Aging Well February 19th 2013

To be safe, you keep your door locked. But if you are home alone and incapacitated from a health emergency, have you ever thought how the emergency responders will enter to provide you the necessary care?

Recently, a representative from the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue spoke to the Meals-on-Wheels lunch crowd at the Center describing the advantages for older adults of installing a Lock Box at their home.

He pointed out that if someone is incapacitated at home and the doors are locked, when the emergency responders arrive, there is no way they can enter unless through a forced entry. But with a Lock Box installed, which you can purchase through Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, the emergency responders can remove the entrance key from the Lock Box, enter the residence and provide the needed help. Afterwards they can return the key to the box. You don’t need to hide a key under the doormat, or hope your neighbor is home. There are no monthly monitoring charges, and Lock Boxes range in price from $165 to $265 – cheaper than replacing the front door. And they are UL listed against physical attack. To learn more about the advantages of installing a Lock Box at your home, call the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue at 541-296-9445.

Norovirus has recently been in the news. It is commonly referred to as “stomach flu” a gastrointestinal illness which results in some combination of diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. And is often confused with Influenza - a contagious respiratory illness. But if you are like me who thinks that constantly using the alcohol sanitizers will prevent you from catching the Norovirus bug, I recently learned from Teri Thalhofer, director of the North Central Health District, to think otherwise. Alcohol sanitizers are not enough to prevent the spread of Norovirus. Instead you should wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, as well as disinfecting surface areas. (And I have been told a good rule of thumb is to wash your hands for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. But I would suggest if you are in a public restroom - not to sing it out loud!)

Unfortunately, there is not a vaccine for Norovirus. And if you have it once, it won’t protect you from having it again - which just doesn’t seem fair. So wash your hands often while singing Happy Birthday and maybe you can avoid spending several days in close proximity to the bathroom.

Every Monday the Center’s Quilters lay bare their fingers and thumbs, stitching together beautiful quilts to raise funds for the Center. But this time they have out done themselves. They have just completed a quilt incorporating fifteen cloth historical pictures of The Dalles. It is a one-of-a-kind quilt that you can now see displayed at the Discovery Center, and later will be moved to “A Whole Ball of Yarn” shop at 421 E 2nd street downtown.  For a chance to win this lovely historical themed quilt, you can purchase raffle tickets at the Center for $1 apiece.

A couple of quick reminders - because I know there is the possibility you have no recollection of what I wrote last week. The Passport to Happiness event for February on the importance of social health will be Wednesday (20^th) from 3:00 – 4:30 at the Senior Center with Julie Reynolds leading the discussion. And the Zumba Gold class starts also on Wednesday from 9:00 – 9:45 in the Center’s basement.

And before the weather turns warmer and the ants start to gather on the kitchen counter – playing tonight at the Center is Truman followed next week by “For the Good times”. Music begins at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated

Jerry Lee Lewis sang the #1 hit “Great Balls of Fire which was recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis Tennessee. (And the randomly selected winner of five quilt raffle tickets is Jenny Garner.) But back to the early days of television - a storehouse of memories from when television was young, innocent and black and white. This actor, born in 1894, won three Academy Awards for best supporting actor but is probably better known for starring in the TV comedy “The Real McCoys” from 1957 – 1963. What was this actor’s name? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the recording of “Old Rivers” released in 1962.

Well, it’s been another week, looking for the cherry on top.  Until we meet again, explore the impossible - you may be surprised.

"Remember—when you are falling on your face you are actually moving forward." Anonymous