On Arthritis

At To Your Health on April 6, Christopher P. FitzMorris, D.O., M.P.A. introduced the causes and symptoms of arthritis to an interested group. There are several types of arthritis, but Dr. FitzMorris concentrated on osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type, resulting mostly from wear and tear or injury. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints, which may be worse first thing in the morning or after sitting for awhile. Anti-inflammatories can help, but for severe arthritic pain, you should see your physician. Injections and drugs can relieve the symptoms.

More debilitating is rheumatoid arthritis, which usually presents between the ages of 30 and 50. Diagnosis and treatment by a physician are required.  While the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still under investigation, there are drugs which can alter the disease, not just treat the symptoms.

Whatever kind of arthritis you may have, take control of the situation! Discuss self-management strategies with your primary care provider. Research credible sites, such as the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org).  Manage your weight. Eat a healthy diet. Remain active as much as possible. If you are not active, begin a gentle exercise program, remembering that small increments provide the most benefit.  Use assistive devices (cane or walker) when necessary.  And perhaps most important, form a support team of your medical professional, your friends, and family.  But remember, you are the captain!

To Your Health team members shown with speaker:  Linda McDonough, Judy Whitman, Jan Stowell, Dr. Christopher FitzMorris, Donna Coe and Rosabelle Tifft.

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

The "What's New?" Tab

We now have a “What’s New?” tab at the top of the blog. As new information becomes available, we'll announce it in this new tab. For example, two Brown Bag Lunch discussions have recently been planned, and they’ve been added to the Public Events listings. But you wouldn’t know about these new events unless we announced them somewhere. That’s where the new tab comes in. Whenever you click on “What’s New?” you’ll see the latest updates. It’s up at the top between the “Home” and “Membership/Registration Form” tabs. Give it a try! (To get back here click on the "Home" tab.)
 

 

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

Takeaways from “Ask the Pharmacist”

On Thursday, March 23 two local pharmacists, Scott Fraser, RPh and Retief Orffer, RPh spoke at To Your Health’s “Ask the Pharmacist” presentation. More than 30 people attended. Following are several points that they made:

• A varied diet will supply most necessary vitamins and minerals, and it is better to get them from food. It is difficult to get enough Vitamin D and calcium, so supplementing these is beneficial. But avoid megadoses!
• Ask your doctor for a printout of all the medications you are on and take this to your pharmacist. Your doctor and your pharmacist commonly discuss issues of drug interaction, but your pharmacist is not usually notified when you are taken off a drug. This list will keep him or her up to date. 
• When you visit your doctor, take a list of questions so you don’t forget. Bring a friend or family member with you - two sets of ears are better than one. Ask how long you will be on a medication, if you are starting at the lowest dose, and if there is a lower-priced generic equivalent available.
• Your pharmacist is the only health care professional you can see and speak with without an appointment!

Scott Fraser and Retief Orffer offered three handouts - “Patient Guide for Food and Drug Interactions,” “Vitamins and Minerals” and “How to Interact with Your Pharmacist.” If you were unable to attend, copies are available in the Adult Education office at Telstar High School.

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

From the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion on Civil Discourse

by Brendon Bass

Following our country's long and contentious campaign season, November 16th's Brown Bag Lunch discussion focused on civil discourse. The 14 participants shared constructive and creative responses they'd heard or thought over the previous week, noted local community-building opportunities, and shared ideas on what steps could be taken next. They also contributed to a list of online resources to be shared via email. If you missed the program but would like to receive or contribute to this list, please contact Nancy Davis (nancydavis.bethel@gmail.com or 381-1110). Let her know, also, if you have ideas for related Brown Bag Lunch discussions.

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

Senior College Players Celebrate 10th Anniversary This Weekend

by Rosabelle Tifft

Ross Timberlake, well-known for his acting and playwriting, wrote and is directing a play in a unique format to highlight and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the players. Jack Kuchta assists as facilitator. The play, “Thank You and Good Night,” introduces you to the Senior College Players as they've never been seen before.

