The City of Ventura and the City of Ojai have entered into a cooperative letter agreement regarding the Ventura River lawsuit. The agreement confirms that the City of Ventura is not seeking attorneys’ fees from individuals or businesses in the case, including those who received notice packets.
Officials from the cities met last month to discuss the matter. Officials with the City of Ojai shared that they were continuing to hear concerns from their residents that the City of Ventura might seek costly attorneys’ fees from them in the lawsuit. Ojai officials requested that Ventura enter into a letter agreement confirming Ventura is not seeking attorneys’ fees to ease these concerns. Ventura officials appreciated the suggestion, and both entities worked with their legal counsel to have it arranged.
City of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere signed the letter agreement after the Ventura City Council voted in closed session on Tuesday, September 8, to authorize the letter agreement, confirming that the City of Ventura will not pursue attorneys’ fees from individuals or business named or noticed in the case.
“Ventura is pleased to fulfill this request from its colleagues in Ojai, and we thank them for approaching us with this proposed solution to help address some concerns in our communities,” said LaVere. “We hope this agreement demonstrates that we are committed to developing cooperative solutions for the Ventura River Watershed.”
“We hope this agreement will provide some relief for our residents,” said Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston. “This is a good example of cities working collaboratively for common sense solutions.” Councilmember William Weirick added, “We’re pleased the City of Ventura was willing to address our concerns on this aspect of the lawsuit. We look forward to further collaborative efforts towards resolution.”
The signed letter agreement will be posted on the City of Ventura’s website dedicated exclusively to this issue, www.venturariver.com, and at the City of Ojai website, www.ojaicity.org.
This documentary follows the heroic life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who started as a young female law student challenging the norms of equality to attend Harvard Law School during a time when men did not want women there, through her career as an equal rights attorney, to her appointment on the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg became known as the Notorious R.B.G., champion for equality and the Great Dissenter against an ever-growing ultra-conservative U.S. Supreme court.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University, where she met her husband, Martin Ginsburg. While attending Harvard Law School in her early twenties (being one of only nine women to the 500 men attending), she was caring for her two-year-old daughter and husband who was going through radiation therapy due to cancer. She gathered her husband’s coursework (who was also in law school) from friends so he wouldn’t fall behind and still handled her own coarse load, somehow managing to make the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School and after graduating Columbia, she became a law professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School. Inspired by her students, she agreed to teach a course in the new subject of “Gender and Law” as well as a course on “Women and the Law”. Ruth also began dealing with sex discrimination cases, becoming a litigator during the emergence of a Woman’s Rights movement in the 1970s, which had the potential of playing a similar societal role to the Black Civil Right’s movement of the 60s.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg advocated for both men and women facing gender-based bias, successfully arguing five of six cases regarding gender discrimination before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg argued these cases in the 1970s, when gender discrimination was rampant in U.S. society and an all-male Supreme Court was generally skeptical of claims of bias against women.).
Ruth was always humble and shy, and Marty loved and respected Ruth so much that he went on a relentless campaign to get her nominated to the Supreme Court, using his many contacts in the business and legal communities. Ginsburg was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Jimmy Carter, and later appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton.
Justice Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, at the time along with Sandra Day O’Conner. Ruth guided that court to understand that women cannot be excluded just because they are women and to start with an assumption that both genders must be treated equally. Ginsburg’s style was to build consensus and was more in the middle of how the justices ranked in ideology in 1993 on a scale from liberal to conservative. Though opposites in most every way, Ginsburg and Scalia developed a strong friendship, were regularly seen attending the opera together and attended speaking events together with a friendly jovial presence.
Justice Ginsburg was a pioneering women’s rights advocate that inspired a younger generation to get involved in the court system with her quick wit and great sense of humor. She became an icon in her 80’s being considered by many to be a superhero, with mottoes appearing like “Can’t spell Truth without Ruth” and becoming known as the Notorious R.B.G. She served on the Supreme Court 27 years until her unfortunate passing this last week at the age of 87 after several battles with cancer.
