Homage helps to improve lives, one older adult at a time Page 2
A letter from the Homage staff
www.homage.org
VOL. 45, NO. 11 | DECEMBER 2018
Page 2
The epidemic of loneliness must be treated by doctors Page 2
Volunteer engagement at Homage Senior Services Page 4
RSVP volunteer opportunities Page 4
Homage holds its 15th Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving event Page 5
Give the gift of recording elders’ cherished memories Page 6
The benefits of doctorprescribed megadoses of vitamin D Page 8
Crossing the Atlantic in style aboard the Queen Mary 2 Page 9
Tips and tricks for managing your holidayseason stress Page 10 Learn about programs and services available to seniors by visiting www.homage.org.
Senior services group knows: there’s no place like home By Adam Worcester Special to The Herald LYNNWOOD — From the outside, Lori Anderson’s red-and-white rambler is unremarkable. Inside, though, the home is cozy and warm. There is a large, comfortable chair, a wood-burning stove, a couch and a wide table to spread out jigsaw puzzles. Anderson has lived here for 30 years — 23 of them with her husband, Norm Lenshaw. But the past seven years have been tough. Without Norm, who was “Mr. Fix-It,” Anderson said, she has had to call contractors to help with various problems. “It’s been really hard on my budget,” said Anderson. “Plumbing and electrical were my main issues. I came so close to moving.” Then a friend referred her to Homage Senior Services. Now, plumbers and electricians come routinely, when needed, free of charge. Their service is part of Minor Home Repair, one of 28 programs Homage offers senior and disabled citizens in Snohomish County. “It’s built into our mission statement to help people remain at home as long as possible,” said Rich Robinson, Homage director of wellness and mental health. “As an older adult on a fixed income, it’s tremendously challenging. It’s about helping people maintain their independence in their community.” Homage helped approximately 24,000 clients in 2017 with a variety of needs: nutrition, transportation, health insurance, home repair, mental health. Its Meals on Wheels program delivered more than 170,000 meals to homebound adults, and the agency served 78,000 hot meals at senior centers throughout the county. The nonprofit organization employs about 200 workers at its Lynnwood headquarters and coordinates the work of more than 400 annual volunteers. Funding comes primarily through the Older Americans Act, a federal initiative started in 1965, and philanthropic donations — many from grateful clients. Most Homage programs are free to recipients. Some have low-income qualifying requirements, and a few, such as Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) charge modest
Lori Anderson works on a jigsaw puzzle in her home. (Adam Worcester photo)
More information If you or someone you know could benefit from Homage Senior Services, call 425-513-1900 or toll free 800-422-2024. Email seniorinfo@homage.org or visit the website www.homage.org fees per trip. Sue Guest, who lost her husband Richard last April to a heart attack, credits Homage with saving her life. Two weeks after Richard died, Guest wound up in the emergency room with a kidney stone. Hospital social workers connected her with Homage. She uses Meals on Wheels as well as the Minor Home Repair program, which Robinson said is a typical pattern for most clients. “They come in the door for one service, then end up being served by multiple programs,” he explained. “It’s like everything here’s a big web.” One man, a 63-year-old military veteran, was living in his car when he was hospitalized with sepsis. Homage helped him find temporary housing, provided essential
personal care items, coordinated transportation for medical care, and accompanied him to the Social Security Administration to get his benefits restored. “Whenever I call you, things get done,” the man said with a chuckle. (For privacy reasons, the client asked that his name not be used.) Last year, a week before Christmas, Anderson discovered that a broken pipe was spewing water under her property. Homage workers replaced the water line by Dec. 21. More often, though, it is smaller flourishes that matter most, such as delivering a surprise quilt or a hot Thanksgiving meal. For Shirl Laneuville-Roach, it was the installation of handrails on her stairs and in the bathtub of her Edmonds home. “Without all that they have done, I don’t think I would have been able to make it,” said Laneuville-Roach, who is recovering from double-knee surgery. “They kept me in my house.” “They’re very caring people. They go way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced,” Guest said. “In this time of political strife, to see such goodness out there is just remarkable.”
