Senior Perspectives

Pg. 5 - National Parks n Pg. 10 - Palliative Care n Pg. 12 & 13 - Game Pages Pg. 16 & 17 - GR Family Fun n Pg. 20 - Social Security Scammers PAGE PAGE PAGE 5 16 21 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 n WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5 National Parks 9 Are You Prepared? 12 Game Page 19 Special License Plates 22 Practicing Gratitude by Jackie O’Connor by Sarah Willink 13 Mixed Seasons by Jerry Mattson by Kim Kroll 6 Avoiding the MI Choice Maze 10 Ask the Provider: by Joel Dulyea 20 Social Security Q&A 23 Reading is My Life’s by Regina Salmi Understanding Palliative and by Vonda VanTil 14 Conquering Arthritis: Part I Passion Supportive Care 7 Humor in Caregiving: How Can I by Holly Lookabaugh-Deu 20 Beware of Social Security by Joel Phillips, DO and by Dick Hoffstedt Laugh at a Time Like This? Scammers Gerald Harriman, DO 16 Family Fun in Grand Rapids by Kendra Schumaker by Vonda VanTil 11 Understanding Social Security 18 Fire Safety 8 LGBT Aging Initiative: Providing 21 Ask the Vet - Canine Infl uenza Disability Benefi ts by Christine Wistrom Services to ALL Seniors Virus by Vonda VanTil by Kendrick Heinlein by Dr. Eric Peterson EDITOR & PUBLISHER WRITERS MEMBER OF Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Christine Wistrom Information & Assistance Dick Hoffstedt Dr. Eric Peterson (616) 456-5664 or (888) 456-5664 Dr. Gerald Harriman Dr. Joel Phillips [email protected] | (fax) (616) 456-5692 Holly Lookabaugh -Deur website: www.aaawm.org Jackie O’Connor MEMBER OF Mission: Michelle Fields Jerry Mattson Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan’s 231-733-3523 Joel Dulyea [email protected] Kendra Schumaker mission is to provide older persons and persons [email protected] Kendrick Heinlein with a disability an array of services designed Kim Kroll to promote independence and dignity in their Regina Salmi homes and their communities. Sarah Willink Vonda VanTil To advertise in an upcoming GRAPHIC DESIGN Senior Perspectives publications, Jay Newmarch contact: CRE8 Design, LLC 269-345-8845 Michelle Fields [email protected] Editor of the Senior Perspectives COPY EDITOR (231) 733-3523 [email protected] Bonnie Borgeson COVER PHOTOGRAPHER No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise Glenn Rutgers reproduced without written permission from the publisher. softglowdigital.comON THE COVER: [email protected] Rutgers softglowdigital.com Did you know that Senior Perspectives has a Facebook page? [email protected] Like us! www.facebook.com/SeniorPerspectives SENIOR PERSPECTIVES - KENT COUNTY 2 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 Jackie O’Connor, Executive Director AREA AGENCY ON AGING OF WESTERN MICHIGAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Bill Routley ............................................................................. Chair Marilyn Burns ...............................................................Vice Chair Don Black .........................................................................Treasurer Richard Karns ..................................................................Secretary Carol Hennessy ...............................................Member-at-Large Robert Sundholm ...............................Advisory Council Chair REPRESENTATION Don Black ..............................................Allegan Elected Offi cial Stuart Peet ......................................................Allegan Consumer Larry Tiejema .............................................Ionia Elected Offi cial Dennis Sitzer ...................................................... Ionia Consumer Carol Hennessy .........................................Kent Elected Offi cial Nancy Nielsen ....................................................Kent Consumer Betty Dermyer............................................Lake Elected Offi cial Marilyn Burns .....................................................Lake Consumer Gary Castonia ........................................Mason Elected Offi cial Patsy Hagerman .............................................Mason Consumer Bill Routley .......................................... Mecosta Elected Offi cial Sharon Bongard ...........................................Mecosta Consumer John Johansen ..................................Montcalm Elected Offi cial Linda Weger ............................................. Montcalm Consumer Vern Willett ....................................... Newaygo Elected Offi cial Cindy LaBelle ............................................Newaygo Consumer Page # where you found Larry Emig .............................................Osceola elected Offi cial Sponsored by Richard Karns ...............................................Osceola Consumer the snow globe Kurt Reppart ............................ Grand Rapids Elected Offi cial Jane DeVries....................................... Grand Rapids Consumer Name _________________________________ AAAWM ADVISORY COUNCIL Address _______________________________ Thomas Peelle .....................................................Allegan County I Spy Natalie Van Houten ...........................................Allegan County City ___________________________________ Norma Kilpatrick ....................................................Ionia County State _______________ Zip _______________ Kenneth Thompson................................................Ionia County It’s easy! F. Rob Deane MD .................................................... Kent County Simply fi nd this Phone _____________________ Harold Mast ............................................................. Kent County Keith Vandercook ................................... City of Grand Rapids snow globe Nellie Blue .................................................................Lake County in this edition. List where you Nicolette McClure ...................................................Lake County spotted it, clip and return this Robert Sundholm .................................................Mason County form for the chance to win Mary Bechaz .......................................................Mecosta County $ Jerrilynn Strong .................................................Mecosta County a 20.00 gift card to Meijer! Tim Reno .........................................................Montcalm County Ben Witbrodt ..................................................Montcalm County Adele Hansen .................................................Newaygo County Return to: Senior Perspectives, I Spy, 560 Seminole Rd., Muskegon, MI 49444 Elsie Plank ........................................................Newaygo County Barbara Hazlett ...................................................Osceola County LAST WINNER: CAROL BLAUWKAMP OF HUDSONVILLE Mary Lou Proefrock ..........................................Osceola County Priscilla Kimboko Ph.D. .........Grand Valley State University The dementia logo was found on page 13 in the Christmas cookie photo. JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 3 SENIOR PERSPECTIVES - KENT COUNTY SENIOR PERSPECTIVES - KENT COUNTY 4 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 National Parks I love National Parks. I try to visit a new one every year. I started hiking in the parks when my kids were “tweeners” and now 20 years later I am still hiking, just a bit slower. Recently I traveled to Utah because it has fi ve National Parks, BY a few National Monuments and JACKIE O’CONNOR some great State Parks. Let me tell you about a few adventures in Zion and Bryce National Parks. Their beauty and wonder are so vastly differ- ent from what we enjoy in Michigan. which passes through the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel. The tunnel is 1.1 miles Entering Zion, you are at the bottom of the canyon, long and was built in 1930. Most of the always looking up at the red rock walls. Red from time the tunnel is limited to one-way the iron that is in the soil and traffi c because of large camper vehicles rock formations. This is one that need a wide berth. Illumination National Park that has chosen is provided only by car headlights to control the worldwide visi- and the occasional galleries or what tors by offering a free shuttle I would call “open windows” to the bus system. The shuttle will canyon below. take you to the start of all the highlights of the park, but you Next stop was Bryce Canyon which is do need to walk from your bus the opposite of Zion in that you arrive stop to see and know the inner at the top of the canyon, 8,000 feet beauty of the canyon. There are above sea level, and the road through free Ranger-led hikes and talks, the park always has you looking private led hikes or you can do down. Down at the hoodoos. Bryce it on your own. But for most has more than 200 days of above and views, you will be going up. below freezing temperatures in a 24-hour period. This freezing and thawing cycle breaks the rocks down. Over years, a rock plateau breaks down into walls My fi rst hike was the Watch- of stone, then creates windows in the walls until fi nally there are free-standing man trail led by a Ranger who stone shafts called hoodoos. And what a beautiful sight they are. One morning I also explained the various watched the rising sun shine a gold spotlight on the hoodoos. Temperature was vegetation along the trail. The only 40 degrees. A few hours later I was walking the moderate Queens Garden moderate trail was 3.3 miles Trail down from Sunrise Point to the fl oor of the Bryce amphitheater. The trail got round trip and up an eleva- its name from a rock face that looks like Queen Victoria in a long fl owing gown. tion of 370 feet. When you The hoodoos ranged from my height to over 10 stories tall.

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