Ross said, “Over the past ten years we’ve appeared as various characters in plays, but we’ve never played ourselves. We not only face the challenge of playing ourselves, but we face another challenge as we get into character in a number of “skits.” These skits, or vignettes, taken from a number of favorite plays, are interwoven throughout the play.

Here are the remaining skits not previously mentioned in previous posts:

“Cornbread and Beans” finds Tineke Ouwinga and Norman Milliard as two very different persons on a blind date.

Tineke Ouwinga & Norman Milliard  photo Bob McCartney

Two ditsy women, played by Carole Timberlake and Tineke Ouwinga, hold up a bank so they can get a date with the bank manager, played by Tim LeConey, in “Creative Dating.” Caught in the confusion are bank teller, Pat McCartney, and customers Mark Antell, Barb Dion and Arita Zitoli.

Carole Timberlake, Tim LeConey,  Tineke Ouwinga in front;  Mark Antell,  Pat McCartney in back.  photo Bob McCartney

“The Trial of Goldilocks” presents a different twist to this traditional story and features Norman Milliard as Goldilocks who steals the show from Mama Bear, Carole Timberlake; Papa Bear, Jack Kuchta; and Baby Bear, Arita Zioli. Tineke Ouwinga plays the narrator.
 

Carole Timberlake, Arita Zitoli, Jack Kuchta, Tineke Ouwinga and Norman Milliard.  photo Bob McCartney

In the closing scene, the entire cast members are still debating TV live screening versus radio and arrive at an unexpected conclusion.

First row from left:  Carol Timberlake, Jim McLean, Rosabelle Tifft and Tineke Ouwinga.

Standing (from left)  Arita Zitoli, Jack Kuchta, Norman Milliard, Roberta Taylor, Mark Antell, Tim LeConey, Carol Campbell, Pat McCartney, Ross Timberlake, Lorrie Hoeh and Barb Dion.  photo Bob McCartney

Don’t miss the performance, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19, at the Gould Academy McLaughlin Auditorium beginning at 7 pm.

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

Senior College Players Present Unique Anniversary Play

by Rosabelle Tifft 

Be ready for some surprises as the Senior College Players present their 10th Anniversary play, written and directed by Ross Timberlake, on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18 and 19, at the McLaughlin Auditorium beginning at 7 pm.

You’ll see all cast members participating as their Radio Theater (WMSC) is given the mandate to become a live TV show and the Readers will have to act. Then the fun begins. Narrators, soon to be TV anchors, Jim McLean and Rosabelle Tifft, announce vignettes in the midst of humorous banter as cast members slip in, and possibly out of character.

Rosabelle Tifft and Jim Mclean. photo Bob McCartney

Here are a few of the vignettes you’ll see:

• “What’s on TV” finds narrator Jim McLean challenged by the TV remote, and changing channels to the delight of the audience as Roberta Taylor, Arita Zitolli, Barb Dion and Rosabelle Tifft turn their commentary into a hilarious show.
  
  

  

  Roberta Taylor, Arita Zitolli, Barb Dion and Rosabelle Tifft. photo Bob McCartney

  
  
  

• “A  Little Something for the Ducks” features Mark Antell as a depressed elderly gentleman who thinks he has nothing to live for. A caring elderly woman, played by Lorrie Hoeh, offers hope that better days are coming.
  
  

  

  Lorrie Hoeh and Mark Antell.   photo Bob McCartney

   

• “The Challenge of Bureaucracy” shows a frustrated elderly woman, played by Rosabelle Tifft, dealing with three government officials over her lost Social Security check. Officials are played by Pat McCartney, Barb Dion and Mark Antell.
  
  

  

  Mark Antell, Pat McCartney, Barb Dion and Rosabelle Tifft.   photo Bob McCartney
  

Be sure to watch next week’s blog for more details on this special Anniversary Play.

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

A Follow-up to the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion on Clean Elections

by Nancy Davis

The recent Brown Bag Lunch discussion centered around public financing of election campaigns, a.k.a “clean elections.” After much thoughtful discussion of the topic, facilitator Brendon Bass introduced an equally compelling discussion on the topic of rank choice voting, which is referendum question # 5 on November 8. Brendon has suggested the following internet links on these 2 topics: Ranked Choice Voting: www.fairvote.org; Maine Citizens for Clean Elections (MCCE): www.mainecleanelections.org.

