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
