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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 17, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019 | 9A S entinel C ottage G rove www.cgsentinel.com @ cgsentinel @cgsentinel #cgsentinel Cottage-Grove-Sentinel TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES? Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. 541-517-7362 Paul Henrichs ~ Local Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com Boomer & Senior News Line What’s Our No. 1 Reason for ER Visits? A recent study revealed that the number of deaths from senior falls has tripled. This is not new. A 2015 study also concluded that the num- ber of falls was increasing, even when America’s growing senior population was taken into account. For those over age 65, falls are the leading reason we go to the emergen- cy room. Falls can start a vicious cy- cle: A simple fracture or brain injury can lead to hospitalization, which can bring its own problems, such as catch- ing an infection or becoming weak from staying in bed. Being weak can lead to more falls ... and more decline. An older study concluded that one- fourth of seniors who had a hip frac- ture died within six months. Many of those who survived ended up in a nursing home and were still there a year later. What can increase our risk of falls? Sometimes it’s foot pain, lower body weakness or vision problems. Some- times it’s a sedentary lifestyle, or scat- ter rugs in the wrong places. Some- times it’s the drugs we take. When you get a new prescription, ask the doctor about side effects. Also check with the pharmacist, who knows what other drugs you might be taking. Whatever the cause, we can avoid falls. The recent study divided par- ticipants into two groups: those in an exercise program and those not in one. Those who exercised fared better when it came to reducing falls. Contact your senior center to ask about balance classes, either at the cen- ter or through the local hospital. Look for senior-oriented exercise classes to build muscle strength. Walking is your next best bet, aiming for a half- hour walk a few times a week. Explore tai chi for leg strength, flexibility and balance. Also look online for the free Tufts University booklet called Grow- ing Stronger. Counting Steps FREE Special Event DEMENTIA SUPPORT Learn the symptoms of DEMENTIA, including ALZHEIMER’S, and learn how to support loved ones and friends who live with dementia. Wednesday, July 24 – 6:30 p.m. For more information call: Linda LaZar (541) 942-0054 1425 Daugherty Ave • Cottage Grove Refreshments will be served E Have you been counting your steps every day? Do you have one of those step trackers? I keep reading that we’re supposed to take 10,000 steps per day for good health. Some studies say 4,400 are enough. I knew I wasn’t getting any- where near that (especially in the winter when everything outside is covered in ice), but I didn’t know how many steps I was actually taking. Enter Amazon.com, our go-to for nearly everything, delivered to our door. The first step was to select Aver- age Customer Review to see which pedometer, or step tracker, had the highest rating. Some were very high- tech and tracked steps, miles, calories burned and more. Looking for more guidance, I checked out a study done by the Na- tional Institutes of Health a few years ago. Researchers tested four models, ranging from very simple to very ex- pensive. Imagine their surprise when it turned out that the simple, inexpen- sive step counter was the most accu- rate. Fingers crossed, I picked out one by that company. Then the fun started. I paced off 100 steps at the grocery store then compared it to what the tracker said. Very accurate. So far, so good. Then the counter went a little crazy. I left it on top of the microwave while Staying Safe Online It’s getting more and more difficult to stay safe on our phones, computers ... everything that involves communi- cation that someone else can access. If your local senior center holds classes, recommend that it conduct one on how to recognize scams in your email and on websites. Scam- mers are getting more sophisticated as they try to lure you in, making you feel that it’s safe to click a link or give information. Once you learn how to identify (or at least be suspicious of) what you see online, you increase your safety because you know to stop and think. Realize that phone apps are likely not very safe, especially for things like your bank, grocery store and buying things online. I don’t often suggest brand names in this column, but in a few cases it’s worthwhile to let you know things I’ve personally tried. SOUTH LANE COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE SAVE MONEY. SAVE LIVES. verything for Your Eyes Only If you need work on your comput- er, consider Geek Squad. They’re part of Best Buy (BestBuy.com). If 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 You Can Count on Us! We provide prompt and reliable, public transportation. Our experienced, courteous drivers will take you to appointments on time. I heated up something, and unbe- knownst to me, the microwave appar- ently took 17 steps across the kitchen. Today I did a lot of walking around town -- but I can’t believe I took as many steps as the counter says I did. So I’m back on Amazon, looking for an additional counter. My plan is to wear both for a few weeks and see if they give approximately the same number. That’s my suggestion if you want to start tracking your steps: buy two. And look for pedometers that do only one thing ... count steps. Sometimes simple is better. Ground Ambulance Memberships $65 per year Ground Ambulance & Air Membership you have a store near you, you can go there to sign up and also leave your device for repair. Call ahead. In many cases, depending on the problem, you don’t have to take in your device. If you call Geek Squad, they can do a remote access. If the problem is something like a bug, in many instances they can fix it from their end while you sit at home and watch the screen. If you contact Geek Squad for any reason, ask if you need to consider getting Webroot (www. webroot.com) anti-virus. I also can recommend Kim Koman- do, a woman with a tech website full of information you need (www.koman- do.com). She also has a weekly radio show. You can sign up for free weekly email newsletters that are worthwhile and full of safety and how-to informa- tion. ell Blueberr w s e Cr 34030 Orchard Ave., Creswell ies 541-895-8907 U-Pick or Call to Order Open Daily 8-5pm Accommodate off hour picking by appointment July –August with eight different varieties No Spray! We provide buckets & boxes Please leave pets at home. $115 per year Call 541-942-4493 for info. FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911 Serving South Lane County. A “NUGGET” OF A SALE Start a yearly subscription or add a year for $35.00* (reg price $43.50) Includes digital access on cgsentinel.com. 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 *Th is off er is not transferable and the off er is available those who have not subscribed in the last 31 days. Special introductory off ers are limited to no more than two special subscriptions in a twelve month period and must be paid in advance to qualify for special rate. Once the above discounted period ends, you will be billed at the regular subscription rates. S entinel C ottage G rove 116 N. 6th St. • Cottage Grove CGSENTINEL.COM 541-942-3325 Subscribe ONLINE using code: mine19 Must “MINE” this deal by July 31, 2019.
