Managing the Holiday Blues

by Kathleen DeVore
 
We all know someone, or someone whose loved one, is dealing with depression. Severe depression is debilitating, but there are levels of depression, and even a mild case such as being down in the dumps can take its toll. This was the focus of To Your Health's latest offering, “How to Keep the Holidays Happy – Managing the Holiday Blues.” Torrey Harrison, LCSW, and Stephanie LeBlanc, LCSW, both from Tri-County Mental Health, were the presenters.

The symptoms of depression, whether minor or severe, include: feelings of sadness or unhappiness; changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough); loss of interest or pleasure; lack of energy, oversleeping or insomnia; and irritability, frustration, agitation. Harrison and LeBlanc said that one in ten Americans are impacted by depression, either personally or through a loved one, but that 80% of people struggling do not seek help.

Harrison and LeBlanc also made the following points during their presentation:

• As with any medical condition, if you are experiencing a major disruption to your life, talk with your doctor. Medication may be in order, but there are other avenues to explore as well. Many people find help through cognitive/behavioral therapy. Talking with a non-judgmental third party can be beneficial. Improve your general wellness level through physical and social activity. Exercise and eat a healthy diet to improve your sleep patterns. All of these can help you become more aware of what triggers your depression, and help you to cope.

• The holiday season – from Halloween to Valentine's Day – just happens to coincide with the darkest 100 days in the northern climates. Many people suffer from a mild depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during this time. It is more common in women 20 – 55 years old, less common for men. If you did not suffer from SAD when you were younger, it is less likely you will experience it as you get older.

• The symptoms of SAD are not at the level of intensity as those of depression, but they are the same: loss of energy and interest, feeling moody or irritable, change in appetite (often an increased craving for carbohydrates), difficulty concentrating and accomplishing tasks. All are brought on by short days and decrease in light.

• With SAD there is no one thing that will help everyone. It is important to find things that work for you. Many people find that using full-spectrum lights at home or at work greatly improves their well-being. Known as “happy lights,” these are readily available. Taking extra vitamin D or St. John's wort is of benefit to some. If you know you experience a mood dip in October, plan things to look forward to during the dark season. Try to stay in the moment of what's happening now. Be realistic – do you really need to make four pies for Thanksgiving? Reach out and connect to others. Do something for someone else – it really does help you feel better! And don't forget to take time out for yourself, even just a few minutes. Avoid getting too busy.

• With family, decide what the holidays mean to you, and keep that in mind. Buy into what you want to do, not what others expect of you. Identify points of possible tension, and work to avoid them. Laugh! Have a favorite joke at the ready. And if you can't laugh, force yourself to smile. Smiling will make you feel better.

The session concluded with a graphic of the Eight Dimension of Wellness:

• Physical – healthy patterns, eating, exercise, imbibing, sleeping
• Emotional – awareness, expressing, managing
• Social – positive supports, regular contact
• Occupational – sense of purpose and meaning in everyday life
• Intellectual – activities that are creative, learning something new
• Financial – making conscious spending decisions, planning and preparing
• Environmental – pleasing surroundings support physical/mental health
• Spiritual – connect with something greater than one's self

Being mindful of these points will help us manage the “Holiday Blues.”

Lida Iles, Torrey Harrison, Stephanie LeBlanc, and Bob Iles     photo R. Tifft

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Native American Reconciliation at Down Home Maine

by Saranne Taylor

Cheryl Schaufler and Arla Patch  (photo P. Gross)

Cheryl Schaufler, who is Native American, and Arla Patch, who is European American, presented a horrifying picture of the atrocities suffered by Native Americans during the last two and a half centuries. We may know these things, but such an eloquent reminder from Cheryl and Arla was both sobering and painful.

Arla and Cheryl’s work focuses on the Maine-Wabanaki State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was signed in June of 2012 at the State Capital. The Wabanaki are the five Nations comprising the Mi’kmaq, Maleseet, Passamaquody, Abenaki and Penobscot. As far as we know, this is the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to address Indian Child Welfare in the US.