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December 2018
Homage
COMMENTARY
Homage services help improve lives, one older adult at a time By Steve McGraw CEO, Homage Senior Services My sister had her 70th birthday in late November. By today’s standards we may not think of that age as old, but for my sister it represents being among the older members of our community. Our parents passed years ago and we live on opposite sides of the counSteve try. She and her McGraw husband are in Florida and our brother and I live in Washington state. And yes, my sister is in relatively good health, but even she was feeling more vulnerable approaching this particular milestone. The day after Thanksgiving my brother and I flew to their home to celebrate and usher her into the next decade. We all recognize and embrace the fact that every year will be filled with new and
unpredictable events and experiences. I was honored to be there to share my love as her brother and proud to also share the mission of Homage with my own family. For more than 45 years, Homage has been committed to promoting independence, preserving dignity and enhancing the quality of life of older adults and people with disabilities. Vulnerability and isolation are common experiences in the lives of those we touch every day. Our team of board members, staff and volunteers surround our older community members — neighbors — with respect, love, and caring when they need it. At Homage, we realize that not everyone is able to travel across the country, so we are here to provide comfort and confidence to family members who live far away from their older loved ones. Through our programs like Meals on Wheels, Family Care
Letter from Homage
Giver Support, Senior Companion Program, Aging & Disability Resource Network, depression screening, older adult mental health access, Dial a Ride Transportation, Minor Home Repair and more, Homage is dedicated to helping our community members age at home for as long as possible, not in isolation but with health, wellness and connection to others. With the support of our partners and donors, Homage works to improve lives and community, one person at a time. During this holiday season and after, please consider ways you can help vulnerable seniors who have raised families, given much to our community and now need a neighbor’s help to be remembered, honored and included as valued members of our community. We are very grateful for those of you who join us in caring for our older neighbors. Happy Holidays from the Homage family!
During this holiday season of giving, all of us at Homage Senior Services would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generous support from our friends, neighbors, volunteers, and community partners. We could not do what we do with you! Your gift has allowed us to deliver vital programs and services to our most vulnerable population. In 2018, we served more than 24,000 older adults and people with disabilities right here in Snohomish County. And with 2019 just around the corner, we are already seeing more folks needing help. Your continued support means we can meet the increase in need and ensure people will receive nutritious meals, be connected to the right services, be kept safe in their homes, and get to where they need to go. Because of your generous support, Homage Senior Services will be there for seniors and the disabled. Together, we will ensure they are not forgotten. Thank you for remembering our seniors and those with disabilities and thank you for supporting Homage Senior Services. With gratitude, The Staff of Homage Senior Services PS: It’s not too late to make your yearend gift. Donations can be made online at www.homage.org/donate, or by phone at 425-265-2294.
Loneliness should be treated as the epidemic that it is By Daniel Low Special to The Daily Herald Katie is a 19-year-old college student-athlete, battling depression. Wintaye is a middle-aged immigrant from Ethiopia, mourning the recent loss of
her husband. Bill is a 62-year-old queer gardener, who moved to Seattle to take care of his aging parents. Last week, I saw each of these patients (names have been changed) in clinic. These folks come from
diverse backgrounds, occupy varying social circles and enjoy myriad activities. Yet, they all have one important condition in common — they each suffer from one of the largest and most neglected epidemics in our
country — loneliness. As a family medicine doctor in Seattle, I have the privilege of engaging with people from all walks of life with all sorts of medical conditions. But what I see more than anything is loneliness. There are the patients who can’t pursue necessary surgeries because they have no one to drive them to or from the hospital
while under anesthesia; the patients who come to clinic weekly because conversing with the medical team represents their best opportunity to interact with people; and the countless more whom we never see because their isolation is so debilitating they are unable to leave their homes. In the past, social isolation and loneliness
were deemed social rather than clinical problems — issues to be dealt with in the home and community, but not necessarily within the purview of medicine. It is time for that to change. Loneliness threatens the futures of more people in our country than virtually any other illness. A study from
Continued on Page 3
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Distribution: Over 12,000 papers are mailed to households and senior-friendly businesses;1,900 papers are distributed at drop-off locations including senior centers, retirement communities, libraries, etc. Published by Homage Senior Services www.homage.org 5026 Airport 196th St.Rd. SW, Lynnwood, 98036 11627 Suite B, Everett,WA WA 98204 425-513-1900 Published monthly with a readership of 100,000+, the Homage Senior Services educates and entertains readers (seniors, family caregivers, service providers and other interested persons) with news and information that reflects the diverse interests and needs of the senior community. Signed articles are the opinon of the writer and not the opinion of Homage Senior Services. 1948397
Also distributed monthly in The Daily Herald. Contact Josh O’Connor at 425.339.3007 or at joconnor@soundpublishing.com. Advertising: The existence of advertising (including political advertisements) in this publication is not meant as an endorsement of the individual, product or service by anyone except the advertiser. For more information, contact Jacqueray Smith, Multimedia Consultant, at 425.339.3023 or at jsmith@soundpublishing.com
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Brigham Young University revealed that social isolation and loneliness are associated with a nearly 30 percent increase in mortality, meaning being chronically lonely or socially isolated may be worse for one’s health than smoking or obesity. And this is not a rare phenomenon; a Cigna research survey this year highlights that nearly half of Americans sometimes or always feel alone or left out. Yet, loneliness remains a pariah of medical research and intervention. This is partially because of the inherent challenge associated with addressing social problems. Loneliness is complex and nuanced. The source of Katie’s isolation in college differs from that of Wintaye and Bill; the social landscapes for Ethiopian widows are distinct from those of aging gay men. This complexity may be why the medical community has shied away from addressing social isolation as a
We need to approach loneliness with the same fervor that we address smoking cessation, diabetes, depression and heart failure. The paradigm of medicine must encompass all facets of well-being, and social connection is foundational for wellness. health concern. That must change. As medical providers, it is our duty to address social challenges that have salient impacts on patient health. We need to approach loneliness with the same fervor that we address smoking cessation, diabetes, depression and heart failure. The paradigm of medicine must encompass all facets of well-being, and social connection is foundational for wellness. In Seattle, Underdog Sports Leagues has organized sports games and leagues for individuals interested in athletic activity. The
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clinical encounters when appropriate. However, there nonetheless remain countless individuals without support. Community health organizations and the broader medical community have the opportunity to be leaders facilitating community-building conversations and connections. It is time for medicine to demonstrate investment in and innovate on behalf of vulnerable and at-risk populations. In the absence of concerted and explicit effort, our clinics will continue to be filled with patients who lack sufficient support to embody the wellness that we try to inspire. I hope we can take the concerns of patients like Katie, Wintaye and Bill with the same sense of gravity as we do our patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease and cancer. Our community’s wellness depends on it. Daniel Low is a family medicine resident physician at Swedish Cherry Hill.