William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the mirror to your soul”.
Our masks cannot mask or diminish the power of connection that is transmitted through the eyes of another; a window opens to our own lives, getting a glimpse of ourselves in the moment. Our eyes don’t lie: they show the truth no matter what face we put on.
These are eye-opening times we are living in! Studies show, when a smile reaches our eyes the brows raise and we become, ‘bright eyed’. A wink and a smile can bring comfort to the lonely or ones lost from the unraveling of their personal normal’s, desperately clinging to their old and familiar way of life. And now faced with moving forward in new ways for re-building a better tomorrow for our children’s children. And under all that, there is this ever presence of sadness from lack of touch and soul exchanging hugs with friends and loved ones.
The great Roman philosopher, Cicero said, “The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter”.
There’s no denying, it doesn’t feel ‘natural’ let alone comfortable to barricade our smiles, let alone breathe easily and naturally. It’s not natural! Our mouths like our eyes are the instruments of our expression. Concealed with our new accessory made of cloth, the eyes become our interpreters, relying upon our ‘orbs of many colors’ to communicate thought, and like sign language is for the hearing impaired, they tell our story.
According to Dr. Jeffery Benjamin, “Our eyes ability is limited physically, but our hearts covey the most poignant picture through the eyes”.
The heart knows what the heart needs. Through the language of the eyes, we can hear the dialog of another’s soul. Setting our own stories aside, allows unspoken words of caring, love and compassion to transfer from one heart to another. We all have the ability and opportunity to communicate with our eyes, with heart-sensitive understanding and solidarity; we are not alone in these crazy changing times.
Karen Leslie Ventura
Dear Editor, Sheldon Brown:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for bringing us the Breeze newspaper for the past thirteen years. It is a journalistic jewel to your readers. A shoutout to all involved: your dedicated staff, the advertisers and the generous doners.
You, too, can help the cause. See page two for information on how to be a part of a special group.
Now, we can all help to keep this publication alive.
Sincerely,
James Francis Gray
Dear Everybody,
Well, I always knew he wanted to own the U.S. of A the same way Putin owns Russia. But I didn’t realize he had gotten so close. Yikes. I didn’t think he had brains enough to put the right pieces together.and get so close to getting all the goodies. The story is far from over. This country and our structure will be long getting repaired. A lot to digest and a lot of make sense of. And lots and lots of thought and ideas and who knows what else will be needed to make the repairs needed to make us a United States of America again. I don’t feel paranoid, but I think I’ll need a lot more paranoia to understand a lot of what has happened and a lot more that is needed.
Help me get my brain together. Help yourself to whatever is deemed valuable.
xxxxEs and Manny
When checking for gas leaks, always remember to use safety matches to prevent accidents. ~ Lawrence Brotherton
∙At a special City Council meeting held on Tuesday, September 8, the Council approved the extension of the popular ‘Main Street Moves’ program. This is a temporary outdoor business expansion program that allows businesses within the 6 block closure area of historic Downtown Ventura Main St (Fir St. to Figueroa Plaza) to expand onto the streets and sidewalks as a means to support local commerce during COVID-19. Main Street Moves is a collaborative effort between the City of Ventura and the Downtown Ventura Partners.
Happy to say that this program has really helped keep restaurants in business but not sure how it has affected non-restaurant businesses that are open. Plus there have been complaints about a lot more traffic on Poli.
Another good thing that the City is doing is to allow restaurants to expand outside by removing some of their required parking.
∙ It’s wonderful that Governor Newsom signed a bill that outlaws the retail sale of flavored tobacco products in California. The new law takes effect on January 1 and is a result of a surge in teen use of flavored tobacco. I know that some adults who smoke say that flavored tobacco has allowed them to stop smoking (ain’t they both smoking?), but my concern is to keep young people from starting to smoke,because once they do, in most cases, it lasts a lifetime.