The mandate of the TRC has 3 main goals:

TRUTH: document what has happened, and is happening to Wabanaki involved in the Maine Child Welfare system

HEALING: give everyone, Wabanaki especially, a voice to begin the healing process

CHANGE: make suggestions for the best Child Welfare practices with Wabanaki

Arla and Cheryl spoke about the “Cultural Genocide” of the Wabanaki people, which was authorized by the governments of the times. Phrases such as “The Indian people should be put into perpetual slavery” or “Capture and subdue the Saracens” were used by prominent people.

Thanks to the dedicated work of Cheryl and Arla, steps are being taken to heal the wounds, particularly those of the Indian children who were removed from their homes, families and tribes not only in the 1800’s, but as recently as 1984 when the last school was closed. Children were placed in boarding schools when they were as young as four or five years old, or, they were adopted by white parents. At school and during adoption, children were forbidden to speak their own language, dress in their own clothes or follow any of their tribal customs. Frequently they were physically and emotionally abused, which had tragic outcomes still observed today.

Despite this, the TRC is making headway in the healing process, and in Maine we can be proud that the TRC is the first of its kind in the US.

If you would like more information, or would like to know how to volunteer for the TRC, please write to: Arla@megalink.net

Many thanks to Cheryl and Arla for this Down Home Maine presentation.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Report on To Your Health's "Is This Just a Mole or Could It Be More?"

by Barb Dion

Judy Whitman, Dr. Alyssa Paetau, Jan Stowell and Rosabelle Tifft  (photo B. Dion)

On October 3, WMSC presented its first To Your Health program for the fall session, “Is This Just a Mole or Could it be More?”

Dr. Alyssa Paetau, MD, from Western Maine Surgery (at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway), recommended a thorough skin examination as part of regular annual physical exams for people over the age of forty. She stressed the importance of checking the skin regularly for any changes, explaining how normal cells can become cancerous, and mentioned the two non-melanoma skin cancers, squamous cell and basal cell, the most common type of cancer.

Several methods of treating skin cancer, as described by Dr. Paetau, are excising it completely, radiation therapy, and cryotherapy (freezing). She spoke about the steps we can take to help prevent skin cancer: limiting UV light exposure, avoiding tanning beds, using sunscreen, and having annual skin checks.

The next To Your Health presentation, "How to Keep the Holidays Happy - Managing the Holiday Blues," will be held on Thursday, November 7 at 4:30 pm in the West Parish Congregational Church. These programs are open to the public and free of charge.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

A Final Wrap-up of WMSC's Tenth Anniversary

(The following article will be appearing the the June edition of the Maine Senior College Network's Newsletter)

 "Bridging the Generations" - a Public Celebration

by Nancy Davis 

The Western Mountains Senior College celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. We received a Chamber of Commerce commemoration last spring, the member dinner in September was a huge success, and we were trying out options for the public celebration we had targeted for this spring. Our ho-hum ideas finally coalesced into a very exciting project. Bridging the Generations - or What do your grandparents do all day? was held on May 2 in the community’s high school cafeteria. 

The concept for this community event derived from two projects, both successful collaborations for the past several years. For the third annual combined art project, our students and the advanced middle school art class exchanged beginning art pieces and finished each other’s illustrations. This summer the middle school garden project will, for the fourth year, benefit from a highly organized summer program of WMSC “Garden Masters” and local businesses.

Bethel Senior Citizens display designed by Telstar Middle School students.

We had also, in recent months, made good progress in working with the local Senior Citizens group. And finally, several youth organizations in the area had - fortunate for us! - identified working with seniors as an annual goal.

The food, prepared by seniors and students.  Not surprisingly, none was left!

Combining all these preliminary initiatives, we formed a planning committee headed by a WMSC team and expanded to involve a wide variety of local organizations. Throughout the early spring, seniors from both WMSC and the Senior Citizens group met with middle school classes on collaborative projects in art, music, creative writing, drama, community needs, and cooking, all of which were exhibited or presented (or consumed!) at the May 2nd event. 

We are excited about the interactions and learning that occurred and the resulting

Lego robotics team demonstrating their project.

projects that were featured at the event. In addition to the projects described above, a middle school robotics team demonstrated an elaborate project they had constructed to portray the challenges facing elders. Another group had produced an attractive, heart-felt endorsement for the community’s dog park initiative. The Local Foods Connection demonstrated how seniors could become part of the local buying group.

Telstar Interact students introducing volunteer day.