African American Elders Program provides programming for black elders in the area, while Generations Aging with Pride has unique events for older LGBTQ individuals. The Seattle Parks department has numerous programs, such as the Sound Steps Walking Program, to build community through physical activity. Those interested in exploring the beauty of Washington state may enjoy Washington Trails Association work parties. Such programming serves to unite members of our community and should be recommended in
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December 2018
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Volunteer Engagement at Homage Senior Services By Michelle Frye Volunteer Manager, Homage Senior Services Wow! More than 200 volunteers came together to help deliver 300 warm meals to Homage’s homebound clients on Thanksgiving morning. Thank you for helping make our 2018 Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels event such a success. We couldn’t have done it without you. Are you looking for a way to give back? Here are some volunteer needs at Homage: Light chore help: Help vacuum, dust, mop and provide other light chore assistance at homes of our community seniors at least two times per month. This continues to
be an ongoing need and challenge to keep our seniors in their homes, leading independent lives. The Volunteer Engagement Program at Homage has needs in the following areas: Foster Grandparent Program: Older adults provide children with special and/or exceptional needs one-on-one support at community locations such as schools and daycares. Volunteers must be 55 or older. Small stipend for those who meet income guidelines. Friendly Visitors: Volunteers help by providing weekly friendly visits to lonely and isolated older adults in need of interaction, and assist with grocery shopping and other errands. Grassroots Advocacy: Attend
and promote town hall meetings; call and email legislators; email other volunteers when important funding for services are threatened; attend advocacy committee meetings; and help with outreach efforts by encouraging voter registration at health fairs and senior fairs. Home Helper: Need cleanliness-minded volunteers who would like to work with seniors living in South Snohomish County. Help seniors and persons with disabilities, often living without local help, living alone, widowed and who have physical limitations with vacuuming, dishes, laundry and other household tasks. Outreach and Administrative Support: Help with reception,
RSVP Volunteer Opportunities By John McAlpine RSVP Program Recruiter Sponsored by Catholic Community Services, RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for persons over 55 and the only program where the collective contribution of the senior volunteer is recorded. RSVP exists to help volunteers 55 and older find fulfillment in their volunteer work. Volunteer opportunities exist all over
Snohomish County. Learning labs: When middle school students are not ready for high school, their chances of dropping out, once there, is a very real possibility. This program, designed and managed by a retired educator and administrator, helps middle school students develop and use better study and learning habits. Currently in operation in Mukilteo, Learning Labs can use your help
assisting the teacher in an after school environment. Students are taught responsibility and accountability and encouraged to excel. The program runs for 180 days, or every school day. Students meet in the library, get a snack and a drink and are assisted by volunteers and a teacher. The time you are needed is from 2:45 to 6 p.m. The commitment is one day a week for each 12 week session. If you
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believe education is crucial I ask; will you help? Household tasks: This is not a complicated volunteer job but it is an important one. As people age, doing household chores gets harder. Assistance is needed for things like vacuuming, loading the dishwasher or changing the sheets on a bed. When you help, you allow your neighbors to stay in their homes and maintain some of their independence. You and the client decide how often this is done. A few hours every two weeks or so is the standard. Food bank friends: Food banks need all the friends they can get. People using the food banks are hungry year round. As we approach the holidays the need
food banks fill is amplified. Can you help? Volunteers are always needed. RSVP works with food banks all over the county, so no matter where you live we can find a place to help. Jobs are varied too, working with clients, picking up food from donors and so on. Volunteer drivers: Do you like to drive? If you have an insured vehicle with working lights, brakes and horn, an up-to-date license and a willingness to help, you are perfect for this job. Getting around the county using the bus system is possible though not very efficient or convenient. There are many people on the waiting list for rides. Most trips are for medical appointments. You choose when and how often you drive. Clients enter and exit the
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clerical, and data entry as needed for several of our social service programs. Senior Companion Program in Snohomish and King counties: Helps older adults stay in their homes by providing socialization, transportation, light meal prep and organization support through weekly visits. Must be 55+ and meet income limits. Volunteer Drivers: Help drive older adults to grocery shopping, errands, and medical appointments. If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities or want to know about corporate volunteer possibilities, please call Michelle Frye at 425-740-3787 or email at mfrye@homage.org. vehicle themselves. Tax prep volunteers: Soon it will be ‘that time’ again. Two opportunities exist for those of you who want to help. Both the United Way and AARP offer income tax preparation and filing to members of the community at no cost. You receive training and are shielded from liability per the IRS. This is a great way to give back to your community and provides you something to do during the long winter nights of January and February. There are also volunteer jobs that don’t involve preparing the return. If you have any questions about RSVP, volunteering or any of the agencies you see listed here please contact RSVP at 425374-6374 or email me at johnm@ccsww.org.
