited. Signing up on time helps you avoid both 


coverage gaps and added costs.

First, a quick refresher: Remember that original 
Medicare has two parts. Part A, which covers Large employer 
hospital care and is premium-free for most 

If your employer has 20 or more employees,

people. And Part B, which covers doctor visits, 

your group health plan remains your primary

lab tests, and outpatient care and has a monthly 

insurance while you’re actively working. In this

premium of $202.90 in 2026. Higher-income 

case, you generally don’t need to enroll in Part B

individuals (over $109,000) and couples (over 

at 65 if your coverage is adequate. If you do enroll,

$218,000) pay more. 

Medicare will serve as secondary coverage. 
If you’re already receiving Social Security, you’ll 

Once your employment or employer coverage

automatically be enrolled in Parts A and B when 

ends, you’ll have an eight-month Special

you turn 65, and your Medicare card will arrive 

Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without

in the mail. It will include instructions on how 

penalty.

to return it if you have employer coverage that 
allows you to delay Part B. Check drug coverage 

If you’re still working You should also review your prescription drug 
coverage. Ask your benefits manager if your

Start by talking with your benefits manager or HR 

employer’s plan is considered “creditable.” If it

department to understand how your employer 

is, you don’t need to enroll in a Medicare Part

insurance works with Medicare. In most cases, 

D plan. If it isn’t, you should sign up for Part D

it makes sense to enroll in Part A since it’s free. 

during your Initial Enrollment Period to avoid

However, if you contribute to a Health Savings 

a penalty – typically 1 percent of the national

Account, enrolling in Part A will stop those 

average premium for each month you delay.

contributions. 
You can compare Part D plans at medicare.gov/

Whether you should enroll in Part B usually 

plan-compare.

depends on your employer’s size. 
Need help?

Small employer 
For free guidance, contact your State Health

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, 

Insurance Assistance Program at 877-839-2675

Medicare becomes your primary insurance. 

or shiphelp.org. You can also call the Medicare

In this case, you should enroll in Part B during 

Rights Center helpline at 800-333-4114.

your Initial Enrollment Period, which lasts seven 
months: the three months before your 65th Navigating Medicare while you’re still workingbirthday, your birthday month, and the three can be confusing, but a quick check with your 
months after. employer and a clear understanding of the rules 

can help you avoid costly mistakes. Taking the

If you aren’t receiving Social Security, you’ll need 

time to get it right now will ensure you have

to apply for Medicare. You can do this online at 

the coverage you need, without unnecessary

ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up, by phone at 800-772


penalties down the road.

1213, or in person at your local Social Security 
office. Send your questions or comments to questions@
savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, 

5443, Norman, OK 73070.

you’ll need to wait for the General Enrollment 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …MAY BIRTHDAYS* 


Beth Copti, Marilyn Diaz, Anne Schryver, Jo Ann Williams, Paul Hagan, 
Lenore Crilly, Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta 
Gerlinger, Luciana Rosenzweig, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie 
Sheridan, Joanne Anthony, Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Janet 
Ten Eyck, Jane Thomas, Ray Burley, Bridget Flanagan,Donna Mathisen,VickyRyan, * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 
626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A RABBIT! 

A lot of things in life, I am not very good at. That list could go 
on and on and on. Not only am I not good at some things, but 
I'm terrible at most things. However, I am actually excellent at a 
few things. I think the top of that list is eating, which I do with a 
passion that might make you smile. 

I've never met a cheeseburger that I didn't like. I could have a cheeseburger everyday and be very happy. Along with my cheeseburger would be some very delicious 
French fries. Nobody can eat a cheeseburger and fries like me. I never know when 
I've had enough. 

Along with that, I've never met a serving of Mac & Cheese I didn't like. I enjoy those 
buffets where I can eat as much as I want. I'm not sure who came up with this idea 
of Mac & Cheese, but they certainly deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. 

When it comes to dessert, I have never met a dessert I did not love. 

At one restaurant, when I order my dessert, I tell the waitress, "You surprised me 
and pick out a dessert you think I would enjoy." 

Never once did any waitress bring me a dessert I didn't like. 

Then, I have never had an Apple Fritter I did not enjoy. I can't remember when I first 
started eating Apple Fritters, but it's certainly been a wonderful experience for me. 

I try to convince The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage that an Apple Fritter is 
actually a fruit. Everybody knows that an Apple is a fruit. Whenever I say that to 
her, she looks at me and says, "The only fruit I know is you, and you're a fruitcake." 

When it comes to breakfast, I've never had a waffle I didn't like. There is nothinglike a plate filled to the top with waffles floating in syrup. I love waffles, and I could 
eat them all day. 

Recently, some health challenges developed, and my doctor said I was slightly 
overweight. I asked what that meant, and he just smiled, probably knowing I'd find 
some humor in it. 

I then had a slight heart attack, along with an episode of shingles and even a case of 
acute bronchitis. All of that together redefined my health condition. 

When I say redefine I'm referring to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She's 
usually with me when I see my doctor and knows everything the doctor says about 
me and my health condition. She remembers even more than I hear. I'm not sure 
she is remembering everything that actually occurred. 

Because of that, she has now taken over the culinary aspect of my health. I did not 
see that coming. All of a sudden, my eating habits are being supervised by The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 

I must confess that she is a wonderful cook. I don't think there's anything she can't 
cook or bake that doesn't taste delicious. 

But now, because of my health conditions, she has developed a vegetable diet for 
me. Also, some fruits are involved. The main part of my meals every day is lettuce. 
Personally, I only love lettuce on my cheeseburger. After a while, I have come to the 
point where I want to say, "Let us alone." But I can't speak that out loud in case of 
reciprocation. Believe me, nobody wants to experience anything like reciprocation 
from The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Still, I understand it's for my health, 
even if I joke about it. 

I did not know there were so many vegetables in the world until recently. It seems 
she has a vegetable for everything. 

There is one strict restriction along this line, and that is broccoli. No matter what 
anybody else thinks, especially The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I do 
not consider broccoli to be a vegetable. Disagree with me if you want, but I am 
unanimous in that. 

I do confess that the lettuce salads she makes are rather delicious. No question about 
that for me. But as long as I've been alive, I have never considered a lettuce salad to 
be the mainstay of lunch and dinner. 

For the past year, she has been very diligent about the "vegetable diet" she developed 
for me. As a result, I have lost around 15 pounds. When the doctor told me that,
I spent a whole week looking for those lost pounds. It's funny, but I know it's a 
positive change for my health. 

Evidently, her "vegetable diet" is working for me. I'm losing weight, and my blood 
pressure is under control. I never knew it was out of control before, but doctors are 
always right, so says The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 

After a week of eating lettuce salads, I began to feel like a rabbit. Now I know what 
rabbits feel like when they're running around looking for lettuce. The only difference 
with a rabbit is the ears. They have big ears and can hear everything, whereas I have 
small ears and can hardly hear anything. 

I remembered what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, 
or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 

Whatever my diet is, whether I like it or not, I'm going to do it to glorify God, after 
all, God deserves my praise. 

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