One especially exciting outcome was a volunteer day (which grew to two days) last weekend. The high school Interact group had for some time envisioned such a project, but needed a vehicle to make it happen, and the Bridging the Generations event met that need. In 13 different projects, youngsters performed household and property services for community seniors who had registered with Interact. This event, having laid the groundwork (so to speak), is sure to continue into the future.

Roberta Taylor and student thespian from The Eddy Middle School.

Our intergenerational celebration was a huge success and certainly propelled WMSC and its mission into major community awareness. It enabled the college to significantly contribute to a growing spirit of collaboration within the Bethel community.

The audience at the May 2 celebration.

photos by Melissa Prescott

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Bees: Pollinators and Master Communicators

by Scott Hynek

Carol Cottrill, master beekeeper, president of the Maine State Beekeepers' Association and the guiding light behind the highly successful school for beekeepers given annually by the Western Maine Beekeepers' Association, spoke to the WMSC on Tuesday, April 23 at the Mahoosuc Mountain Lodge. She related a few of the many interesting things about bees, but focused on their importance as pollinators.

Renting bees to farmers as pollinators is how professional beekeepers make most of their income. Indeed, were honey bees to vanish (unfortunately, not impossible) most of the plants we eat would either cease to exist or become both limited in number and stunted.

Carol touched lightly on what beekeepers must know about bees, demonstrated how modern beehives are put together, and discussed how it is that bees can effect mass communication in dark, noisy hives: namely, with odors known as pheromones. 

One of these odors is given off naturally by larvae, and its strength indicates to the older, foraging bees the need to stress the gathering of pollen, on which the larvae but not the adult bees feed. Another odor is given off intentionally, to sound the alarm of impending danger to the hive. Still another is given off as a result of stinging, which act destroys the bee that stung, but which odor directs the attention of other suicide stingers. 

Carol also told us what to do if stung (scrape away the embedded stinger with a thumbnail or a credit card, do NOT pinch the stinger to remove it) and how to distinguish honey bees from hornets and the like (honey bees are fuzzy, the others are glossy).

 

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Music and Youth Volunteers at the 10th Anniversary Celebration

by Lorrie Hoeh

 The Telstar Middle School ArtReach Group has been hard at work on intergenerational projects with area seniors from Western Mountains Senior College and Bethel Senior Citizens. Some of those projects will come to fruition on Thursday, May 2, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Telstar, when WMSC will continue the celebration of its tenth anniversary year with “Bridging the Generations—or What do Your Grandparents do all day?”

The Mahoosuc Community Band comprises members from middle school age to senior citizens, according to Kathleen DeVore. A small group from the band is planning a performance at the celebration. The group will consist of mostly flutists, along with percussion and a baritone horn, playing just a few pieces, about five minutes’ worth.

Steve Wight works with Telstar’s Interact, a high school service organization associated with Rotary Club. They are helping the Middle School ArtReach group to organize a volunteer day in the Bethel area. The idea is to help senior citizens with yard clean-up and other home projects. Come on May 2 to sign up for services with the Bethel Senior Citizens group.

In addition to the above mentioned projects, there will be displays of collaborative projects in art, creative writing, technology, gardening, and cooking. (There will be goodies to taste!) Other community organizations will have displays, and there will be an opportunity to become a regular member of the local food ordering group. At 3:30 there will be brief presentations and entertainment. Telstar cafeteria 3:00-5:00 on Thursday, May 2 - Hope to see you there!

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

by Barb Dion

Is your glass half empty or half full?  The latest To Your Health offering, “Good Mind: Good Mood,” answered that question in a fun, insightful way.

Our first presenter, Lynn Arizzi, spoke about ways that “Music Makes the Soul Soar,” even through troubling times. She led the audience in singing many familiar songs, including “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” “We Shall Overcome,” and even “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”  Lynn concluded her session by inviting everyone to circle around a large, colorful parachute which had been placed in the center of the floor. They were asked to hold on and raise and lower it while she played an aria sung by Leontyne Price. The soaring notes lent a beauty to the gentle fluttering of the parachute.

Making the parachute soar.....

.... to the skies!