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A compassionate community Homage holds its 15th annual Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving event By Nicole Strachila Communication Specialist, Homage Senior Services Jenna Pennington has always had a special affinity for helping older adults. So, it was no surprise she and her husband agreed to volunteer at Homage’s annual Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels event. On Thanksgiving morning, Jenna and her husband eagerly hopped into their car and zipped over to the Carl Gipson Senior Center in Everett. It was the Pennington’s first year volunteering at the Meals on Wheels event and what they had expected to find was a volunteer or two helping out, after all it was a holiday morning. To their amazement and pleasant surprise, Carl Gipson Senior Center was filled to the brim with busy bodies and smiling, excited faces. “The community really comes out in droves, it was a beautiful thing to see,” Jenna shared. There were aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters, corporate groups and old friends. Q13 Fox even made an appearance to capture the special day. Everyone was there for the very same reason: to make a fellow neighbor’s Thanksgiving Day just a little bit brighter. One by one, groups of volunteers were given bags of hot Thanksgiving meals and leftovers, prepped by Homage staff and fellow volunteers earlier that morning. With maps and food in tow, generous supporters drove all across Snohomish County delivering hot meals to Homage clients. By the time the clock struck 1 or 2 p.m., more than 300 seniors and people with disabilities had been greeted by friendly visitors with warm Thanksgiving meals and wishes of merriment and joy. “It was a truly heartwarming experience,” Jenna said, “My favorite part was knocking on doors and just meeting the actual recipients face to face, getting hugs from them and them wishing us a happy Thanksgiving.” This was Homage’s 15th year doing the Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels Event. Every year, the same generous supporter donates funds for the meals, and our compassionate community brings the entire event together. DEBBIES’ HAIR DESIGN OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE
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thankful! “Blessed are the givers and grateful are the receivers. Thank you so much for all of your kindness to me through the years and the great Thanksgiving dinners.” “I wish to thank you for the wonderful turkey dinner, it was really good. I feel humbled
that there are people who go out of their way to help.” With the holidays well underway we ask you to please consider making a gift to support vital Homage programs like Meals on Wheels, Minor Home Repair and Transportation. Your generosity ultimately
allows people to live independently and “stay home for the holidays.” Donations can be made online at www.homage.org/ donate or by phone at 425-265-2294. Thank you again. Homage is lucky to call Snohomish County our home.
Whitney Johnson
It truly takes a village, and Homage extends a heartfelt thanks to: Mountain Pacific Bank, Coastal Bank, Snohomish County Chapter of the Soroptimists, Boeing, The City of Everett (Courts), Office Interiors, Leadership Snohomish County, American Pacific Mortgage, the Navy, The Everett
Clinic, board members, staff and existing volunteers for making the 2018 Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving event possible. Your support reminds us all what the holiday season is about—companionship, community and compassion. We’re already hearing back from clients and they are more than
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The best gift of all — your recorded history By Louise Lindgren Perspectivepast@gmail.com Promises, promises! Remember a year ago when you promised yourself and family that you would spend the winter months getting your photo albums labeled? Maybe even finally succumbing to a grandchild’s pressure to be interviewed and share some stories? If you followed through on either of those, good for you! If not, you are like the rest of us, too busy with the day to day stuff of life. Then spring and summer came, and the weather was too nice to be inside, or other activities demanded your time. And, autumn has passed quickly, getting ready for Thanksgiving and holidays. So here we are, into the rain and snow season. No more excuses. It’s time to dig out the shoebox of letters, the photo albums, an old-fashioned cassette recorder if you have one, or one of the little hand-held digital recorders if you can find a relative who knows how to use it. Then talk, talk, talk — to the recorder and with your relatives and friends in sessions of sharing. Label those photos along the back edges; transcribe the handwritten letters into digital documents that can be sent with a click as email attachments to your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or interested community members. I was vividly reminded of the importance of this when Don Janssen sent several handwritten stories to our Index Historical Society museum. I was elected to transcribe them, and what wonderful stories they were! He documented in riveting detail the few summers in the early 1950s he spent as a kid at Garland Hot Springs, a resort east of Index that burned to the ground in 1961. There was a large swimming pool, and Janssen said it smelled strongly of sulphur from the spring that fed it, but it was still very popular. He remembered, “A couple days a
Garland Hot Springs, where Don Janssen recalled his father swimming “like a seal or a salmon or an eel.” The resort near Index was destroyed by fire in 1961. Courtesy of Jack O’Donnell.
