Supplement to the Davis County Clipper November 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

Veterans and guestsdisplay their steadfastpatriotism during lastyear’s Veterans Dayobservance held in AutumnGlow Senior ActivityCenter’s dining room. Thisyear we honor our Veteranswith a special brunch andprogram for Veterans Dayat the county’s three senioractivity centers. Brunchwill be served at 10 a.m.with a program to follow.Each center will be doingsomething different. Callyour local senior activitycenter for details and toreserve your spot for thisspecial day. All centerswill be open until noon onWednesday, Nov. 11.

AARP Tax-Aide –the nation’slargest, free,

volunteer-run, taxcounseling andpreparation service – iscurrently recruitingvolunteers for taxcounseling and clientassistance throughoutUtah for the upcoming2010 tax season. FromFebruary 1 through April15, AARP Tax-Aidevolunteers prepare federaland state tax returns formiddle and low-incometaxpayers, with specialattention to people 60 andolder. Last tax season,AARP Tax-Aidecounselors prepared morethan 13,000 returns formore than 7,000 clients.

“The Tax-Aide programis continuing to grow in

Utah and we needadditional volunteers whopossess a basic knowledgeof tax law and who havegood computer skills toassist with electronicfiling,” said Jack Dahl,AARP Tax-Aide StateCoordinator for Utah.“The program providesstudy materials andextensive training to buildupon existing skills, and weprovide mentoring andsupport throughout therequired certificationprocess. We are interestedin volunteers from allareas of the state of Utah.We can also use volunteerswho may not becomfortable withpreparing tax returns toassist with client greetingand screening,” he said.

AARP Tax-Aide

counselors receivecomprehensive trainingand are certified by theInternal Revenue Service.Tax-Aide trains counselorsto do basic tax returns —the types of returns mostfamilies and retired peopleneed to file each year.Preparation and trainingfor the upcoming seasonbegins in mid-November,2009.

Leadership positionsare also available tocoordinate community siteoperations, or to managespecific program activitiessuch as technology,training, administration, orcommunication.

For more informationabout promoting a Tax-Aide site in yourcommunity or becoming alocal AARP Tax-Aide

volunteer in Utah, pleaseemailTaxmanutah@msn.com.

Tax-Aide welcomesvolunteers of all ages andbackgrounds, and Tax-Aidevolunteer counselors arenot required to be AARPmembers.

AARP Tax-Aide isadministered through theAARP Foundation incooperation with theInternal Revenue Service.The AARP Foundationadministers publicly andprivately funded programs,such as AARP Tax-Aideand the AARP SeniorCommunity ServiceEmployment Program, andis an affiliated 501 c (3)nonpartisan charitableorganization.

AARP Tax-Aide provides free taxand volunteer opportunities

Recruitment for 2010 tax season is underway

Phot

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Bob

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‘Thank you’ is simply not enough

Davis County Health Department’s FamilyCaregiver Support Program continueswith the remainder of its ten-week series

of classes for individuals caring for familymembers who are older or frail. These classes arefree to the public and are offered each week attwo locations. Individuals may attend at anytimeduring the series.

Presenters will discuss various topics such asquestions to ask regarding advance directives,how to design the life of a caregiver, and beingprepared and organized.

The Tuesday classes begin at 1 p.m. at theCenterville Library (45 South 400 West,Centerville). Each Thursday class is a repeat ofthe Tuesday class and they start at 1 p.m. at theHeritage Senior Activity Center (140 East CenterStreet, Clearfield). No registration is required.

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

Davis County Health Department’s SeniorServices thanks the following agencies for helpingto sponsor these classes: Vista Care, CaregiverSupport Network, and Personal Care By Design.

Tuesdays & Thursdays weekly schedule:• Nov. 3 and 5: “Questions to Ask Regarding

Advance Directives.” Denell Bredsguard, VistaCare.

• Nov. 10 and 12: “’Less is More—Poppycock!’How to Design the Life of a Caregiver.” JuliaCole, Caregiver Support Network.

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

Davis Countyoffers classesfor caregivers

S2 SENIOR SCOOP Supplement to the Davis County Clipper • November 2009

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

The Struggle By Grace Marsden

bB Poetry Corner

I was young,And I grew old.

The growing old happened on the outside – grayhair, wrinkled skin. The inside stayed young.

One day there began, for me, the dance aerobicsat the Golden Years Center. The stage, where we

danced was next to the fun guys who came to play pool.And lo and behold the music came on and

the “old” in me disappeared and I felt young again.Spring came into my life!