The next topic, “Staying Positive: Maintaining Connections through Movement,” was a fun and eye-opening audience participation presented by Janet Willie. She explained how important it was at this age to maintain good joint health, and demonstrated ways to stay flexible and learn how to relax. Janet encouraged the audience to join her in stretching and flexing exercises and gave many hints on how these can be performed at home. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the instruction, if the amount of laughter was any indication! 

Strectching with Janet Willie

Lastly, Ellen Crocker presented “Homework for Old Age: What’s the Assignment Now?” She reflected about growing older and how to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Ellen said this is the time of life to look back; to acknowledge the good and bad things we have done, and realize that right now is extremely precious. She mentioned it is not what we have, but what we enjoy. She then asked the group to comment on two questions: what was hard for you in going from one stage of life to the next and, what makes you happy now. A lively and heartfelt discussion followed and capped off this enlightening evening. 

Ellen Crocker, Janet Willie, and Lynn Arizzi

photos by Barb Dion

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

 

WMSC 10th Anniversary Update

by Lorrie Hoeh

Preparation for “Bridging the Generations,” a celebration of the tenth anniversary of Western Mountains Senior College at Telstar on May 2nd, continues. Telstar Middle School students who are members of Ms. Prescott’s cooking and gardening group have set a goal of working with representatives of WMSC and Bethel Senior Citizens to plan and prepare refreshments for the event.

The group has met with seniors twice, and together they have set April 25th as the date for preparing food for the May 2nd event. Members of WMSC and Bethel Senior Citizens are helping students decide on the menu and how jobs will be distributed among students and seniors. A quick glance at some of the proposed foods makes one’s mouth water. 

If any WMSC members would like to join the students in baking on Thursday, April 25, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm at the Bethel Alliance Church, you are more than welcome. Suzanne Dunham, the TMS cooking club manager, says it's fine to just show up, but if you would like to speak with her first she can be reached at 664-2967 or 515-0516.

Another group at TMS is learning about the proposed dog park in Bethel. They met with Steve Wight of Rotary and the dog park supporters’ group. They learned about the location for the park and that it will be divided in two parts. One will be for small dogs, and the other for large ones. Moreover, they learned about the proposed rules for the park. 

Steve Wight meets with TMS students interested in the proposed Bethel dog park. photo Melissa Prescott

Current goals are to meet with representatives who are supporting the dog park; to learn about their work so far; share some of their creative ideas for the park; and learn how to help in implementation. Among those ideas are getting doggy bag dispensers; a swimming lake for dogs; and making sure that dogs and owners are having fun in a safe environment. 

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to put May 2nd, 3:00 to 5:00, on your calendar. And watch this space for more information about cross-generation cooperation in Bethel, Maine.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

"Bridging the Generations" WMSC's 10th Anniversary Community Celebration

by Nancy Davis

On Thursday, May 2, from 3:00-5:00 in the Telstar High School Cafeteria, the Western Mountains Senior College will sponsor "Bridging the Generations - or What do your grandparents do all day?" The public is invited to attend this event, which WMSC is featuring as part of its 10th Anniversary celebration. 

Major players in this event are members of the Telstar Middle School ArtReach class, under the direction of teacher Melissa Prescott. Each year, students in the Advanced Art Class at Telstar Middle School select and design an arts-integrated service-learning project. This year, students chose to help and work with seniors in our area.

The students have designed a website telling the ongoing story of how the project is proceeding. It showcases the work they are doing connecting youth and elders in the Bethel community; visit their website at http://artreach13.wix.com/2013. The students explain that "We have split up into groups that revolve around the individual focuses of this project. For example, we have a group called the Visual Arts Group, whose focus is on partnering with the Western Mountains Senior College Art Class to create works of art.”

A similar group combines members of the WMSC Creative Writing class and the Middle School class; their product will certainly be entertaining and will be featured at the May 2nd event. Other displays or live presentations will feature drama, music, technology, gardening, and good food. One group is working on volunteer projects for the future, with youngsters helping seniors in the community.

The Senior Citizens Group of Bethel, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will have a display at the event, and some of their members are helping in the planning sessions.  Watch the ArtReach website and the WMSC blog for updates as the project continues. 

