The Stress of Aging: Growing Old Is Not for Sissies!

by Mary Haberman 

On April 4th, at the West Parish Congregational Church, a panel of experts presented a program on STRESS as it affects the older population. The event was sponsored by the To Your Health committee of Western Mountain Senior College, The Bethel Health Center, and MSAD#44 Continuing Education. The panel included Brie Weisman, OTR/L; Jane Chandler, R.N., BSN; Karen Reilly, Sc.D.; Rev. Dr.Tim LeConey; and Wendy Youmans, LCSW. Ellen Cocker, M.Ed. served as moderator.

Karen Reilly and Tim LeConey

The speakers detailed the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenges that are a normal part of aging. We learned how important it is to our health to recognize and find ways to deal with stress. The loss of a loved one, moving away from the community, financial worries, loss of independence, fear of death.....these are common stressors. We cannot do all we once did. We may feel an estrangement from ourselves because we are no longer the same person. How to manage? How to find purpose? Joy?

Wendy Youmans

Among the footnotes provided by the panel: Be sure our Doctors know about all of our medications. Poor posture increases your risk of falling. Oldsters have more cavities than youngsters! Maine not only has a high percentage of elders, it has increased cases of depression.

Jane Chandler and Ellen Crockett

 The second half of the program was given over to the audience. Many had suggestions and some themes kept coming up. Love of music for one. Enjoyment of the outdoors, gardening, taking classes, having a pet were others.

Brie Weisman

Resources mentioned were AARP, the Age Friendly Community Initiative (200 rides were provided last year by the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program), the University of Maine system, and the many overlapping organizations in the area.

Here’s the bottom line. Stay physically and mentally active. Search out whatever brings you joy. Lastly, make connections because that will give you a purpose for being and doing. And it can help RELIEVE STRESS!

Audience members Ruth and Jim Bebko

Moderator Ellen Crocker


Photos by Iris Roberts

Photos from the Mardi Gras Potluck

Thanks to Peter Musso, Bonnie Pooley and Kathleen DeVore for taking these photos at last week's Potluck supper.

Jan Stowell brought the masks and beads.

Bonnie Pooley registering for spring classes.

... and good food!

Good company ...

Jan Stowell, Marvin Ouwinga, Norman Milliard and Marilyn Sahlberg.

 Diane McMahon

Kathleen DeVore, Marilyn Sahlberg, Jan Stowell and Marvin Ouwinga

Lee and Steve Smith

Photos from "It's a Pasta Party!"

Enjoy these photos from Cathi Dicocco's To Your Health presentation on making pasta.  As you can see, she put us to work! Thank you for the photos, Peter Musso.

Cathi and crew

Rolling the pasta

 

Putting the dough through the pasta machine

Getting thinner...

Nicely stretched!

The recipe. (Cathi says she rarely measures anything!)

Atrial Fibrillation Revisited

On Thursday, February 7, Dr. Daniel van Buren spoke to a To Your Health audience on Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and the most recent developments in treatment. 

Individuals with AF have a problem with the heart's electrical system. Very simply, disorganized electrical activity in the upper chambers causes the lower chambers to beat erratically. Blood is not pumped properly, which results in the formation of clots, hence the greatly increased risk of stroke.
 
Because of the increased risk of stroke, medication that inhibits clot formation is usually prescribed. Traditionally, that drug has been Warfarin, but Warfarin requires a great deal of tweaking and monitoring, which has led to under treatment. Newer drugs are now available that have proven to be at least as effective as Warfarin, at least as safe, and do not require constant monitoring, and the price is coming down. The downside with any blood thinner is the risk of bleeding, but in the case of preventing stroke the benefits outweigh the risks. 

Peter Musso thanks Dr. van Buren for his presentation.

A really encouraging new development is the Watchman Device. Most clots form in the left atrial appendage. The Watchman Device is inserted over the opening to the appendage to prevent blood from entering and clots from forming. Dr. van Buren says it’s almost too good to be true; except for the need for and the cost of a procedure, so far there are no negatives.
 
The next To Your Health presentation, “It’s a Pasta Party!”, will be held on Thursday, March 7 from 4:30 – 6:00 at the West Parish Congregational Church. It is free and open to the public.