week kids came up from Index. We charged them a quarter to swim all day up until 7. The rules were: No smoking, no screaming, no running. For minor infractions you were out for an hour. For larger misdeeds you were out for a day. “Once in a while Dad would dive in and show the kids how to really swim. He had been a contender to go to the Olympics. Could he swim? Like an otter or a seal or a salmon or an eel. The kids would watch as he quick streamed past them. Backstroke, breaststroke, any kind of stroke — fast as a speed boat. Underwater like a submarine, two laps on the bottom; then up to the surface going round and round in a tight circle, making his own whirlpool. He’d
“helping my mom bathe.”
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drink then looked around as if to say, “What the hell was that?!” I got down on the ground and shook for a while.” Then there is Janssen’s story, titled “Angel on the Mountain,” in which he tells of a misadventure trying to hike to an old log cabin but having to give up and find his way back to Garland via the river before dark: “As I walked down farther the walls of the ravine got steeper and higher. I continued down and climbed over logs and boulders, and a tiny stream appeared. I should be in sight of the river soon, I thought. The ravine made a sharp bend north, and I stopped. There, a few feet ahead, the creek bed ended. I crept forward to the edge of a cliff that dropped
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give a quick lesson on how to swim right. Then he’d go back to some other job on the resort.” There was also the resident horse, Birdy: Janssen wrote, “I had climbed up on her back to give her a good currying [no saddle!]. One big logging truck went by and for no reason gave out a long blast on its air-horn. Birdy’s ears went up, her tail went up, and she took off in the opposite direction. When she bolted I grabbed onto her mane and held on for dear life. Birdy galloped up the resort road and then took a game path through a forest of alders. Alder twigs and leaves scourged me as we careened through the trees. Birdy ran full tilt until we came to the river. She stopped and took a long
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We are hiring drivers for our DART program, funded by Community Transit. Full-time and Part-time opportunities are available to provide safe and reliable transportation for frail, elderly, disabled and/or vulnerable adults. Commercial Licensed (A,B,C) drivers with Passenger Endorsements are encouraged to apply, but if you don’t have these credentials, don’t worry. WE will PAY YOU to TRAIN while you learn the skills required for this type of license. Enjoy competitive wages and great benefits. Pay is $17.60 per hour. This position is considered safety sensitive under the U.S. Department of Transportation and is subject to drug and alcohol testing under both DOT and Homage Senior Services authority; this position must pass physical examination and drug/alcohol testing, as well as a criminal history. For further information including job requirements and to apply on line go to:
www.homage.org.
Homage Senior Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Homage about 200 feet to where a big stream poured by and disappeared into the forest. The cliff was too steep to climb down. I looked around. There seemed no way out. The rock walls were steep and too smooth to scale.” If you want to find out how he made it down safely, you can go to www.indexhistorical.org to read all of Don’s stories online. Still, what if he hadn’t written them? Or worse, had his painstakingly handwritten pages burned in a house fire before they could be shared? I’m thinking of the recent fire that leveled the town of Paradise, California. How many family photos, letters, stories went up in smoke? I’m betting there are now hundreds of families bereft of every last shred of their history. Once they come out of shock I hope they commit their memories to writing or sound recordings and then send copies far and wide to relatives and any historical organizations that might value them. In our Index museum we have cassette tape recordings of many
Turn on the recorder as you speak with relatives and friends gathered round the table. Transcribe a letter written in flourishy or cryptic script and put it into a computer document that can be sent by email to all your relatives with the tap of a key. longtime residents as well as some from people involved in important projects such as the 1926-29 building of the Great Northern Railway’s 7.8 mile tunnel through Stevens Pass. If you have taken Amtrak to points east, you have gone through that long bore, but as darkness enveloped your car did you think about how it was blasted through the mountain and why? If it hadn’t been for Clarence Bevensee’s willingness to be tape-recorded back in 198889, we wouldn’t have his stories about being an admittedly underage
All Age
laborer on that project. If it weren’t for Wes Smith being interviewed, Index wouldn’t have his story about getting his leg hacked with an ax in the early 1920s and the doctor’s rather unorthodox treatment of the emergency. If it weren’t for 18 volunteers who worked from 1985 to 1987, organizing and interviewing, today’s residents of Snohomish County would not have access to three volumes of early Everett pioneers’ memories in the Riverside Remembers series. Such efforts of collecting stories have
December 2018
been engaged in by heritage groups throughout the county — check at your local museum or library. And, all of them produced books or recordings because one person at a time said “Yes, I guess I could say a few words” when asked to dredge up memories of the past. So, let it start with your own family. Get out those albums when you get together for the holidays. Turn on the recorder as you speak with relatives and friends gathered round the table. Transcribe a letter written in flourishy or cryptic script and put it into a computer document that can be sent by email to all your relatives with the tap of a key. Those transcriptions are going to be invaluable once the letters are passed down to generations who, no longer taught handwriting, will not be able to read what was written by a great-grandfather or Aunty Jo, whose style resembles a pattern of intricate lace. Believe me, your effort now will be valued in years to come.
