Aging Well September 30th 2014

Can you imagine any services or supports you could use to continue to live in your own home? Home delivered meals? Handyman services? Or maybe you are caring for a spouse or parent. What services could you use to better care for them? Respite care? A resource guide to find existing services?

In 2013 the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 21 which directed the Aging and People with Disabilities Department to develop a plan to improve and strengthen Oregon’s public long term services and supports system. But they need to hear from you: what challenges and issues you or your family face and any ideas you may have to address those challenges.

Aging and People with Disabilities Department have scheduled two meetings in The Dalles on Monday, October 6^th. The first is at the Center from 12:30 – 2:00 (you can come at noon and have lunch) followed by an evening meeting at Spooky’s from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

I would encourage anyone interested in the future of services and supports for older adults to attend one of these meetings to share your ideas and what you consider are the unmet needs. Representatives from the Aging and People with Disabilities Department as well as State Representative John Huffman will be in attendance to listen to your comments and suggestions.

Never has there been a time when so much information is available - all by just by searching on the Internet. But that now means the individual faces the difficult task, and the responsibility, of separating the false and misleading from the accurate and reliable. This is particularly true regarding health information - when the knowing the difference can affect your wellbeing.

At the Center’s last Tuesday Lecture, Molly Hamlin, from the Planetree Health Resource Center, provided the following tips on how to protect yourself from the snake oil salesmen on the Internet. You should visit sites that are set up by reputable, established medical institutions or healthcare organizations - usually identified by the .edu, .org, .net or .gov in their web address. Make sure the information is current – medical knowledge is constantly expanding. And share with your healthcare provider any health information you find on the Internet.

What you should avoid are personal web sites on health issues: “Jane’s Alzheimer’s Help Page”; sites selling products:  “Miracle Cure for Arthritis - only $29.95”; and sites that discount conventional medical practices: “What Your Doctor Doesn’t Want You to Know about Lowering Cholesterol”. Finally, as I have often stressed, do not disclose any personal information. If you do, at best you may be bombarded with unwanted solicitations, and at worst your identity and personal information may be compromised.

Two reliable resources for health information are the Planetree Health Resource Center’s web site at

http://www.mcmc.net/library. And Medlineplus (the National Library of Medicine’s website at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/) where you can find basic information on a comprehensive list of health topics including complimentary medicines, drugs and supplements, as well as tutorials and videos.

The topic for the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on October 7^th will be “Aging in Place – the challenges and benefits”. There will be several short video presentations followed by a group discussion. Everyone is welcome to participate.

For the Center’s Tuesday Night Music beginning at 7:00 on October 7th, Andre, K.C. and Tom will be performing for your dancing and listening pleasure. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

And the last reminder. The Baby Back Rib Dinner sponsored by The Springs at Mill Creek is this Friday from 4:30 – 7:30 at the Center. Besides the finger lickin’ ribs, there will be a silent auction, and music by Hardshell Harmony. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Center, Kllindt’s Booksellers or at the door. All proceeds support Meals-on-Wheels and the Center.

The singing duo that recorded “Wake Up, Little Suzy”, their first #1 hit in 1957, were the Everly Brothers. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Nadine McCracken.) 

For this week’s “Remember When” quote let’s move to the art world of the 1960’s. What American artist, a leading figure in the Pop Art Movement made the prediction "In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a case of Campbell’s Soup.

Well, it’s been another week trying to keep this from that. Until we meet again, don’t fret over what you can’t control - it won’t make any difference anyway.

"Did you ever feel like the whole world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?" George Gobel on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show.