Mountain View News June 6, 2026 88 Mountain View News June 6, 2026 88 
Many seniors and their families avoid 
discussing future care needs because 
they believe there is plenty of time. 
Unfortunately, unexpected health 
changes, falls, hospitalizations, or 
cognitive decline can happen without 
warning. Having a care plan in place 
before a crisis occurs can make all the 
difference. 

PLANNING AHEAD: 
WHY EVERY SENIOR 
NEEDS A CARE 
PLAN HAPPENINGS 
A senior care plan is simply a roadmap that outlines a person's wishes, needs, and available 
resources. It helps families make informed decisions during stressful situations and ensures 
that the senior's preferences are respected. 

A good care plan should include important medical information, emergency contacts, 
medication lists, insurance details, and legal documents such as powers of attorney and 
advance healthcare directives. It should also address living arrangements and identify what 
level of assistance may be needed if health conditions change. 

One of the biggest benefits of planning ahead is reducing family stress. When there is no 
plan, loved ones are often forced to make difficult decisions during emergencies. Having clear 
instructions and expectations can prevent confusion, disagreements, and unnecessary delaysin obtaining care. 

Planning ahead also allows seniors to maintain greater control over their future. Rather than 
having decisions made for them, they can express their preferences regarding healthcare,
housing, and quality of life while they are still able to do so. 

Families should review care plans regularly and update them as circumstances change. A plan 
created today may need adjustments in the future as health needs evolve. 

The best time to create a care plan is before it becomes necessary. Taking a proactive approach 
can provide peace of mind for seniors and their families while ensuring that support is available 
when it is needed most. 

By planning ahead today, families can face tomorrow's challenges with greater confidence and 
clarity. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …JUNE 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,Vicky Ryan, Grace 
Sanders. * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper 
at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


HOW TO 
SAVE ON 
PRESCRIPTION 
EYEGLASSES 


Dear Savvy Senior, 

What tips can you recommend for finding affordable prescription eyeglasses? I currently have vision 
coverage through my employer’s insurance plan but will lose it when I retire in a few months and 
sign up for Medicare. 

--Nearsighted Nancy 

Dear Nancy, 

You’re wise to plan ahead. Eyeglasses can be expensive. A basic pair often runs $150 to $300, and 
bifocals or progressive lenses can easily double or triple that. The good news is that with a few 
strategies, you can keep costs manageable once you retire and transition to Medicare. 

Medicare & insurance 

Original Medicare and Medigap plans generally do not cover routine eye exams or eyeglasses, 
except after cataract surgery, when Part B helps pay for corrective lenses. But many Medicare 
Advantage plans, also called Part C, do include vision benefits. These plans, offered by private 
insurers, must cover everything original Medicare does and often include extras like dental,
hearing and prescription drug coverage. 

That said, I would not choose a Medicare Advantage plan just for vision coverage alone, but it is 
worth understanding what is available. To compare plans in your area, visit medicare.gov/plancompare 
or call 800-633-4227. Be sure to check the details to confirm coverage for routine eye 
exams, frames and lenses. 

You can also buy a stand-alone vision insurance plan. Major carriers like Humana, Blue Cross 
Blue Shield, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, along with specialty providers like VSP and EyeMed, 
offer plans with premiums typically ranging from about $10 to $30 per month. Before enrolling, 
compare the costs and benefits to make sure the savings on exams and glasses outweigh the 
premiums and copays. 

Discount stores 

Buying glasses from discount retailers can save you a substantial amount. Warehouse clubs 
like Costco Optical and Sam’s Club Optical offer eye exams typically ranging from $80 to $130 
depending on location, with basic prescription glasses starting around $120. You will need a 
membership, but the savings can often justify the cost. 

Other good options include Walmart Vision Center, Target Optical and independent optical 
shops. Prices vary, so it pays to shop around and ask about package deals or seasonal promotions. 
An AARP membership can also provide discounts at retailers like LensCrafters, Target Optical 
and Visionworks. 

Buy online 

Ordering glasses online is another excellent way to save, often cutting costs significantly compared 
to traditional retailers. Reputable sites like Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA offer 
single vision glasses starting around $70, with progressive lenses typically ranging from $120 to 
$200 depending on features. 

You will need a current prescription and your pupillary distance, which may be included on your 
prescription or can be measured by your provider or even at home. Many online retailers offer 
virtual try on tools so you can see how frames will look before you buy. 

Also pay attention to lens options such as anti-reflective coating, scratch resistant coating and 
blue light filtering. For most people, a basic pair with durable coatings is usually sufficient. 