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Depression interferes with our enjoyment of life. It increases the risk of illness. It can worsen pain, headaches, and digestive problems. Depression is not a normal part of aging. Yet, many older adults go undiagnosed due to this myth. The Depression Screening program is offered free of charge to Snohomish County residents age 60 and over. To learn more call Homage Senior Services!
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Evergreen Home Loans is not the creditor for reverse mortgage loans. This information is accurate as of 2018 and is subject to change without notice. Some restrictions may apply. * Please consult your financial advisor on the consolidation of short term debt into long term debt. All rights reserved financed under: Washington Consumer Loan Company Service CL-3182. Additional terms and restrictions apply. Ask for details. This is a negative amortization loan. ©2018 Evergreen Home Loans is a registered trade name of Evergreen Money Source Mortgage Company. NMLS ID 3182. Trade/Services makes are the property of Evergreen Home Loans.
8
Homage 2018
Homage
Vitamin D in mega-doses: Doctor-prescribed 50,000 IU vitamin D may be right for some patients By Treva Lind The Spokesman-Review More than 40 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to have a vitamin D deficiency, especially in regions with less year-round sun exposure. The vitamin, which is vital for the body’s absorption of calcium, is available over-thecounter, with dosages typically from 600 international units to 2,000 IU. For people with a severe vitamin D deficiency confirmed in blood tests, some health care providers are prescribing a mega-dose: 50,000 IU vitamin D taken once a week for six to eight weeks. After the temporary regimen, patients return to store-bought options. But does that high dose, even shortterm, have any health
concerns? Medical groups say it’s typically safe, under physician supervision, to get levels back to normal. “If vitamin D levels are fairly low, that’s a pretty typical regimen we are seeing more and more, because there is more awareness about low vitamin D levels,” said Skye McKennon, an adjunct pharmacy professor in Spokane. “Humans get vitamin D from two sources, through food or supplements and the other is through the skin via UV light. In the fall and wintertime, particularly when you live somewhere, like the Northwest, we’re not getting a lot of UV light, so our natural source of vitamin D is decreased quite a bit.” McKennon will teach at Washington State University Spokane
this spring on preventative health. She said low vitamin D levels in the body are associated with osteoporosis, increased risk for falls and fractures, depression, impaired immune function, multiple sclerosis and some cancers. Dr. Gretchen LaSalle, a Spokane MultiCare family physician, agrees that vitamin D deficiency has received more attention in the past 10 years, including how it affects health. But research on the nutrient has gone back and forth, she added. “If you have a significant deficiency, the recommended approach currently is to use 50,000 IU of vitamin D once a week for six to eight weeks, then re-measure levels, to try to boost those values back up a little
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more quickly,” LaSalle said. “That high of a dose shouldn’t be prescribed without blood testing, I would say, because that’s a pretty hefty dose. Vitamin D is a fat-based or oil-based vitamin, so it’s one that can accumulate in body tissues and can become toxic, although it’s very difficult for that to happen.” After a high-dose prescription, people with low vitamin D levels need to keep taking an over-thecounter supplement to maintain levels in a normal range, she said. “That’s more typically your 1,000 IU daily dosing.” McKennon said few foods naturally contain vitamin D, mainly from fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. Small amounts are found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolks, while some grocery items are fortified with it, such as milk, orange juice and cereals. Both vitamin D through diet and skin are converted in the body to biologically active forms by the liver and kidney. Harvard Medical School articles describe that under ideal circumstances, 10 to 15 minutes of sun on the arms and legs a few times a week
can generate nearly all the vitamin D people need. But that’s impacted by season, latitude, age and use of sunscreen. People at higher risk of low vitamin D levels include older adults, individuals with darker skin and those living at northern latitudes such as Spokane, McKennon said. Other reasons might include when people eat less or have decreased absorption for medical reasons or aging. For healthy adults, a common recommendation is to take a vitamin D supplement from 600 IU to 1,000 IU. Kids need about 400 units a day, and babies who are breastfed need supplement drops, LaSalle said. After a short-term, mega-dose supplement, patients often report improved energy and moods. Vitamin D deficiency is measured through blood testing when levels go below 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood, LaSalle said. Problems can occur if people take too much for too long, perhaps piling on higher over-the-counter 5,000 IU dose over time. Risks include developing kidney stones, confusion, vomiting, muscle weakness and
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increased calcification in the body, McKennon added. She said with other types of vitamins that aren’t fat-soluble, such as vitamin C, people “just urinate it out” if there’s excess. “Vitamin D is not like that. If you take too much and don’t actually need it, you can over time become toxic on it. I’d certainly recommend taking it in conjunction with your health care provider. Some people, I think, buy just overthe-counter and try to take a lot of it to get closer to the 50,000 IU dose, but that’s not recommended. “That’s when we see people get into trouble.” LaSalle offers similar cautions to work with a provider. “In my cupboard, I have 5,000-unit capsules from Costco,” she said. “I think there is even 10,000-unit ones out there. It’s available without a prescription, but people need to know that like with any other supplement form, it’s not always a benign or risk-free thing. “More is not always better, and if people have questions about how much they should be taking, they should talk it through with their provider.”
