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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2019 | 7A Boomer & Senior News Line By Matilda Charles Our Biking Days Aren’t Over Remember when we were kids and summers were spent riding our bicy- cles around the neighbor- hood? We’d screech around corners, never worrying about balance or falls. Now, as seniors, most of us don’t have that exercise option. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay off bikes alto- gether. We only need to add a wheel. Three-wheel bicycles, known as trikes, are be- coming more popular as the boomer generation ages. These bikes have one wheel in the front and two in the back, and most of- ten come with a big basket between the back wheels to hold groceries or a small dog. Most of the trikes are sin- gle speed, but some come with three or seven speeds to make starting and slight inclines easier. Some trikes come with an electric mo- tor, and you’ll need that if you live in a hilly area. One warning about the trikes, however: If you rode a regular two-wheel bike when you were young, you no doubt learned about balance and leaning. Trikes don’t work that way. To ride one of these safely, you need to sit upright. If your doctor says yes to a bicycle of any kind, do lots of research before you buy. Especially look at YouTube videos. Check out trikes at a legitimate bicycle shop. Don’t order one on- line unless you know exact- ly what you’re getting. For many of us, though, the idea of riding any kind of outdoor bicycle is out of the question, either be- cause of health, or busy streets or lack of storage space. There’s something to be said for indoor exercise cycles. They come in either upright (like a regular bicy- cle) or recumbent, which leans slightly back. Recum- bents are closer to the floor, so the likelihood of falling is reduced. The best thing about in- door cycles: It doesn’t mat- ter what the weather is. Sodium, Food Labels and Dehydration It’s time to read food labels again. If you’ve grabbed the same cans off the grocery shelves over the years, there’s every possi- bility the ingredients have changed. You won’t know what you’re actually getting unless you look. I’m a fine example of this. I’m a big label reader when I’m picking out food. Once something passes my scrutiny (low sodium is my big one), I feel confident in continuing to buy that food. Today I decided to com- pare two flavors of the same brand of baked beans. Imagine my horror when I discovered that the kind I usually eat has a whopping 1,080 grams of sodium per serving. That’s a significant part of the sodium limit for a whole day. There’s no way I would have chosen that one so long ago. So it’s changed over the years, and I never even knew. I’m back to scrutinizing every label now, and you should too, at least until you’re confident you know what you’re getting. Hot weather can bring on high levels of sodium in the blood as well as what we eat. It’s called hyperna- tremia, and it occurs when we don’t have enough water in our blood to balance the electrolytes. Sodium is one of those. When we drink too little, are taking certain medications, urinate too often or are sweating exces- sively, everything can get out of balance. Hypernatremia can be extremely serious, even deadly. Symptoms include extreme thirst, fatigue and confusion. It can sneak up on you. Run this by your doctor and ask for advice on the amount of water you should drink in a day. This will vary based on your medications. Meanwhile, check your food labels and be sure you know what you’re getting. How to choose a dementia caregiver When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, a family’s life can turn upside down. In such situations, families may not know much about the disease, including what to expect with treatment and how soon before the dementia patient begins to need care that the family cannot capably provide. Over time, dementia patients’ loved ones are likely to benefit from the expertise and assistance of qualified dementia caregivers. It can be over- whelming for loved ones to offer the right level of care for someone who is unable to perform the activities of daily living. Bathing, medication management, dressing, and feeding are often very difficult for dementia patients. The Alzheimer’s Association says that providing good care for someone with dementia goes beyond meeting basic needs. It also means finding caregivers who treat the whole person and provide an environment that can enable the person to be safe yet inde- pendent. In order to get started, one should first assess the needs of their loved one with dementia. How many services he or she will require depends on wheth- er that person can use the bathroom, walk, eat, or bathe independently. Alz. org says care needs tend to be lesser in the early stages of dementia. However, during the middle and end stages of dementia, 24-hour supervision and potentially more in- tensive medical care may be necessary. Some families start with a visiting caregiver who can come to the house. For example, a service like Visiting Angels is certified to offer