Supplement to the Davis County Clipper October 2009Pull-Out

Section

Senior Scoop is published by the Davis County Clipperin conjunction with the Davis County HealthDepartment Senior Services.

50 East State StreetFarmington, UT 84025(801) 451-3377

Sally Kershisnik, Division DirectorJessica Hardcastle, Editor

All issues of Senior Scoop are available athttp://www.daviscountyutah.gov/senior_scoop

Join us,October 30,if you dare!

In the “spirit” of the Halloween SCREAMtheme, Wayne and Lucy Beth Paulsenbrought their two granddaughters to lastyear’s event at Autumn Glow Senior ActivityCenter. This year on Oct. 30, bring yourchildren, grandchildren, and great grand-children and join us at your local senioractivity center for our annual HalloweenSCREAM (Seniors Creating Relationships,Excitement, And Memories) event. Enjoyan appetizing lunch of brains in bloodsauce with hairless spiders and webs sprin-kled on top, wash that down with witch’sbrew and end with some ghoul’s dessert.Cost is only $1 for those in costume (thosenot in costume that are under 60 years ofage will be charged $4.50; and for thosenot in costume that are 60 or above, thesuggested donation is $2.50). Each senioractivity center will have different activitieswhich may include: face painting, games,a cake walk, Wii, indoor ball games, treats,and prizes for costumes. Bring the wholefamily in costume. Contact your local sen-ior activity center no later than Oct. 27 tomake your reservation.

By Isa KaluhikauaDCHD Health Promotion Bureau

One of the more puzzling aspectsof the novel H1N1 (swine) fluoutbreak is why young people

seem to be more susceptible to the dis-ease than their parents and grandparents.This is in contrast to regular seasonal fluwhich tends to disproportionately strikethe old, not the healthy young.

Current studies indicate that the riskfor H1N1 flu infection among personsage 65 or older is less than the risk foryounger age groups. One possible expla-nation is that some adults in this agegroup have had previous exposure to aninfluenza A (H1N1) virus that is moreclosely related to the novel influenza A(H1N1) virus. Laboratory studies haveshown that no children and very fewadults younger than 60 years old haveexisting antibody to 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

Initially the H1N1 vaccine will beavailable in limited quantities. Sinceolder people have some immunity, it isrecommended that younger at-riskgroups of the population receive the 2009H1N1 vaccine when it first becomesavailable. Because children and youngadults are more likely to gather in groups,at school and colleges, they are more vul-

nerable to catching all types of flu. Thedisease does not appear to be moresevere than seasonal flu but will affect adisproportionate number of young peo-ple who will probably get it.

“We’ve recently received good newsabout the vaccine,”said Lewis Garrett,director of the Davis County HealthDepartment. “The clinical trials showthat only one dose of the vaccine is need-ed for people age 10 and above. Thatmeans we may be able to stretch DavisCounty’s allotment of vaccine beyond theCDC’s targeted groups and eventuallyopen our mass vaccination clinics up toanyone desiring to be vaccinated againstthe novel H1N1 flu virus.”

“Those people 65 and older make upa sizable group who normally get theirseasonal flu shot each year,”he said. “Weunderstand their desire to be vaccinatedagainst H1N1 flu and we look forward toaccommodating them right after we’vetaken care of the designated at-riskgroups identified by CDC.”

Garrett reminds everyone there aresimple yet proven actions that can helpprevent the spread of germs that causerespiratory illnesses like influenza. Takethese everyday steps to protect yourhealth:

• Wash your hands frequently with

soap and water for 20 seconds or use analcohol-based hand cleaner if soap andwater are not available. Be sure to washyour hands after coughing, sneezing, orblowing your nose.

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth,and eyes. Germs spread this way.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes witha tissue, or cough and sneeze into yourelbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touchtrash receptacles.

• Keep frequently touched commonsurfaces clean, such as telephones anddoorknobs.

• Don’t spread the flu! Stay home. Ifyou are sick with flu-like illness, CDC rec-ommends that you stay home for at least24 hours after your fever is gone exceptto get medical care or for other necessi-ties. (Your fever should be gone withoutthe use of a fever-reducing medicine.)Keep away from others as much as possi-ble to keep from making others sick.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle throughrest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

• Get vaccinated against seasonal flu.As always, a vaccine is available to pro-tect against seasonal influenza. Vaccina-tions are currently available throughoutthe community. See the schedule includedin this issue of Senior Scoop.