∙According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Northern Hemisphere just sweltered through its hottest summer on record. Globally, August ranked as the second-hottest month since record keeping began in 1880.
Historic wildfires and extreme weather events in the U.S. have sharpened focus on global warming and the catastrophic impacts of climate change (we know of course that climate change is a hoax even if it was 121 degrees in Woodland Hills).
∙My condolences, and love goes out to the Baker family for the passing of their daughter Izzy as reported in our last issue. She was, as Yiddish calls her, part of the Breeze mishpucha.
∙SPAN Thrift Store is now open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools, if you have any of these items you no longer use. See more on the pet page.
∙Bike Week ends on September 25th. The VC Transportation Commission is asking you to bike instead of driving one day per week. This is an annual event encouraging residents to use their bicycles instead of their cars. If you are working at home, you can ride your bike around the block and then come back home thereby not using your car to get to work. If you go to goventura.org/bike-week you can enter to win a $100 VISA gift card. The deadline is September 30th.
∙ Our nation has lost an amazing lady in Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a brilliant justice and a trailblazer. She leaves an extraordinary legacy. Ginsburg was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York and earned her bachelor’s degree at Cornell University. She was married to Martin D. Ginsburg and was a mother before starting law school at Harvard, where the 5-foot tall Ruth was one of the few women in her class. Ginsburg transferred to Columbia Law School, where she graduated first in her class. She was a professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School, teaching civil procedure as one of the few women in her field.
Just hours after Ginsburg died, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Trump’s pick to replace Ginsburg will get a vote on the Senate floor, prompting an angry response from Democrats.
This is just another example of the hypocrisy of our political system (on both sides).When Obama nominated U.S. Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia, McConnell and the majority of his Republican Senate colleagues refused to grant a confirmation hearing 10 months before the presidential election saying the next president should make the appointment.
At the time, Ted Cruz was running to be the Republican presidential nominee and released a statement, saying, “I proudly stand with my Republican colleagues in our shared belief that we should not vote on any nominee until the next president is sworn into office.” Not all Republicans agree.
Now Cruz and many of his Republican colleagues have a different take.
∙If an alien just landed here, they would think that Biden was president and Trump was running against him. Trump ads (and words) show bad things going on right now and state, “If Biden was president this is what the country would look like, but if law and order Trump is elected this wouldn’t be happening.”
Also, Trump commenting on the shooting of two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies stated that Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden is weak on law and order issues. How is Biden at all responsible for what’s going on in this country? Wait, isn’t this happening on Trump’s watch? Occasionally, reporters need to remind him that he is president.
∙In a tweet, the president urged voters in North Carolina to vote twice, once by mail and once in person. Voting twice is illegal in all states. Even Trump’s tweet might be a violation of North Carolina election law, which specifies that “to induce another to commit a fraud to register or vote at more than one precinct or more than one time, in the same primary or election” is unlawful.
∙House Majority Whip James Clyburn on Thursday slammed Attorney General William Barr for comparing coronavirus lockdowns in the US to slavery, saying the comments are “the most ridiculous, tone-deaf, God-awful thing I’ve ever heard.”
∙Trump said recently at a White House press briefing; “I really do believe we’re rounding the corner” the same day that 1,000 more Americans died. And the deaths of 200,000 coming up.
∙ According to a federal health official, Trump-appointed communications officials at the US Department of Health and Human Services pushed to change language to weekly science reports released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so as not to undermine his political message.
∙An overwhelming majority of Americans have no confidence or trust in President Donald Trump to verify the safety of any coronavirus vaccine, a new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows.
Only 9 percent, of U.S. adults said they have a great deal of confidence in Trump’s ability, or intention, to confirm the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine. Sixty-nine percent of Americans in the poll released Sunday said they don’t have any confidence in Trump’s endorsement of the vaccine.
This, coupled with people concerned about the safety of vaccines, especially one that is being fast-tracked might mean that a vaccine may never work if only a minority of people participate.