Now where am I with this? The mirror says “old”.The role I’m called on to play at this stage is one

of incompetence, memory loss, fatigue, dependency,quietly not making waves nor having intelligent

thoughts. Acting young is looked at as being “silly”.

But the music comes on. The body moves. The inside“me” of youth and desire takes over. How long will it

last?What will win – age or youth? I know which will win.

But I hear the music and I will keep the spark thatis “me” going for a little longer.

From the American LungAssociation

Turn your home into alung healthy home byfollowing these tips

given by the American LungAssociation.

1) Declare your home asmoke-free zone.Secondhand smoke cancause serious healthproblems, especially forchildren. Ask smokers totake it outside.

2) Good ventilationreduces indoor air pollution.Leave doors between roomsopen most of the time forbetter air circulation. Openwindows when possible toallow for a good supply ofoutdoor air. Install exhaustfans in bathrooms to removemoisture and chemicals fromthe house.

3) Keep humidity levels

low with a dehumidifier orair conditioner, as needed.Clean both regularly so theydon’t become a source ofpollutants themselves. Fixall leaks and drips in thehome, as standing water andhigh humidity encouragesthe growth of mold andother biological pollutants.

4)To prevent carbonmonoxide poisoning, haveall fuel burning appliancesinspected by a qualifiedtechnician once a year.Install a carbon monoxidedetector near your sleepingrooms.

5)To keep dust mites andother allergens to aminimum, clean regularly.Wash bedding materials inhot water (at least 130°).Consider replacing carpetwith area rugs that can betaken up and washed often.

6) Fit your gas range with

a hood fan that exhausts theair outside. Use the fan oropen a window whencooking to remove gasfumes.

7) Check commercialcleaning products andpesticides for toxicingredients, and useaccording to manufacturersdirections. Keep your homewell-ventilated when usingthese products. Considerswitching to less toxicalternatives.

8) Test your home forradon. Use a radon test kitlabeled “Meets EPArequirements”.

9) Never leave a car orlawn mower running in anattached garage or shed.Avoid the use of unventedheaters or charcoal grillsindoors.

10) Call your local LungAssociation at 1-800-LUNG-USA for more informationabout avoiding indoor airhazards in the home.

Top 10 tips for a healthy home

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

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Supplement to the Davis County Clipper • November 2009 SENIOR SCOOP S3

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One of many stress relievers for caregiversAnn Dowdy, a presenter and music thanatologist from Applegate Homecare and Hospice,presents different relaxation techniques to help caregivers relieve their stress. Interested inlearning more ways to help you care give better? Attend Davis County Caregiver SupportProgram educational classes where a variety of topics are presented to help caregivers.November also is National Caregiver Month. In addition to the educational classes, DavisCounty Senior Services provides recognition for caregivers with different events throughoutthe month. For more information, contact Megan Forbush at 801-451-3506.

Photo by Jessica Hardcastle, D

CHD

By Shawna Mahan, DCHD

During this seasonof thanksgiving, aswe pause to

reflect on the manyblessing that have beenbestowed on us asindividuals and as acommunity, we areespecially grateful for thelove of our friends andfamilies. One of the mostprofound ways in whichthat love is expressed isthrough the generoussupport provided by familycaregivers to loved oneswho are chronically ill,elderly, or disabled.Caregivers reflect familyand community life at itsbest.

Family caregiversdeserve our lastinggratitude and respect. Thismonth, as we honor themany contributions thatfamily caregivers make tothe quality of our lives, letus resolve to work throughour community, religious,social, business, and otherorganizations to offerprograms and services thatwill provide caregivers thesupport andencouragement they needto carry out their vital

responsibilities.Caregiver Recognition in

Davis County – Thank you toall caregivers

Davis County SeniorServices will offerprograms and severalrecognition events forfamily caregivers duringthe month of November:Centerville Library – Nov.10 and 17, 1-4 p.m.Heritage Senior ActivityCenter (in Clearfield) –Nov. 12 and 19, 1-4 p.m.For more information, call(801) 451-3506 or visitwww.daviscountyutah.gov/health.

Ideas to celebrateNational Family CaregiverMonth

• Offer a few hours ofrespite time to a familycaregiver so they canspend some time withfriends, or simply relax.

• Send a card ofappreciation or a bouquetof flowers to brighten afamily caregivers day.

• Encourage localbusinesses to offer a freeservice for familycaregivers through themonth of November.