At the May 2 celebration you will be treated to refreshments cooked by seniors and students together. A group of Telstar Middle School students meet with WMSC and Bethel Senior Citizen members to plan the menu for the celebration.      photo by Melissa Prescott.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

"Good Meals in 30 Minutes or Less" Both Informative and Fun

by Barb Dion

Once again, the To Your Health program of Western Mountains Senior College presented another informative and fun program, “Good Meals in Thirty Minutes or Less.”

Chef Elton Cole

Chef Elton Cole and Stephens Memorial Hospital Registered Dietician Pat Watson educated the large crowd on the many ways to create healthy and tasty meals, with the emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients.  

Chef Cole spoke about food safety when preparing meals, touching on the proper utensils to use (plastic vs. wood), cleaning of cutting boards, and the correct way to defrost meats. He also demonstrated the best ways to cut vegetables and emphasized knife safety. Mr. Cole offered delicious dishes for tasting including couscous, pear muffins, and a chicken and vegetable dish prepared in a wok. 

Cooking lesson

Pat Watson suggested the various reasons people eat, including habit, pleasure, hunger, and stress (emotional eating). She spoke about the importance of a well-balanced diet. Healthier choices would be fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned, which tend to be high in sodium. 

Judy Whitman, Pat Watson, and Rosabelle Tifft

 Pat spoke about creating a healthy plate, with the emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein foods. Portion size is also very important, as well as avoiding foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar, all which can trigger a variety of health problems. She provided a number of healthy and varied recipes that are quick and easy to prepare.

 

”Good Mind : Good Mood,” the final To Your Health offering of the year, will be held on Thursday, April 11, from 4:30-6:00 pm at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. Mark your calendars!

photos by Barb Dion

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Down Home Maine Presentation: Pilgrimage to the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku

by Bonnie Pooley

 

Toshio Hashimoto is truly a renaissance man. Not only is he an auto mechanic of great repute, a shitake mushroom grower, a Taiko drummer, and a Mahoosuc Mountain Rescue Team member, but he is also a lifelong, devout Shignon Buddhist. On March 4, Toshio spoke to a packed auditorium at Gould Academy about his pilgrimage around the Japanese island of Shikoku.

Toshio Hashimoto on his journey

He told his rapt audience, first, why he decided in March of 2011 to make a 670-mile pilgrimage to visit the 88 temples around the perimeter of Shikoku Island. When Toshio was born two months prematurely in his rural home 62 years ago, no one thought he would survive. His mother and all of her friends and neighbors prayed fervently to Kobo Daishi, the 9th century founder of their branch of Buddhism. When Toshio thrived, he owed lifelong gratitude to Kobo Daishi, and he made this pilgrimage to express his gratitude.

Toshio and statue of Kobo Daishi

Toshio next showed pictures and told stories of his 38-day walking journey and the rituals he performed at each of the 88 temples. The audience was moved by his openness in speaking of his sincere and devout Buddhist beliefs. Toshio told of the beauty of the shrines and the rural countryside. At times, he walked with a view of the Pacific Ocean; at other times, he climbed and descended endless mountains. We also saw pictures of the terrible blisters on his toes, the bus shelters in which he sometimes slept, and the vending machines where he often got his food and drink. 

With one of many fellow pilgrims

There were stories of fellow pilgrims, each with his story of why he was making this journey. And we saw the breathtaking loveliness of the coming of spring in Japan, cherry blossoms and all. Toshio said that, when he reached the 88th temple, he had a feeling of pure ecstasy, the emotion that Buddhists call nirvana, of having reached heaven on this earth. He hopes to make this pilgrimage again when he reaches 70 years old. 

Cherry blossoms in spring

Toshio’s talk once again proved that these western mountains of Maine harbor rich and multi-faceted hidden gems, one of which can often be found with his eyes peering into a Subaru engine.

One of the 88 shrines

photos by Toshio Hashimoto

 
Thanks to Herb and Paula Gross for producing and hosting this event.  Herb and Paula helped Toshio sort and organize his photos, sifting through more than 1000 pictures to arrive at the 200 slides in the presentation.


For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Gaining a Better Understanding of Heart Disease in Women

by Lorrie Hoeh 

Dr. vanBuren speaks with Kay Larson.  photo R. Tifft

On Thursday, February 7, there was another presentation in WMSC's “To Your Health” series entitled “Women and Heart Disease." Those of us who attended were treated to an excellent and informative presentation by Dr. Daniel E. vanBuren, M.D., of the New England Heart Institute and Androscoggin Valley Hospital.