At some point in their lives, usually because of illness, many people will lose the ability to make medical decisions or communicate what they want from their healthcare. The legal documents that allow you to spell out your healthcare decisions ahead of time – so you continue to get the care you want and avoid treatments you do not want – are called advance directives (also known as advance care plans).
If you lose the ability to make decisions, someone will have to make decisions for you. The person you choose to make those decisions for you is known as a surrogate. Your surrogate should try to honor any wishes you discussed with them while you were still capable of making decisions. Their job is to make the decisions you would make for yourself if you were still able to do so. That’s why creating an advance directive by thinking about your priorities, discussing them with a surrogate, and writing them on a legal document is so important.
Advance directives go into effect only when you lose the ability to make decisions. (Only healthcare professionals can determine if you do or don’t have the ability to make decisions.)
There are two common types of advance directives that express your wishes about the health care you desire:
Living wills
Durable power of attorney for healthcare
Different states may have different names for durable power of attorney for healthcare, such as healthcare proxy or healthcare declaration.
A specific and common example of an advance directive is a “do not resuscitate” order (or DNR), which guides care only if your heart stops beating (cardiac arrest) or you are no longer breathing. Someone who chooses a DNR order may or may not choose to go without other life-sustaining treatments, including hospital or intensive care.
Whenever possible, your healthcare providers should respect the informed choices that you have expressed while you were still capable of making decisions. Following these advance directives demonstrates respect for you as an individual. It is a legal and ethical obligation. Advance directives can be stopped or changed orally or in writing by you at any time, as long as you maintain the capacity to make decisions.
Think about what treatment you would or would not want if you were critically ill or no longer able to communicate your wishes. One way to do this is to think about people you know who have been in that situation. They may be family members, friends, acquaintances, or famous people. What did you think of their treatment? Would you want that for yourself?
Discuss your wishes with your surrogate, relatives and other people close to you and your healthcare providers while you are still able. It is never too early to have these conversations.
Document your wishes. Your advance directives should be written down carefully so that your wishes are specific, clear, and available later if needed. They should be reevaluated and revised whenever your medical condition changes.
Advance directives help patients and their families. It has been found that advance care planning helps to allow people to have improved satisfaction with their quality of care, die in their preferred place, receive less intensive treatments at the end of life, and reduce hospitalizations at the end of life. It also results in lower stress, depression and anxiety in the surviving relatives of a person who has died.
Throughout the United States, there are laws or legal opinions that authorize living wills. Generally, these laws allow you to direct healthcare providers to withhold or withdraw treatment that is keeping you alive if you become terminally ill and are no longer able to make decisions.
∙SPAN Thrift Store is now open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools if you’ve got items you no longer use.
SPAN Thrift Store regularly provides $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.
Two upcoming clinics in October are: Friday, October 9th at the Albert H. Soliz Library – El Rio, 2820 Jourdan St., Oxnard, 93036 and a second on Friday, October 23rd at SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main).
Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.
Dr. Sisk performed a facial reconstructive procedure on Black Balls.
∙The HSVC (Humane Society of Ventura County) would like to recognize our Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Christina Sisk for her recent outstanding work in reconstructing the face of a severely injured feral cat.
Affectionately known as Black Balls, this injured cat was brought to the shelter by our rescue partners, Foundling Kitten Society. His mouth and lips were completely torn open and he had a huge gash up the side of his nose. It is unknown how the cat received these injuries. Dr. Sisk performed a facial reconstructive procedure on Black Balls and was able to repair nearly all the damage on the injured cat’s face. As an added bonus, the shelter was able to cover the cost of Black Balls’ procedure and the Herman Bennett Foundation was able to cover the cost of his neuter surgery.
The HSVC has many resources to assist those wanting to help reduce the overpopulation of feral and stray cats in our community. We accept feral cats for TNR (trap, neuter, and release) surgeries for free every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The shelter also provides feral cat traps to those wanting to trap local feral and community cats for spaying/neutering. Please call the shelter at 805-646-6505 for more information or to make an appointment to bring in a feral cat for spay/neuter surgery.