Phot

oby

Dav

eCo

oper

,DCH

D

H1N1 flu – What seniors need to know

By Vern Call, AARP

As we grow older, time and gravity combine tochange each of us. Our eyesight, hearing, andreaction time tends to diminish. We don’t see as

well, we don’t hear as well, and we don’t move as quicklyor as agilely as we used to. Additionally, we are morefragile than ever and we don’t heal as well or as quicklyas we did when we were young.

On the other hand, as we get older we are wiser, morepatient, more cautious, more courteous, more under-standing and more careful. Along with the changes inour bodies, there is change going on all around us. Auto-mobiles have changed dramatically from the “good olddays.” They are more complex, more comfortable, moreattractive and much more expensive. Roads too havechanged. There is much more traffic, more signs anddirections, and continuous construction.

It is important that older drivers keep in touch withthe changes of life, especially those that affect our safetyon the roads. The AARP Driver Safety Classes areoffered to help each of us become better drivers andunderstand how the changes in our lives affect our driv-ing. Additionally, auto insurance companies offer reduc-tions in auto insurance premiums to those who completethe four hour classes.

For the convenience of Davis County residents, class-es are offered at the following locations:

• Syracuse: Oct. 14 at Syracuse Community Center,1912 West 1900 South, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 801-614-9660Option #1 for reservations.

• Kaysville: Oct. 15 at Autumn Glow Senior ActivityCenter, 81 East Center Street, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (halfhour lunch). Call 801-544-1235 for reservations.

• Layton: Oct. 26 at Layton City Offices, 437 NorthWasatch Drive, 8 a.m. to noon. Call 801-546-2463 forreservations.

• Clearfield: Oct. 27 at Heritage Senior Activity Cen-ter, 140 East Center Street, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call 801-773-7065 for reservations.

• Bountiful: Nov. 3 at Golden Years Senior ActivityCenter, 726 South 100 East, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call 801-295-3479 for reservations.

The name of thegame is change

S2 SENIOR SCOOP Supplement to the Davis Clipper • October 8, 2009

(801) 773-8834 (801) 298-3919

A Miracle By Janice Dixon

bB Poetry Corner

A miracle tiptoed inAs silently as summer’s

dusk,No shouts of “hallelujah!”No fanfare, clangs or deaf-

eningLight made clear its waySoft it was, with a touch

that leftNo fingerprints to linger.Fragile it was, as a summer

friend,Quietly with footsteps like

a smile it cameAnd healed with life itselfOne small sweet fevered

child.

A miracle tiptoed outAnd shook great appled

trees with gustinessAnd gave a life.No one saw it come or go.But He-who-manufactures

miraclesWatched and waited.Waited for the promises

whispered on aFright-filled night.

Watched for vows like acomputer songs

To race with gossip speed.

A miracle, soft, fragile,quiet,

Lay panting in a greatwhite sterile bed,

And pale with thick-slimed tongue,

While forgotten fearswhispered a

Million heartbeats pastPraised penicillin, MRIs

and three M.D.s

A miracle groped forpromises still unkept

To race the weeping wind.And cried to that small

sweet childWhere once it hovered.A promise kept would

give it strengthTo rise again and soar.But He-who-manufac-

tures-miraclesFelt something die.

Davis CountyHealth Depart-ment’s Family

Caregiver Support Pro-gram continues with theremainder of its ten-weekseries of classes for indi-viduals caring for familymembers who are older orfrail. These classes are freeto the public and areoffered each week at twolocations. Individuals mayattend at anytime duringthe series.

Presenters will discussvarious topics such ashome safety, tips for com-municating with peoplewith dementia, resourcesfor caregivers, cardiachealth, questions to askregarding advance direc-tives, how to design the lifeof a caregiver, and beingprepared and organized.

The Tuesday classesbegin at 1 p.m. at the Cen-

terville Library (45 South400 West, Centerville).Each Thursday class is arepeat of the Tuesday classand they start at 1 p.m. atthe Heritage Senior Activi-ty Center (140 East CenterStreet, Clearfield). No reg-istration is required.