• Help a familycaregiver decorate theirhome for the holidays or

offer to address envelopesfor their holiday cards.

• Offer comic relief!Purchase tickets to a localcomedy club, give a familycaregiver your favoritefunny movie to view, orprovide them a book ontape.

• Find 12 differentphotos of the caregiver’sfamily and friends. Have acopy center create a 2010calendar that a caregivercan use to keep track ofappointments and events.

• Offer to prepareThanksgiving dinner for acare giving family in yourcommunity, so they canjust relax and enjoy theholiday.

• Take a few minutes towrite a letter. Encourageyour faith community toask for prayers not onlyfor those who are ill, butalso those who care forthem.

• Help a familycaregiver find neweducational materials andsupport through familycaregiving website or bycalling local agencies forhelp.

(Information adaptedfrom the National FamilyCaregivers Association.)

November is NationalCaregiver Month

By Isa Kaluhikaua, DCHDHealth Promotions

Laura York, mother ofseven children andgrandmother of seven

children, was a smoker for 25years until earlier this yearwhen she decided to choosea smoke-free life. Laura israising her five year oldgranddaughter. She startedthinking about how sheneeded to be around for hergranddaughter and how herlife would be shortenedbecause of her harmfuladdiction. Lauradetermined,“I had to makesure I did everything in mypower to be there for her.She believes in me.”

Laura had tried quittingtobacco once before butwasn’t successful. After thisfailed attempt, sheconsidered herself a smokerfor life. She said,“I wasnever going to quit, it wasjust a part of me.”

Last year Laura was avolunteer for hergranddaughter’s Head Startpre-school class.They calledher Grandma Laura in theclassroom. One of the HeadStart staff members madeher aware of a program thatHead Start offers to help thefamilies they serve eliminatesecondhand smoke exposureand quit tobacco use. Uponlearning of the programLaura signed a pledge tokeep her home and carsmoke-free and agreed tohave the Utah Tobacco QuitLine call her.

This month Lauracelebrates nine monthsbeing smoke-free. Sheexclaimed,“With the helpand support of both HeadStart and the Utah TobaccoQuit Line, I quit smokingwithin about 3 months andmy husband quit 5 dayslater! Without their help,support and encouragement,I may have never quit. HeadStart and the tobacco quitline helped me through itrather seamlessly.” She alsoused a medication calledChantix which made her notwant to smoke.

Laura said,“If I could doit anyone can. Stress is not agood excuse.” She was goingthrough many challengesduring the time she quittobacco. Her home was

undergoing major repairsbecause of some severeplumbing problems. Shealso was dealing with adultchildren that struggle withmental illness, drugaddictions, and financialproblems. Even with thoseworries she was volunteeringfor the American CancerSociety and was heavilyinvolved in Relay for Life.All of this was in addition toher many hours of volunteerwork in and out of the HeadStart classroom.

Laura is doing what shecan to be healthy now so shewill be around for herchildren and grandchildrenfor a very long time. Shesaid,“Now I am a part of ahealthier, happier, smoke-free life. My life is also alittle wealthier! With themoney we are saving, wewere able to buy a new car!”She is spreading the word toother Head Start familiesthat Grandma Laura iswilling to help other tobaccousers who want to quit andfind a better life like she has.

Laura’s story – A grandmother’sexperience quitting smoking

Great American SmokeoutThursday, November 19

On Nov. 19, 2009, millions of smokers nationwide willjoin together to quit tobacco for the Great American

Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

The Davis County Health Department challengestobacco users to start on the road to a tobacco-free

future by quitting for 24 hours the day of the event. Toquit, call: 1-888-567-TRUTH (8788) or log on to

www.utahquitnet.com.

S4 SENIOR SCOOP Supplement to the Davis County Clipper • November 2009

If you are a federal employee orretiree your health insurance

may cover hearing aids.

NEW THIS YEAR!NEW THIS YEAR!

Call our office and we wouldbe happy to verify your coverage

Jennie L. MollerupM.A., CCC-AAudiologist

74 East 500 South • Bountiful, Ut 84010

801-294-620070 South Fairfield • Layton, Ut 84041

801-444-0300

Photo by Linda Freer, DCH

D

By Linda Freer, DCHD

It’s open enrollment forMedicare D from Nov.15 through Dec. 31.

If your current plan ischanging what medication itcovers for 2010, you maywant to sign up to speak toa Medicare counselor aboutchanging plans.