∙A vet nurse has recently been made aware of the toxicity for pets, of a fairly common prescription cream for humans. Veterinary Nurse Kaylene Doust, said that losing one pet can be heartbreaking, especially if they are young and their death is sudden. “Losing two young pets within a few days of one another is even more tragic.”
Doust said that these were the circumstances faced by a local pet owner after her dogs accidentally ingested Fluorouracil 5% topical skin cancer cream (in this instance marketed as Efudix 5%).
In the early evening, soon after applying this cream to her skin from a nearly full tube, the owner left the room to answer a phone call, leaving the capped tube on a nearby coffee table. When she returned, she noticed the cream all over the blanket on the lounge and found the oldest of her three dogs had the punctured and the near empty tube in its mouth.’
The woman removed the tube and placed the blanket into the washing machine. With all three dogs yet unaffected, no clear idea of which ones were exposed, and no sense of the danger posed by ingestion of this chemical, no veterinary advice was sought at this time. After a few days two of her dogs died.
∙September is National Preparedness Month, and planning ahead is the key to keeping yourself and your pets safe if disaster strikes. It is important to remember: If it’s not safe for you, it is not safe for your pets.
You can follow these tips to make an emergency plan for your pets:
1. Microchip your pets: Microchip identification is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if you are separated. Be sure to keep the microchip registration up-to-date, and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who resides out of your immediate area.
2. Keep a collar and tag on all cats and dogs: Keep several current phone numbers on your animal’s identification tag. Identification on indoor-only cats is especially important. If your home is damaged during a disaster, they could easily escape.
3. Plan a pet-friendly place to stay: Search in advance for out-of-area pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities, or make a housing exchange agreement with an out-of-area friend or relative. Never leave your pet behind if you evacuate!
4. Use the buddy system: Exchange pet information, evacuation plans and house keys with a few trusted neighbors or nearby friends. If you’re caught outside evacuation lines when an evacuation order is issued, your neighbors or friends can evacuate your pets for you.
5. Prepare an emergency kit for each animal: To help alleviate some of the stress that happens during an evacuation, we recommend creating and taking an emergency kit for each of your animals if you are forced to leave unexpectedly. You should keep your kit in an easy-to-grab container or bag, and periodically check and update as needed. Here is a list of suggested items to keep in your kit(s):
6. Identify emergency veterinary facilities outside of your immediate area: If a disaster has affected your community, emergency veterinary facilities may be closed.
7. Plan for temporary confinement: Physical structures, like walls, fences and barns may be destroyed during a disaster. Have a plan for keeping your animals safely confined. You may need a tie-out, crate or kennel. Caregivers of multiple cats or other small animals may want to use an EvacSak instead of a carrier, which is easy to store and use for transport. Read more tips for ensuring your pets’ safety during an evacuation.
8. Comfort your animals: Your animals will appreciate your calm presence and soft, comforting voice if they are stressed following a disaster or while evacuated, and you may find it comforting to spend time with them, too. Some animals, especially cats, may be too scared to be comforted. Interact with them on their terms. Some animals may find toys, especially long-lasting chew toys, comforting.
9. Know where to search for lost animals: When animals become lost during a disaster, they often end up at a local shelter. Keep the locations and phone numbers of the shelters in your area readily accessible.
10. Get children involved in disaster preparedness plans: The book Ready or Not, Here it Comes! by RedRover Responders Team Leader, Howard Edelstein, discusses how to prepare for all types of disasters to safeguard families and the animals in their care.
To learn more visit https://redrover.org/resource/pet-disaster-preparedness-2/ and download our 5 Animal Disaster Preparedness Essentials checklist (PDF) here.
Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. In fact, studies show that “taking it easy” is risky. Often, inactivity is more to blame than age when older people lose the ability to do things on their own. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.