Low-income assistance 

If your income is limited, local clinics may offer free or reduced cost eye exams and eyeglasses. 
Your local Lions Club is another excellent resource. Many chapters sponsor vision programs or 
can direct you to nearby services. You can find your local club at lionsclubs.org/en/start-ourapproach/
club-locator. 

The nonprofit New Eyes also provides eyeglasses through a voucher program for people in 
financial need, working with participating providers to supply frames and lenses at little or no 
cost. 

With a little planning, you can keep your vision sharp without overspending. Between Medicare 
options, discount retailers, online shopping and community programs, there are plenty of ways to 
find quality eyeglasses at a price you can afford.

 Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070.support is available when it is needed most. 

By planning ahead today, families can face tomorrow's challenges with greater confidence and 
clarity. 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

LIFE IS NOT A SOAP OPERA 

When I was young, we did not have a TV in our home. My parents 
did not think it was important, so we listened to the radio instead. I love the Saturday 
morning radio shows, Popeye the Sailor Man, particularly. 

Then something big happened that changed our lives. On November 22, 1963,
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This event changed everything for us. 

My father was really concerned about the news, so he went out and bought our first 
TV. It was black-and-white, but he wanted to stay up to date on the news about the 
President. The news was on almost all the time. 

It also changed my mother. She had two close friends from church that would get 
together and talk for hours. I never understood what they were talking about, and 
what I heard didn't make sense to me. 

As time went on, I finally figured out they were discussing soap operas on TV. My 
mother started watching these shows with passion. When her friends came over, they 
would talk about the latest drama on their favorite soap opera. Even when they met in 
church, a soap opera was one of the topics they talked about. 

I'm not sure which soap opera was her favorite, but she followed two or three of them 
very closely. She and her friends treated these shows as if they were real life. 

The soap operas were on when I was at school, so I never got to watch them with her. 
Even if I had the chance, I'm not sure I would have wanted to watch them with her. If 
I had to choose between one of her soap operas and Popeye the Sailor Man. It would 
be an easy choice, I would choose Popeye. 

People must have pretty boring lives if they watch soap operas so passionately everyday. 

As I got older, I realized that many people think their lives are like a soap opera. Theythink they're living in a drama every day. 

After I got married, there was a popular TV show called "Dallas" that I never watched. 
I had more important things to do than watch a soap opera. 

I remember everyone asking, "What happened to J.R. Ewing from Dallas?" This 
question was everywhere for a long time. I do not understand why people were so 
interested in a character that was not real. As far as I know, we never got an answer to 
that question. 

I know some people, even in my family, think their lives are like a soap opera. Theyhave so much drama in their lives that I wish there were a switch that I could turn off. 

When I was young, I realized that life is real. I wish I could make my life into a soap 
opera with a happy ending, but thankfully, it's not like that. 

Sometimes I make situations more dramatic than they need to be because I don't 
know what else to do. But that doesn't help the situation I'm facing. If my life were 
a soap opera, I would be able to change the channel to something more fun, like the 
Three Stooges. My life is more like theirs than any soap opera. 

This year, my wife and I will celebrate 55 years of marriage. I never thought I'd live 
long enough to see this day. I'll be turning 75 just before we celebrate our anniversary. 

I can honestly say that in those 55 years, I have not had a single bad day, and that is 
because I have been married the whole time and not single. 

Yes, we have had our dramatic moments, like when my wife first introduced me to 
broccoli. That was a soap opera day for sure. 

Another dramatic day was when my wife told me she was pregnant. I was not yet 21, 
and I didn't know if I could be a father. 

It took me a while to work through that soap opera drama, but I finally did when our 
first daughter was born. I just did not know what other drama was coming my way 
as a father. 

We ended up having two girls and a boy, and that was just the beginning of the drama-
just have a bunch of grandkids come over for a party and you will see what I mean. 

People often wonder why older people have gray hair. The answer is simple: the more 
grandkids and great-grandkids you have, the grayer your hair will get. Believe me, I'm 
proof. 

Soap operas and real life differ because soap operas are carefully scripted and planned. 
They even redo scenes multiple times. In real life, there is no script, and every day is a 
surprise without a repeat. If only I could write my own scenes, I might handle thingsbetter. Also, you don't get to redo a scene. 

Reflecting on this I remembered what The Apostle Paul said on this subject. 

1 Corinthians 2:11-12, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of 
man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of 
God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; 
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 

My life is not a soap opera, but a life of reality through the Holy Spirit, who is always 
real. 

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! 
Call Patricia 626-818-2698
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