For more information,please contact Megan For-bush at (801) 451-3506.

Davis County HealthDepartment’s Senior Ser-vices thanks the followingagencies for helping tosponsor these classes:Kayscreek Therapies andRocky Mountain Care,South Davis Home HealthCare, Eclipse HomeHealth, Vista Care, Care-giver Support Network,and Personal Care ByDesign.

Tuesdays & Thursdaysweekly schedule:

• Oct. 6 and 8: “Home

Safety.” Nordell Peterson,Kayscreek Therapies andRocky Mountain Care.

• Oct. 13 and 15: “Tipsfor Communicating with aPerson with Dementia.”CJ Benson and DeniseCook, SDHH.

• Oct. 20 and 22:“Resources for Care-givers.” Megan Forbush,Davis County Senior Ser-vices.

• Oct. 27 and 29: “Car-diac Health.” Diana Gour-ley, Eclipse Home Health.

• Nov. 3 and 5: “Ques-tions to Ask RegardingAdvance Directives.”Denell Bredsguard, VistaCare.

• Nov. 10 and 12: “’Lessis More—Poppycock!’How to Design the Life ofa Caregiver.” Julia Cole,Caregiver Support Net-work.

• Nov. 17 and 19:“Being Prepared andOrganized.” Kari Larson,Personal Care By Design.

County continues caregiver class series

robyn waltonattorney at law

rowe & walton pc

Robyn Walton

Trusts • Wills • Powers of Attorney • Probate Estate Disputes • Guardianship • Adoptions

Deeds • Business Creation

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION915 S. Main Bountiful • 801-298-0640 21

514

Silversmithing 8

Supplement to the Davis Clipper • October 8, 2009 SENIOR SCOOP S3

Seasonal flu vaccine, anyone?Betty Gelinas, a licensed practical nurse with the Davis County Health Department, provides a seasonal flu shot for awilling recipient during one of the many clinics for seniors held throughout the county. Seasonal flu vaccine is still avail-able at the county health department’s two Immunization Clinics: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Clearfieldclinic (801) 773-8834; Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Woods Cross clinic (801) 298-3919.

Phot

oby

Bob

Balle

w,D

CHD

United States Bone and Joint Decade (usbjd.org)

Drinking milk and eating lots of fruit and vegeta-bles are good for your health. That’s alwaysbeen good advice. But to really make a better

future, you need to keep moving – whether throughwalking, physical training, or sports activities. All ofthese help add bone mass – an important means toensure your body will move easily throughout the yearsahead. Exercise also helps reduce stress, leading to ahealthier future.

As you age, your body will show wear and tear. Butyou can help by building strong bones when you areyoung and maintaining them as an adult. Eating theright food, and exercise, will keep your bones strong andjoints flexible.

Move it. Use it. Start now. Arms, legs, lungs. Like awell-oiled machine, your body will respond and reduceyour chances of having bone or joint problems in thefuture.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your body letsyou down. Healthcare professionals can work with youto diagnose and treat you with therapy, medicine, or sur-gery.

They can help you learn to reuse muscles or joints andprevent future injury. They can help you use your bodymore efficiently. You can help yourself in other ways,too. Take charge of your health. Be a knowledgeablepatient.

Move it. Use it.Start now.

By American DentalHygienists’ Association(ADHA.org)

Almost 250 millionpeople or about 40percent of the adult

population in Europe, USA,and Japan are estimated tosuffer from some form ofedentulousness, or loss ofnatural teeth. Incidence oftooth loss generally increaseswith age. While the NationalInstitute of Dental andCraniofacial Research(NIDCR) reports the preva-lence of both partial andtotal tooth loss in seniors hasdecreased from the early1970s, seniors over age 65have lost an average of 13teeth (including wisdomteeth) and 26 percent of sen-iors over age 65 have noremaining teeth.

Whether caring for natu-ral teeth or dentures, seniorsface a range of special oralconcerns, including rootdecay and periodontal dis-ease. You can keep your

smile healthy by following aroutine of proper oral careand making regular visits toyour registered dentalhygienist and dentist.