Keep and improve your strength so you can stay independent
Have more energy to do the things you want to do and reduce fatigue
Improve your balance and lower risk of falls and injuries from falls
Manage and prevent some diseases like arthritis, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and 8 types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer
Sleep better at home
Reduce levels of stress and anxiety
Reach or maintain a healthy weight and reduce risk of excessive weight gain
Control your blood pressure
Possibly improve or maintain some aspects of cognitive function, such as your ability to shift quickly between tasks or plan an activity
Perk up your mood and reduce feelings of depression
Quick Tip
Being active can help prevent future falls and fractures. For tips to help prevent falls at home, read Fall-Proofing Your Home.
Research has shown that exercise is not only good for your physical health, it also supports emotional and mental health. You can exercise with a friend and get the added benefit of emotional support. So, next time you’re feeling down, anxious, or stressed, try to get up and start moving!
Reduce feelings of depression and stress, while improving your mood and overall emotional well-being
Increase your energy level
Improve sleep
Empower you to feel more in control
In addition, exercise and physical activity may possibly improve or maintain some aspects of cognitive function, such as your ability to shift quickly between tasks, plan an activity, and ignore irrelevant information.
Here are some exercise ideas to help you lift your mood:
Walking, bicycling, or dancing. Endurance activities increase your breathing, get your heart pumping, and boost chemicals in your body that may improve mood.
Yoga. This mind and body practice typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation.
Tai Chi. This “moving meditation” involves shifting the body slowly, gently, and precisely, while breathing deeply.
Activities you enjoy. Whether it’s gardening, playing tennis, kicking around a soccer ball with your grandchildren, or something else, choose an activity you want to do, not one you have to do.
As you get older, your doctor may recommend vaccinations—shots—to help prevent certain illnesses and to keep you healthy.
Talk with your doctor about which of the following shots you need, and make sure to protect yourself by keeping your vaccinations up to date.
Flu, short for influenza is a virus that can cause fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and muscle aches. Flu is very serious when it gets in your lungs. Older adults are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from flu, such as pneumonia.
The flu is easy to pass from person to person. The virus also changes over time, which means you can get it over and over again. When the virus changes, annual flu shot ingredients change. Also, the protection you get from a flu shot lessens with time, especially in older people. That’s why most people (age 6 months and older) should get the flu shot each year.
Ideally, you should get your shot between September and November. Then, you may be protected when the flu season starts. It takes at least 2 weeks for your shot to start working. There are special flu shots designed specifically for people age 65 and older. Medicare will pay for the shot, and so will many private health insurance plans. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office or local health department, as well as some grocery and drug stores. The vaccine is the same wherever you receive it.
Besides tasting good cherries could reduce joint pain.
From in Health
Joint pain is a common malady debilitating many people. Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain, and arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults in the country.
For people who struggle with daily pain in their joints, the search for relief can be constant. The good news is there are some natural and tasty options that may help keep joint pain at bay. Certain foods contain anti-inflammatory components that are beneficial for joint-pain sufferers. Here are six foods that can help relieve inflamed joints.
Cherries
Studies have shown cherries reduce inflammation due to the anthocyanins that give them their bright red color. If cherries aren’t your flavor, other dark berries like blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries also provide similar benefits for your joints.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet has a wide array of health benefits, and it can help with joint pain as well. Some research has shown the diet can reduce pain in osteoarthritis sufferers. The diet generally consists of fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fats like olive oil, high amounts of fish, and low amounts of red meat. It is believed to have benefits similar to using nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.
Fish
Certain kinds of fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and pain. Good sources of omega-3 are salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, and herring. Omega-3 can also be found in other foods, including soy, walnuts, pecans, and flaxseed.
Turmeric
Turmeric may not be a common spice for many people, but adding it to your diet could just be a matter of trying more exotic foods. It is commonly found in curry, as well as other Middle Eastern and South Asian foods. Studies have found the spice can be effective in relieving joint pain. It can be used as a supplement or just consumed in delicious food.