care ac- cording to advanced dementia care protocols after working with leading dementia specialists. Caregivers may offer companionship and helpful re- minders. Others may assist clients with personal tasks. One key aspect of dementia care is preventing wan- dering. Alz.org indicates that six in 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer’s may not re- member his or her name or address and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Caregivers can put protocols in place to help reduce wan- dering. Alert bracelets and GPS track- ing devices can help in this regard as well. At some point, caregivers can help families transition someone with dementia to nursing facilities with memory care divisions. Social work- ers and other aides may help families navigate the legalities of medical in- surance and long-term care insurance as well as government assistance pro- grams that may help offset the costs of more intensive care. It’s never too soon to develop a care plan for someone with dementia. Qualified and compassionate caregiv- ers can help ease the burden of de- mentia on patients and their families. It’s Time to Get Outside Winter has finally let go and summer is taking its first steps. But nearly all of us, no matter what kind of winter we experienced, are eager to get out and about. Here are some ideas for ac- tivities to do outdoors: Community Garden: Do you have a community gar- den near where you live? These are often managed by local groups such as the senior center or the town. Each person who signs up is given a small plot of dirt to plant flowers and vege- tables. Sometimes fertiliz- ers and tools are provided. All you need to do is show up and plant something, keep the weeds under control and reap the harvest at the end. If you have a commu- nity garden but don’t think you can manage a Heraej=bbkn`]^haHqtqnu Assisted Living and Memory Care Apartments Our beautiful community is designed for those who need assistance or have memory impairments. You can be assured that you or your loved one will receive the best in care along with compassionate personal attention from our well trained staff. Call or stop by for more information and a personal tour! We are available 7 days a week! 1500 Village Dr., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 T 541-767-0080 www.MiddlefieldOaks.com whole plot, see if you can split it with a friend. If you end up with too many veg- etables (think: cucumbers), donate extras to the food bank. Plein Air Painting: In- stead of painting in a studio or class, grab an easel and paints (and maybe a chair) and head for the outdoors. Consider watercolor paints instead of oil or acrylic. They dry quickly, and you won’t have to struggle with getting a wet oil painting back home. With plein air painting, the whole world is your subject. If you’re not familiar with this tech- nique, check for online vid- eos and tutorials. Once you get started you might dis- cover a whole community of plein air artists around you. Outdoor Qi Gong or Tai Chi: These classes can get you out in the fresh air and help with fitness. Remem- ber that these two disci- plines are good for core strength to help you avoid falls. Investigate all the of- ferings through the local rec center. Water aerobics, museum field trips, pho- tography meet-ups and golf lessons all are great ways to get outside. The Flower Basket and Gift Boutique “A Flower Shop and so much more” Creative Floral Arrangements Jewelry • Balloons Candy • Fine Gifts Boutique Clothing & Accessories Blooming Plants & Basket Gardens Deliveries Locally and Worldwide Locally owned and operated since 1984 Quality and Satisfaction Guaranteed 119 South 6th Street • 541-942-0505 You Can Count on Us! We provide prompt and reliable, public transportation. Our experienced, courteous drivers will take you to appointments on time. FREE Special Event DEMENTIA SUPPORT G UEST S PEAKIER A BBY G ERSHENZON , Medical Offi ces • Pharmacies ✓Serving the Communities of South Lane County South Lane Wheels 1450 Birch Ave, Cottage Grove southlanetransit.com 541-942-0456 Disclaimer: All vehicles are operated in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. South Lane Wheels complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Information about the transit agency, including information in non-English alternative formats, may be obtained by calling 541-942-0456 or rlinoz@southlanewheels.com Regional Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association Learn the symptoms of DEMENTIA, including ALZHEIMER’S, and learn how to support loved ones and friends who live with dementia. Wednesday, June 26 – 6:30 p.m. For more information call: Linda LaZar (541) 942-0054 1425 Daugherty Ave • Cottage Grove Refreshments will be served E verything for Your Eyes Only Comprehensive family, medical eyecare and optical services We provide exams for Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic and Lasik Serving Cottage Grove since 2006 Book an appointment today! Medical, vision and fl exible spending plans welcome. Mon-Thurs 9M-5PM FRI 9AM-4PM 257 N. 8th St 541-942-5000 www.PCVI.com