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Homage
December 2018
9
Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing a grand experience By Kathy Witt Tribune News Service
Crossing tips
First cruise line to have a children’s playroom, lounge for women, gymnasium, ship’s newspaper and hot and cold water in every cabin. First to offer a world cruise, introduce refrigeration at sea, launch a ship lit by electricity, provide private facilities in every passenger cabin, send an SOS signal, debut a health spa. Cunard. From the very beginning, it was an innovator offering a true luxury experience. Among the fleet were the legendary Queen Elizabeth, the beloved and incomparable Queen Elizabeth 2, the stately Queen Mary — the latter two retired. Fast forward to 2004 and the arrival of the grand Queen Mary 2, today the world’s only ocean liner offering regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton. With enchanting spaces, lavish appointments and eye-catching art around every corner, the QM2 continues Cunard’s tradition of superlatives: first planetarium at sea, cultural academy operated by the University of Oxford and suites with private lift access; first Canyon Ranch SpaClub and Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar at sea; largest ballroom at sea as well as largest library at sea, with an astonishing 10,000 volumes shelved in gleaming glassfronted wooden bookcases. “There are lectures, dancing, entertainment, fabulous meals,” said Cunard Captain Christopher Wells. “We have 2,600 guests from around the world who are interesting. Who wouldn’t want to be here? “If I wax lyrical about an ocean crossing, it’s because I love the ship, I love the sea and I love the crossing,” he added. Indeed, the entertainment for a voyage comprised of all sea days must be exciting, enriching, highly engaging and most of all, varied. QM2 entertainment manager
The Grand Lobby of the Queen Mary 2 lives up to its name. (Cunard)
Catherine Kennedy estimates she plans hundreds of hours of programming and activities for each crossing: live music, theater, shows, movies, dances and dancing lessons, games like trivia and bingo, sporting competitions, wine tastings and cocktail mixology sessions, workshops and theatrical productions staged by the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, stargazing shows in Illusions Planetarium, lectures and enrichment programs. “We have enough programming to keep passengers entertained no matter how many times they repeat the crossing,” said Kennedy. A recent crossing featured several guest experts from Ancestry who offered genealogy lectures and workshops as well as special reveal sessions for a lucky few who sent their DNA samples in advance of the voyage. Christine Roussel, art historian, author and archivist at Rockefeller Center Archives, spoke on several topics, including the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and the history of the skyscraper. Critically acclaimed author, social historian, broadcaster and
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1. Launderettes are located on various decks aboard the QM2, a real help in cutting down on the amount of clothing needed for the week-long crossing. Each is equipped with washers, dryers (and detergent), as well as iron and ironing board, and are free. 2. As Captain Wells describes, crossings can be quite “lumpy.” To avoid seasickness, social host Tommi Baxter-Hill suggests cutting down on liquids and loading up on carbs. (It works.) 3. Forego the King’s Court Buffet in favor of the quieter Carinthia Lounge for a light lunch with a gourmet touch accompanied by live music. 4. The wildly popular kennels with indoor playrooms and enclosed deck on Deck 12 sell out months in advance. American dogs will be relieved to find a red fire hydrant from New York City for their use; for our canine friends across the pond, a black London lamppost. Really.