The speaker told of how women have too often been ignored in the study of heart disease, which has long been thought of as a man’s disease.  Moreover, women presenting with symptoms of cardiac problems are often not treated with the same vigor as men presenting similar symptoms.  Also reviewed were the various statistics of cardiovascular disease, especially that it is the leading cause of death in women.  Dr. vanBuren then presented graphic descriptions of what goes on in a heart attack and what can be done to prevent it, emphasizing the importance of diet, exercise, and stress management.

The audience came away with a better understanding of heart disease, its prevention, and intervention protocols.

Dr. vanBuren was introduced by Rosabelle Tifft, who also reminded us of two upcoming “To Your Health” programs, “Good Meals: in 30 Minutes or Less” on March 21, and “Good Mind--Good Mood” on April 11, both in keeping with the theme of “keeping your glass half full.” 


For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Good Balance: Staying on Your Feet in Bethel

by Barb Dion

On Thursday, November 1, the WMSC To Your Health committee presented “Good Balance: Staying on Your Feet in Bethel.” A large crowd enjoyed the very informative talk which focused on preventing falls as we age. Before the program started twenty lucky registrants were able to have a balance assessment performed by the presenters: Lissa Merrill, Scott Bottomley, and Amy Bottomley, all of Stephens Memorial Hospital Department of Physical Therapy.

Scott Bottomley and Mary Leimbach

The facilitator, Amy Bottomley mentioned that people are living much longer, and that the purpose of this program was to give pointers on how to stay safe and enjoy life for as long as we can. She explained what a fall is, and that falls are common, predictable, multi-factorial, and preventable. Some, but not all risk factors are lower body weakness, problems with gait and balance, impaired vision and/or hearing, postural hypertension (drop in blood pressure when standing), and medication side effects. Inappropriate footwear was also shown to play a part in falling. The more risk factors you have, the greater chance of a fall.

Some tips were presented to avoid falls.  The need to hydrate, good nutrition, proper use of medications, eye exams and hearing screening were important. Also, a good exercise program will keep your reflexes strong and help you to walk faster and safer. Walking, tai chi, yoga, and other aerobic exercises are highly recommended.

A large part of prevention includes checking your home environment for potential hazards. Throw rugs, cluttered floors, objects placed on steps, and improper lighting were mentioned, as well as slippery tub or shower floors. Always keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone. If possible, carry a cell phone on your person. It was suggested that seniors consider wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case they fall and can’t get up. 

Amy Bottomley, Rosabelle Tifft, Judy Whitman and Lissa Merrill

Stephens Memorial Hospital offers a balance program called "Staying on Your Feet" for all adults ages 60 and older. This is a free class that meets on the second Thursday of every month. To sign up, call 1-866-609-5183.

photos by Barb Dion

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Good Turnout for Good Sleep

Carlie Casey and Lynne Kulik examine pamphlets brought by Dr. DellaValla.  photo J. Whitman

Twenty-nine people braved the rain on October 4 to attend To Your Health's first presentation of the year, “Good Sleep: Working to Keep You Healthy.” The presenter, Dr. Joseph DellaValla was informative and engaging as he explained why sleep is important and how we can learn to sleep better. He spoke of how melatonin is necessary for sleep, and how alcohol before bedtime, or light from a cell phone screen can block melatonin. He showed footage of a person experiencing an episode of sleep apnea (which several of us found downright scary!) and went on to show slides of several newer devices that help prevent it. Other things we learned: it's possible to recondition yourself to overcome insomnia; a light box used in the morning increases melatonin production and helps you sleep better at night; and a fifteen minute nap is better than a cup of coffee for eliminating drowsy driving.

The next To Your Health offering, “Good Balance: Staying on Your Feet in Bethel,” takes place on Thursday, November 1, from 4:30 – 6:00 pm at the West Parish Congregational Church. Doors open at 4:00, and the first 20 people will receive a complimentary balance assessment.

Future programs in this series include “Good Strong Heart - Women and Heart Disease” on February 7, 2013; “Good Meals – in 30 Minutes or Less” on March 21, 2013; and “Good Mind – Good Mood" in April, date to be announced.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college