Healthy Oils
Extra virgin olive oil and other healthy oils have properties that can reduce inflammation and help with joint pain. Oleocanthal, which is found in olive oil, can have similar effects as nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin. Olive oil and other oils also contain omega-3 fatty acids.
According to Greg McCammond, executive chef at Mountain View Rehabilitation and Care Center, diet is an important part of joint pain management. “We use a lot of salmon, blue and blackberries, whole butter, green and herbal teas, tuna, yogurt, green curry and a lot of olive oil,” he says. “If you see a sheen on top of the toilet after you go, that’s a good sign that you’re getting an abundance of lubricating oils.”
Whole Grains
Whole grains can reduce inflammation by lowering the level of a certain protein in the blood. This protein, called CRP, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other ailments. A variety of foods are rich in whole grains, including oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and other foods. Stick to whole wheat bread, rather than white bread, and pick whole grain cereals.
Living with joint pain can make some activities difficult or even impossible. Fortunately, eating right can help reduce this pain. Talk with your doctor about how to treat your joint pain and whether dietary changes can improve your quality of life. Then it’s time to eat, drink, and enjoy relaxed joints.
Make your room a calm place can help with sleeping.
Getting some shut-eye can be one of the best parts of the day, but as you age, it can become more difficult to do so. Older adults can have a more difficult time getting to sleep, whether it is due to medications, stress, or other factors.
Anh Nguyen, PACC Resource for Ensign Services, says many elderly people suffer from insomnia and are sleepy during the day. “Excessive tiredness is not only frustrating, but it can lead to difficulty driving and performing other daily activities,” she says. “It is important for people suffering from sleep problems to talk to their doctor about changes that can help them sleep better.”
Although sleep troubles are common among the elderly, you don’t have to chalk it up to getting older. Some lifestyle changes can make a big difference in getting a good night’s sleep. Here are a few things you can do—or not do—to make your sleep more sound.
Don’t Self-medicate
If you are having trouble sleeping at night, it is important to talk to your doctor before you head to the pharmacy and grab some over-the-counter sleep aids. A recent poll found that 46 percent of older adults have trouble falling asleep one night or more each week, but most of them did not talk to their doctor about the problem. Of those polled, 14 percent said they regularly take a medication or supplement to help them sleep. However, sleep aids are not meant to be used long-term and can cause problems for elderly individuals. Older people can experience confusion, constipation, and a higher risk of falls. Before reaching for a sleep aid, talk to your doctor about the best way to tackle your sleepless nights.
Cut Back on Alcohol
People who have trouble sleeping may use alcohol to help them fall asleep. While alcohol can make a person fall asleep faster, it can also have some unintended consequences that lead to a lower quality of sleep. Alcohol can cause a person to wake up frequently at night and earlier in the morning, both of which may make a person tired during the day.
Get Your Snoring Checked
A major contributor to disrupted sleep and feeling tired during the day is sleep apnea, though many people may not know they have it. Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing for periods as they sleep. If people tell you that your snoring can be heard in other rooms or that you stop breathing at night, talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea.
Practice Better Hygiene
One tip that is often recommended for better sleep is something called “sleep hygiene.” Sleep hygiene includes all the activities you do during the day that affect how well you sleep at night. Good sleep hygiene practices include establishing a regular bedtime, staying away from caffeine within a few hours of bedtime, and starting a pre-bed ritual. It also helps to take a short afternoon nap and exercise regularly.
Create a Calming Sleep Environment
Make your bed and your bedroom a restful sanctuary. Keep it cool, dark, and quiet, and try using blackout curtains and earplugs to tune out the noise and light. Make your room a calm place, without bright and loud electronics. Keep a book by your bedside rather than a screen.
If going to sleep is difficult for you, you are not alone. Many older adults have a hard time falling asleep for a variety of reasons. Give these tips a try, and be sure to talk to your doctor about any underlying problems that could be contributing to your sleep issues.
