How prepared are we for the next disaster? Attend “A Call to Action”, a community-wide disaster education forum, presented by the Ventura Council for Seniors on Tuesday, February 20th.

It will take place at Ventura Adult and Continuing Education, 5200 Valentine Rd. Registration will begin at 9:00 am. The program will be from 9:30 to 11:30 am and will include a personal story of loss and resiliency, and a panel that will discuss useful advice in disaster preparedness.

Spanish language interpretation will be provided. A free lunch will follow, courtesy of the Downtown Ventura Rotary. Please RSVP to 648-3035.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.” These words by Edward Everett Hale clearly reflect the attitude of LaVonne Askay as she returns to volunteer for Community Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary.

Askay began working as a volunteer in 1978 after retiring from the Ventura Unified School District. She served for 40 years as a flyer, front desk receptionist, and was on the board of directors for two terms. It was not until her husband’s illness required her to spend more time at home that she had to move from active to sustaining/inactive status.

Now, several months after her husband’s passing, Askay, at 96 years young, has returned to active service in CMH’s Auxiliary. It is natural to ask the question, why? “I don’t want to waste my time, and I want to give back to my community,” was her quick response.

Askay’s favorite part about being a volunteer was meeting the wonderful people who came into the hospital and working with the other volunteers. It was the friendships with her fellow volunteers that helped sustain her during her husband’s illness. “You always get more than you give,” reflected Askay. “The Auxiliary is a wonderful group to work with and I am proud to be a volunteer,” said Askay.

LaVonne Askay is proof that there is no age limit on being a volunteer. CMH’s Auxiliary offers a variety of ways to serve our community and the hospital. As Elizabeth Andrew put it, “Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.” Do you have the heart? Come join our team of volunteers as they strive to provide comfort to patients and their families while furthering the best interests of Community Memorial Hospital.

Applications are available at CMH’s front desk.

by Connie De La Rosa

After spending time speaking with many seniors at senior centers, assisted living places and elder events, many find themselves quite content in being part of a community that can relate to their present situation such as illnesses, losses, changes and challenges. Not only do they feel accepted and understood, they feel their day is fulfilled by being with their friends and acquaintances.

Many family caregivers may feel protective over their loved one and worry if they are able to attend functions or not ready to accept the fact that their loved one is interested in meeting someone their age to spend time with. Most elders really only want to be able to spend time with someone in having a cup of coffee or having a nice dinner and sharing some of their experiences good or bad. After listening to a few elders making statements such as “I don’t want to worry my kids so I talk to my neighbors, my friend, etc.” or “My kids don’t understand or respect my wishes.”

Elders have a need, like most of us, to speak to someone who can understand their situation. As long as their doctor approves and your loved one would like to join a senior center or attend a function, let them do so. This will only enhance their life to their fullest.

For more information on the nearest senior center or senior events, please call 420-9608 for free information and resources. Family Caregiver Resource Center Catholic Charities- OASIS.

by National Institute of Health

Patients and health care providers share a very personal relationship. Doctors need to know a lot about you, your family, and your lifestyle to give you the best medical care. And you need to speak up and share your concerns and questions. Clear and honest communication between you and your physician can help you both make smart choices about your health.

Begin with some preparation. Before your health exam, make a list of any concerns and questions you have. Bring this list to your appointment, so you won’t forget anything.

Do you have a new symptom? Have you noticed side effects from your medicines? Do you want to know the meaning of a certain word? Don’t wait for the doctor to bring up a certain topic, because he or she may not know what’s important to you. Speak up with your concerns.

“There’s no such thing as a dumb question in the doctor’s office,” says Dr. Matthew Memoli, an infectious disease doctor at NIH. “I try very hard to make my patients feel comfortable asking questions, no matter how dumb they think the question is.”

Even if the topic seems sensitive or embarrassing, it’s best to be honest and upfront with your health care provider. You may feel uncomfortable talking about sexual problems, memory loss, or bowel issues, but these are all important to your health. It’s better to be thorough and share a lot of information than to be quiet or shy about what you’re thinking or feeling. Remember, your doctor is used to talking about all kinds of personal matters.

Consider taking along a family member or friend when you visit the doctor. Your companion can help if there are language or cultural differences between you and your doctor. If you feel unsure about a topic, the other person can help you describe your feelings or ask questions on your behalf. It also helps to have someone else’s perspective. Your friend may think of questions or raise concerns that you hadn’t considered.

Many people search online for health information. They use Web-based tools to research symptoms and learn about different illnesses. But you can’t diagnose your own condition or someone else’s based on a Web search.