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historical consultant for TV and film Hallie Rubenhold offered fascinating insights about the “wild women” of Jane Austen’s era and the women murdered by Jack the Ripper in 1888. Rubenhold’s research into the lives of Ripper victims is now a book; “The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper” will be released in early April, 2019. Today, a transatlantic crossing aboard the QM2 is not only half the fun — it is full-on all the fun, and without the jet lag. In addition to the Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s fleet includes Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. A new ship is planned for 2022. For more information about a Cunard
transatlantic crossing or other Cunard voyages, visit www.cunard. com. Cunard offers many specially themed events. Visit the website to learn more about these, including Transatlantic Fashion Week and Literature Festival of the Sea, both taking place in 2019.
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LEAVE A LEGACY. You do not need to be wealthy to leave a legacy. Make your values known by joining Homage Legacy Partners and make a planned gift to Homage Senior Services. Our Legacy Partners ensure their impact is felt for decades to come by carrying on their philanthropic vision through estate gifts. Through wills, trusts, annuities, retirement plans, life insurance, and other planned giving opportunities, donors can create an exceptional legacy and a remarkable future for our community. We treasure the opportunity to pay tribute today to those who have included Homage Senior Services in their estate plans. Please contact Carla at 425.265.2294 or via email at cfondrick@homage.org if you would like to be acknowledged as a Legacy Partner or if you are interested in joining.
10
December 2018
Homage
Tips and tricks for managing your stress during the holiday season — and all year long By Christine Vervitsiotis Mental Health Programs Supervisor, Homage Senior Services Stress is our body’s response to a perceived threat and, as such, it is an unavoidable part of the human condition. Sometimes, this threat comes in the form of a physical attack. More often, however, the perceived threat comes in the form of increased demands on our limited resources (such as time or energy). Stress triggers our “fight/ flight/ freeze” system, causing many physiological changes such as increased heart rate, dizziness or nausea, sweating or muscle tension. Stress can be
beneficial when it helps us to meet a deadline or to escape from a dangerous situation. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can lead to anger, anxiety and other health problems. Like stress, anxiety can be a healthy emotion; it forces us to focus on our problems and work hard to solve them. But when anxiety grows out of control, it does just the opposite; it cripples our ability to solve problems. During the holiday season, we often feel pressured to exhaust ourselves in terms of our finances, energy and time. Moreover, we are bombarded with crowds, sounds, sights and smells that can overload our brains and
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make our bodies feel threatened. Anxiety often stems from our desire to meet perceived expectations, whether they are coming from within (internal) or from others (external). There are so many opportunities to fail when seeking to achieve the “perfect” holiday. We know perfection is unattainable, and yet we still measure ourselves against this standard. This is why anxiety producing thoughts are often called “irrational” thoughts. People who strive for perfection, seek constant approval from others, or have trouble relinquishing control are inevitably plagued with anxiety. Anxiety and stress are reduced when we have a perception of control, a supportive social network and the opportunity to vent frustrations.
Mindfulness is evidence-based approach to stress reduction to mind/body health. Maintaining good physical and emotional health is critical to managing both stress and anxiety. Some tips for maintaining wellness during the holiday season include: ■ Keep your routines as much as possible. Make sure to stay hydrated, eat regular meals, and maintain your sleep schedule ■ Breathe, deeply and often ■ Avoid eating and drinking to excess ■ Surround yourself with people whose company you genuinely enjoy, regardless of their title (friends are sometimes better than family!) ■ Find humor wherever you can (even if it’s laughing when things go wrong)
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■ Focus on positives, such as faith, hope, meaning or gratitude ■ Take time out from your problems. They will be there tomorrow. ■ Have realistic expectations. Things will not always go as you want, and that’s okay. ■ Seek support if you need it and offer support where it is needed. If you would like support in managing your stress and connecting with others, please consider one of our Mindfulness groups. Currently, these groups are held at Ken Baxter (Marysville) and Stillaguamish (Arlington) senior centers. These groups are funded by Snohomish County, so there is no charge to you. For more information, please call Carol Teichgrab, certified counselor, at 425-740-3793. If you feel that your anxiety is becoming unmanageable, please know that there is help. Our Older Adult Mental Health Access line helps adults 60 and over connect with supportive resources, including counseling and groups. You can reach the Older Adult Mental Health Access line at 425290-1260. If you are in a crisis, regardless of your age, please call the Care Crisis line at 1-800-584-3578.
Subaru program supports Meals on Wheels For the 11th year running, the Meals on Wheels network is participating in the Subaru Share the Love Event. Homage Senior Services is incredibly grateful to Subaru and its retailers for supporting our organization and the seniors we serve. With that in mind, we thought you might want to learn a little bit more about the Subaru Share the Love Event. Now through Jan. 2, for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased, Subaru will donate $250 to the customer’s choice of participating charities. Through this event, as a member of Meals on Wheels America, Homage Senior Services will receive a share of the donation from Subaru vehicles sold in Washington. You may not be in the market to purchase a new car, but if you are, please learn more by looking into the Subaru Share the Love Event at www/homage.org/ bloggers-corner/
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