If you have arthritis orlimited use of your hands, tryadapting the toothbrush foreasy use. Insert the handleinto a rubber ball or spongehair curler; or glue the tooth-brush handle into a bicyclegrip. Toothbrush handlescan be lengthened with apiece of wood or plastic suchas a ruler, ice cream bar stick,or tongue depressor.

For people who have dex-terity problems and cannotuse a manual toothbrush, anelectric toothbrush may beeasier to use and increaseeffectiveness. Numerousstudies confirm that electricbrushes are excellent plaqueremoving devices and areextremely effective in stimu-lating gums. Dental flossholders are also available.

Among other benefits,daily brushing and flossingprotect older smiles from

two common problems ofgetting older: Root decay –a condition that affects olderadults if a great amount ofroot surfaces are exposed –and tooth decay caused bythe weakening or chippingof older fillings.

Denture care andcleaning: Dentures – full orpartial – should be brusheddaily with a soft toothbrushor denture cleaning brush,using a commercially pre-pared denture powder orpaste, hand soap, or bakingsoda. Toxic or abrasivehousehold cleaners shouldnever be used. Denturesshould be brushed insideand outside, and rinsed withcool water.

Remaining natural teethand gums, especially thoseteeth supporting a partialdenture, also should bebrushed.

When not in use, denturesshould be covered withwater or a denture cleaningsolution to prevent drying.

Senior oral health isstill important

By the American Academy ofOphthalmology

Did you know that20.5 million Ameri-cans age 40 and

older have cataracts, one ofthe most curable causes ofvision loss? And more thanhalf of all Americans devel-op cataracts by age 80.There are a lot of mythsregarding cataracts. Let’sput some of those to rest andgive a reminder that if youhave cataracts you don’thave to live with the visionloss it causes.

A cataract is the cloudingof the eye’s normally clearlens, blocking the passage oflight needed for vision. Theyform slowly and cause nopain. Some stay small andhardly affect vision, but if thecataract does grow andbegins to affect your vision,it can usually be removedwith surgery. Cataracts are asignificant cause of blindnessin some parts of the world;however, technologicaladvances and the availabilityof new procedures in theUnited States mean that formost Americans, cataractsdon’t lead to vision loss.

Cataract surgery is themost frequently performed

surgical procedure in theUnited States, with morethan 1.6 million proceduresperformed each year.Cataract surgery is usuallycovered by medical insur-ance, including Medicare.Cataract surgery is usuallydone as an outpatient proce-dure under local anesthesia.In this procedure, the EyeM.D. makes a tiny incisionthrough which he or sheremoves the cloudy lens andreplaces it with a permanentartificial lens. Lasers are notcurrently used to removecataracts. But they aresometimes used aftercataract surgery to remove afilm that can grow on thelens implant.

If you think you mayhave a cataract you don’thave to live with it. You cantalk to your eye doctor, alsocalled Ophthalmologists,about your options. Thereare no medications or exer-cises that will prevent theformation or progression ofcataracts or make a cataractdisappear. Nutritional orvitamin supplements havebeen shown to be beneficialin populations with nutri-tional deficits, but due to theinconsistent results reportedin clinical trials, recommen-

dations cannot be made atthis time. Although it is verysafe and effective, cataractsurgery is surgery and youneed to carefully decide if itis right for you. If thecataract does not interferewith your life, you maydecide surgery is not war-ranted. Talk to your eye doc-tor if cataracts are interfer-ing with your lifestyle.

For more information,visit www.aao.org/aaoesite/eyemd/cataract.cfm.

S4 SENIOR SCOOP Supplement to the Davis Clipper • October 8, 2009

October is Nation-al Breast CancerAwareness

Month (NBCAM). Sincethe program began in1985, mammographyrates have more thandoubled for women age50 and older and breastcancer deaths havedeclined.

This is excitingprogress, but there arestill women who do nottake advantage of earlydetection at all and oth-ers who do not getscreening mammogramsand clinical breast examsat regular intervals:

• Women age 65 andolder are less likely to getmammograms thanyounger women, eventhough breast cancer riskincreases with age.

• Hispanic women

have fewer mammo-grams than Caucasianwomen and AfricanAmerican women.

• Women belowpoverty level are lesslikely than women athigher incomes to havehad a mammogram with-in the past two years.