We will have counselors

to help you on the followingdays and times:

• Mondays &Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. inFarmington by appointmentonly and also Dec. 31.

• Autumn Glow SeniorActivity Center, 81 EastCenter St, Kaysville, 801-544-1235. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. byappointment only Nov. 17,Dec. 1, Dec. 10, Dec. 22

• Heritage Senior ActivityCenter, 140 East Center St,Clearfield, 801-773-7065. 8a.m.-5 p.m. by appointmentonly Nov. 24, Dec. 8, Dec. 17

• Golden Years SeniorActivity Center, 726 S 100 E,Bountiful, 801-295-34798 a.m.-5 p.m. byappointment only Nov. 19,Dec. 3, Dec. 15, Dec. 29

Open enrollment for Medicare D

Participants from Golden Years Senior Activity Center celebrate Halloween with food,games, and activities on Oct. 30th. It was fun for the whole family.

Davis CountyHealthDepartment’s

Senior Services is holdinga gift drive to help makethe holidays a littlebrighter for senior citizenswho may be isolated or nothave the financialresources to celebrate thisyear.

The deadline to turn ingifts is Friday, Dec. 18, by 5p.m., to the Davis CountyHealth Department or atone of the county’s threesenior activity centers.

• Autumn Glow SeniorActivity Center, 81 E.Center Street, Kaysville.

• Golden Years SeniorActivity Center, 726 S 100E., Bountiful.

• Heritage Senior ActivityCenter, 140 E. CenterStreet, Clearfield.

For more details or toreceive your gift request,contact Jessica Hardcastleat 801-451-3335 or e-mailher atjhardcastle@daviscountyutah.gov. Gift request willnot exceed $50.

Holiday gift donations sought for seniors

From NIHSeniorHealth.gov

People age 65 and oldertake more prescriptionand over-the-counter

medicines than any other agegroup. Older people as agroup tend to have morelong-term, chronic illnessessuch as arthritis, diabetes,high blood pressure, andheart disease. Because theymay have a number of healthproblems or issues at thesame time, it is common forolder people to take manydifferent drugs. To avoid riskand get the best results fromyour medicines, here aresome tips on how to takemedicines safely.

There are two types ofmedications: drugs yourdoctor prescribes for you,called prescription drugs, andthose you can get without adoctor’s prescription, calledover-the-counter drugs. It isimportant to realize thatover-the-counter productsinclude many differentsubstances such as vitaminsand minerals, herbal anddietary supplements,laxatives, cold medicines, andantacids.

If your doctor prescribes amedication for yourcondition, make sure that youfind out as much about it asyou can and that you learn totake it properly. Ask thefollowing questions and writedown the answers beforeleaving the doctor’s office:

• What is the name of themedicine and why am Itaking it?

• What is the name of thecondition this medicine willtreat?

• How long will it take towork?

• How should I store themedication?

• Does it need to berefrigerated?

• Can the pharmacistsubstitute a less expensive,generic form of themedicine?

Ask your doctor,pharmacist, or nurse aboutthe right way to take anymedicine before you start touse it. Ask questions whenyou don’t know the meaningof a word, or wheninstructions aren’t clear. Hereare some specific questions toask:

• When should I take it?As needed, or on a schedule?Before, with, or betweenmeals? At bedtime?

• How often should I takeit?

• How long will I have totake it?

• How will I feel once Istart taking this medicine?

• How will I know if thismedicine is working?

• If I forget to take it, whatshould I do?

• What side effects might Iexpect? Should I reportthem?

• Can this medicineinteract with other

prescription and over-the-counter medicines —including herbal and dietarysupplements — which I amtaking now?

Taking different medicinesis not always easy to doproperly. It may be hard toremember what eachmedicine is for, and how andwhen you should take it.Here are some helpful hintsabout taking medicines:

• Check the label on yourmedicine before taking it tomake sure that it is for thecorrect person — you.

• Read and save anywritten information thatcomes with the medicine.

• Take the medicineaccording to the schedule onthe label.

• Don’t take more or lessthan the prescribed amountof any medicine.

If swallowing tablets isdifficult, ask your doctor orpharmacist whether there is aliquid form of the medicineor whether you could crushyour tablets. However, doNOT break, crush, or chewtablets without asking ahealth professional first.NEVER break, crush, orchew a capsule.

Get into the habit ofchecking the expiration dateson your medicine bottles, andproperly throw awaymedicine that has expired.Try to set and follow aroutine for taking yourmedicines.

Taking medicines safely