If you’d like to dig deeper on this critical election, you may read unbiased information on many national and state candidates by consulting Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org). In addition to critical presidential and legislative decisions, there are some important referendum questions on the ballot. For more on these six issues: http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/citizensguide2016.pdf.

Participants in the Brown Bag Lunch were inspired to continue the discussion. Whether or not that happens, the next Brown Bag discussion will be on Wednesday, November 16, on the topic of “American Political Society.” What hope is there for our American society? How can we be agents of change in the civil discourse that surrounds our political environment? The discussion will be strictly non-partisan and will reference the frustration many of us feel at the tenor of dialogue and resulting dysfunction of our political system. But only briefly, as the main focus will be on moving into positive action each of us can take. More information to follow. As always, please contact Nancy Davis if you plan to attend (now is not too early), so we have enough seating (nancydavis.bethel@gmail.com; 381-1110). Please remember to RSVP; it is very helpful to us!

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

Dementia Conversations: Breaking the Ice with Empathy and Finesse

by Mary Haberman
 

On October 7, 2016, Western Mountains Senior College’s To Your Health offered the third in its series on dementia.  Open to the public and held at the West Parish Congregational Church, the program’s presenter was Mark Pechenik, Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Maine Alzheimer’s Association.

Sensitive Issues addressed:

1. When is it time to stop driving? (Everyone’s fear)
2. The need to see a physician for a firm diagnosis.
3. Reviewing and perhaps relinquishing control of financial and legal matters.

Strategies and Approaches:

Pechenik focused his presentation on methods used to overcome the most common hurdles faced by caregivers.  He prefaced these suggestions with the caution that, first and foremost, planning - detailed planning - should be worked on sooner rather than later.  “Don’t wait for a crisis. Have the conversation early and involve family whenever possible.  Be specific, honest, and patient.”

Listen closely and respond:

Remember that loss of independence, isolation, and not wanting to burden family are early-stage worries.  Appeal to the patient’s sense of responsibility to family and community when suggesting the need for often drastic changes.

Don’t become an adversary.  Go with the flow.  Keep notes and be specific. Reach out to family, friends, community and utilize the many dementia-related resources available.

Pechenik ended his presentation with a description of many initiatives taking place in Maine, and his Association’s hope for a cure by 2025.  He added that Alzheimer's and all dementias must be “brought out of the shadows.”

The Western Mountain Senior College To Your Health presentations are a community service offered in collaboration with the Bethel Family Health Center, MSAD#44/Continuing Education and the Maine Alzheimer’s Association.

Sandra Seaver, Carlie Casey, Charleen Chase, Mark Pechenik, speaker, Carol Bailey, Andrea Bennett.  photo: Judy Whitman

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

From Dump to High Tech - a Tour of the Lewiston Recycling Facility

A group from Western Mountains Senior College - Peter Gartner, Mary-Ellen Gartner, Jim Rector, Kay Larson, RoseMary McLean and Jim McLean - toured the Lewiston Recycling Facility on September 19. It was an informative, interesting trip -- the facility can process 22 tons of waste per hour. For those who could not make the trip because of the date change, stay tuned.  There may be a repeat open house in the near future.

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

Be a friendly persuader...

by Eunice Ruby

Do you have a friend who doesn't know about our very own Western Mountains Senior College--or needs a gentle push to take a course?  Talk to them!  Share their email and mailing addresses with us so we make sure they have the new brochure!  Bring them to one of your classes as a guest.  Encourage them to take a one-day class such as Isn't It Just a Dirty Old Mill Town? (a walking tour of  Rumford) or Medical Grand Rounds.  

Some courses are still open:  Drawing and Painting, Senior College Players, Making Your Personality Work For You, Digital Devices Part 2 and Creative Writing.  

(Guests are welcome at extended classes.  Just alert Irene Kuchta at 201-788-8817 or ikuchta@ramapo.edu).

Thank you!  We look forward to making new friends!

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