• Mammography usehas increased for allgroups except AmericanIndians and AlaskaNatives.

Experts say “If allwomen age 40 and oldertook advantage of earlydetection methods –mammography plus clini-cal breast exam – breastcancer death rates woulddrop much further, up to30 percent.”

“The key to mammog-raphy screening is that itbe done routinely – onceis not enough.”

For more informationabout NBCAM, pleasevisit www.nbcam.org.For additional informa-tion, please call one ofthe following toll-freenumbers: AmericanCancer Society, (800)227-2345, NationalCancer Institute (NCI),(800) 4-CANCER, Y-MENational Breast CancerOrganization, (800) 221-2141.

TThhee FFiinneesstt SSeenniioorr LLiivviinngg iinn DDaavviiss CCoouunnttyy!!Great prices! Don’t pay high

assisted living rents.• Indoor Pool & Spa – Year Round Swimming!

• Weekly Activities • Great Views of Mountain & Lake

• Beautiful Neighborhood

• Balcony with Every Apartment

• Elevator Access to Every Floor

For Active Adults 55+

Come see why people are LOVING it here!

Village on Main Street Apartments1525 North Main Street, Bountiful • 801-298-9500

www.villageonmainstreet.com www.villageonmainstreet.blogspot.com

TThhee FFiinneesstt SSeenniioorr LLiivviinngg iinn DDaavviiss CCoouunnttyy!!

October is National BreastCancer Awareness Month

By The National ConsumerVoice for Quality Long-TermCare (NCCNHR.org)

Across the country,residents of nurs-ing homes and

other long-term care facili-ties along with familymembers, ombudsmen, cit-izen advocates, facilitystaff, and others will honorthe individual rights oflong-term care residentsby celebrating Residents’Rights Week October 4-10,2009. Designated byNCCNHR – The NationalConsumer Voice for Quali-ty Long-Term Care – theweek highlights the impor-tance of listening to resi-dents who live in ourcountry’s nursing homes,assisted living, and boardand care facilities.

“This year’s theme,Hear Our Voice, empha-sizes the fundamentalrights of all long-term resi-dents to be treated withthe appropriate care theydeserve and need to main-tain quality of life,” saidSarah F. Wells, ExecutiveDirector of NCCNHR.“Residents will be treatedwith dignity and respect oftheir full individuality;staff and residents willenjoy relationships thatenhance their day to daylives; and the long-termcare facility will operatemore effectively with itsday to day activities being

based on and developedwith consumer involve-ment when facilities careabout their residents.”

Many people care aboutresidents – family mem-bers, citizen advocates,ombudsmen, facility staff,and other visitors. Thiscare can be truly individu-alized and focused on eachperson’s needs and prefer-ences.

In 1987, the NursingHome Reform Law thatwas passed guaranteesnursing home residentstheir individual rights,including but not limitedto: individualized care,respect, dignity, the right tovisitation, the right to pri-vacy, the right to complain,and the right to makeindependent choices. Res-idents who have madetheir home in other typesof facilities, assisted living,and adult care homesmaintain their rights asU.S. Citizens. Residents’Rights Week raises aware-ness about these rights andpays tribute to the uniquecontributions of long-term

residents.The National Long-

Term Care OmbudsmanProgram has worked tire-lessly for over 30 years topromote residents’ rightsdaily. More than 8,000volunteers and 1,000 paidstaff are advocates for resi-dents in all 50 states plusthe District of Columbia,Guam, and Puerto Rico.Authorized under theOlder Americans’ Act andadministered by theAdministration on Aging,the program also providesinformation on how to finda facility, conducts commu-nity education sessions,and supports residents,their families and the pub-lic with one-on-one con-sultation regarding long-term care.

To contact Davis Coun-ty’s ombudsman call 801-451-3231 or e-mail KimCannon atkcannon@daviscountyu-tah.gov.

“Residents’ RightsWeek is an excellentopportunity to re-affirmour collective commitmentto residents’ rights and tohonor long-term care resi-dents. We strongly encour-age the community to par-ticipate in Residents’Rights Week activities andto visit residents who con-tinue to be important toour communities and soci-ety,”Wells said.

Hear Our Voice:Residents’ Rights Week going on now

The truths about cataracts