“As a physician, I personally have no problem with people looking on the Web for information, but they should use that information not as a way to self-diagnose or make decisions, but as a way to plan their visit with the doctor,” says Memoli. Ask your doctor to recommend specific websites or resources, so you know you’re getting your facts from a trusted source. Federal agencies are among the most reliable sources of online health information.

Many health care providers now use electronic health records. Ask your doctor how to access your records, so you can keep track of test results, diagnoses, treatment plans, and medicines. These records can also help you prepare for your next appointment.

After your appointment, if you’re uncertain about any instructions or have other questions, call or email your health care provider. Don’t wait until your next visit to make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, or anything else that might affect your health.

Your body is complicated and there’s a lot to consider, so make sure you do everything you can to get the most out of your medical visits.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. They host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following:

Social Services/Bereavement Groups

Ojai Caregiver Support Group: Monday, February 5th and Tuesday, February 13th (1st & 3rd Mondays, unless it falls on a holiday) from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at Continuous Care Center, Fireside Room, 1306 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai (behind Ojai Valley Community Hospital). Find encouragement and hope during your time as a caregiver. Share, listen and explore thoughts and feelings about the struggles, losses and successes of caring for your loved one. For more information call (805) 633-9056.

Ojai Adult Bereavement Support Group: Tuesdays, February 13th and 27th (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) 10:30 am-noon at Help of Ojai, West Campus 370 Baldwin Rd., Ojai. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Oxnard Adult Bereavement Support Group: on Mondays, February 5, 12, and 26th, and Tuesday, February 20th, from 3:00-4:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Dr., Oxnard. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected]. If you have any schedule questions, please check the website calendar (http://lmvna.org/calendar/index.html) or call us.

Ventura Adult Bereavement Support Group: Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Newly Bereaved Support Group in Ventura: Thursday, February 8th from 6-7:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109. This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected]. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Diabetes Classes

Ventura: Tuesday, February 6th from 1-2:30pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave, Suite 109. These meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month. General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.

Call 642-0239 for more information.

Joint Replacement Classes

Ventura: Monday, February 12th for both English and Spanish speaking. English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association offices, in the Community Room at 1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 109 in Ventura. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.

For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

by Patty Jenkins

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ “
Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Valentine’s Day, come and share what is in your heart and how you make it through your days living with Parkinson’s Disease; you just might end up helping someone more than you can imagine by sharing your own experiences battling this more-than-challenging disease! The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is having one of our Round Table Discussion meetings on Wednesday, February 14th from 1-3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living (5440 Ralston Street, Ventura).

We meet every second Wednesday of the month to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease, the latest research for a cure and better treatments, and also to hopefully learn helpful ways to deal with PD, support each other and maybe even make some new friends! We alternate throughout the year with round table meetings where we get to know each other and share our common challenges and unique coping solutions, along with a variety of speakers and presenters with helpful topics of interest including Movement Disorder Specialists, medical professionals and other professionals who educate us in many aspects about the resources available to help us organize and improve the quality of our lives that are suddenly confronted and changed by Parkinson’s Disease. We welcome all of our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves in this battle with Parkinson’s Disease along with us.

Please come and join the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group for this special Valentine’s Day Round Table Discussion. We will have some really great presenters coming up in this new year, but on this Valentine’s Day meeting, you are the “presenters”!

There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the. Extra parking is graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Please check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting. For more information please call me at 766-6070 We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.

by National Institute of Health We’ve all heard that exercise is good for you. Did you know that it’s as true for older people as it is for any age group? You’re never too old to get moving, get stronger, and improve your health, especially with options like functional training which helps improve your strength, stability and mobility within your life. If this is the first time you’re hearing this, doing some research into companies like TRX Training could at least help you get a better understanding of what this involves. Seeing as your health should be your top priority, it makes sense to find ways of improving it.

Fitting exercise and physical activity into your day can enhance your life in so many ways. Regular physical activity can improve your balance and boost or maintain your strength and fitness. If you think that you are too old and don’t have the energy to do exercise then there are steps you can take to improve your energy levels, like taking a glucuronolactone supplement. It may also improve your mood and help you manage or lessen the impact of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression. Despite these proven benefits, exercise and physical activity rates among older people are surprisingly low. Only about 30% of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. This falls to 15% of those between the ages of 65 and 74 and 5% of people age 85 and older. Experts recommend four types of exercise for older adults: endurance, balance, strength, and flexibility. Brisk walking, dancing, and other endurance exercises improve the health of your heart, lungs, and circulatory system. These exercises can make it easier for you to mow the lawn, climb stairs, and do other daily activities. Strength exercises include lifting weights or using resistance bands. They can increase muscle strength to help with activities such as carrying groceries or lifting grandchildren. Balance exercises can help prevent falls—a major health risk for older adults. Stretching, or flexibility exercises, can give you more freedom of movement for bending to tie your shoes or looking over your shoulder as you back out of the driveway. “Even if you haven’t been active previously, it’s important to get started and stay active,” says Dr. Richard J. Hodes, director of NIH’s National Institute on Aging. “We know that people want to live independently for as long as they possibly can. By exercising regularly and including more physical activity in their daily routine, older people can preserve their physical function, which is key to doing the everyday things they want to do.” To help you get started and keep moving, NIH brought together some of the nation’s leading experts on aging, exercise, and motivation. They developed a guide to exercise for older adults. The guide serves as the basis for a national exercise and physical activity campaign for people ages 50 and older. It’s called Go4Life. “Older adults can exercise safely, even those who have physical limitations,” Hodes says. “Go4Life is based on studies showing the benefits of exercise and physical activity for older people, including those with chronic health conditions.” Go4Life exercises are designed to be done safely at home without special equipment or clothing. The free book Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging is the core resource for the campaign. Other free materials, such as tip sheets, are also available. Workout to Go, a mini exercise guide, shows you how you can be active anytime, anywhere. To learn more, visit the Go4Life website at go4life.nia.nih.gov. You’ll find exercises, success stories, and tips to help you stay motivated. Or call 1-800-222-2225, or e-mail [email protected] (link sends e-mail).

Living in a cold house, apartment, or other building can cause hypothermia. In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. If someone you know is in a group facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.

People who are sick may have special problems keeping warm. Do not let it get too cold inside and dress warmly. Even if you keep your temperature between 60 and 65 degrees, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia, it may be a wise idea to get in touch with an air conditioning service so they’re able to keep your home the correct temperature all year round.

Here are some tips for keeping warm while you’re inside:

Set your heat at 68°F or higher. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you are not using. Close the vents and shut the doors in these rooms. Place a rolled towel in front of all doors to keep out drafts.

Make sure your house isn’t losing heat through windows. Keep your blinds and curtains closed. If you have gaps around the windows, try using weather stripping or caulk to keep the cold air out.

Get the WDR Roofing Company – Lakeway to look at your roof to check for any damage that could be letting heat out and the cold in.

Dress warmly on cold days even if you are staying in the house. Throw a blanket over your legs. Wear socks and slippers.

When you go to sleep, wear long underwear under your pajamas, and use extra covers. Wear a cap or hat.

Make sure you eat enough food to keep up your weight. If you don’t eat well, you might have less fat under your skin. Body fat helps you to stay warm.

Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.

Ask family or friends to check on you during cold weather. If a power outage leaves you without heat, try to stay with a relative or friend.

In collaboration with New Hope Senior Services, please join Cypress Place Senior Living for an Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregivers Support Group. Facilitator for the support group will be Norma Featherston, R.N., M.S., Gerontology. Featherston is a geriatric care consultant with New Hope Senior Services.

Join them for these informative meetings and gain support from others in a caring and understanding environment. Ask questions and get straight answers from people who have been there. Learn creative and caring problem solving techniques and caregiving ideas, and discover that you are not all alone in the way you feel.

“My husband was diagnosed at age twenty eight with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, in which the end result is dementia,” said Featherston. “The problem was this was not documented until much later, so I received little help from doctors at the time,” she said.

It was a long and difficult journey, in which Featherston became depressed, worn out, and desperate for doing something to help. She finally hired a caregiver and went back to school in 2006, and graduated in 2009 with a Master’s Degree in Gerontology.

“I worked at the Alzheimer’s Association for eight years where I counseled caregivers, taught classes, spoke to civic and other groups, and ran several support groups, “ said Featherston. “I was able to give my knowledge of caregiving to those who were caregiving for someone with dementia related diseases.”

Support group meetings led by Featherston are held from 9:30a.m. to 11a.m. the first and third Wednesday of every month at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura. The support group is free and open to the public. Seating is limited so please call to reserve a seat. To RSVP, please call 650-8000.

Cypress Place Senior Living is a premiere senior community in Ventura County. The beautiful senior living campus features an Active Senior Living community and adjacent Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care community connected by a lushly landscaped courtyard.

Cypress Place Senior Living is located at 1200 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura. To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.