All Posts in "Month: September 2012"

One in three adults 65 and older falls each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and that number has risen sharply over the past decade.  Falls are the leading cause of injury death for older Americans and they can significantly limit the ability of older adults to age in place.   Falls are not a normal part of aging and there are a variety of measures individuals can take to reduce their chances of having a serious fall.  One of the easiest methods is to get educated about what causes falls, how to avoid them and what things in your personal life can be altered to reduce your risk.  To focus attention on this, Governor Gregoire has proclaimed the week of Sept. 22 as Fall Prevention Week.

The Peninsula Fall Prevention Coalition is offering an educational day on Sept. 27 from 10 to 2 p.m. at the 27th at the HOPE Center, 8502 Skansie Avenue, in Gig Harbor for community members to get valuable information on how to prevent falls, including demonstrations, methods and materials to increase body strength, household safety tips and the part diet and medicine can have on influencing balance.

“The coalition is made up of a large number of area businesses, residents and professionals who work together to provide information and develop programs to help reduce the risks of fall related injuries in our community,” said Vicki Main, community relations director for Visiting Angels and one of the board members.  The coalition has put on the event since 2010.   If you are interested in becoming involved with the Peninsula Fall Prevention Coalition contact Prevention Specialist, Nanette Tatom at 253-851-5111 at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One.

Contributing Author by — September 15, 2012 in Everything Else

Face the music…bite the bullet…take our medicine…we have a lot of phrases for it.

They amount to the same issue:  difficult choices involve options that are equally charming…or equally  ugly.

Have the surgery?…or tough it out and hope that (benign) tumor will not grow too fast?  Support your son’s fourth career move…or let him know you have some serious doubts?  Move to a smaller, more manageable condo…or keep the old place near the church and the friends you’ve made in the past 40 years?

Even a decision to be generous can be leave us on a teeter- totter.  Shall we send a check to support the scholarship find at the college where our daughter had a shaky start, but finally settled down?  Or would it make more sense to give that money to a homeless shelter, where we know it will have an immediate impact?

Here’s a different way to frame the situation.  Imagine you are holding a pair of playing cards.  Their face value is not important.  But 10 feet away from you on the carpet a pair of magic fish bowls wait for you to toss those cards.   You can trust your luck and toss both, hoping one of them lands in a bowl.  The bowls, by the way, are symbols of your challenging life choices.
Here’s the magic:  if you choose ONE of those cards, it does not matter which one, the fish bowls merge and triple in size, making it far more likely that your choice will pay off.

Guaranteed?  No.  The point of this exercise is to show how choosing improves our odds.  Putting our whole heart into anything tends to do that.  In other words, if you were 50 percent more sure your choice would pay off, would your choice be simpler?

Using the example of making a gift to charity, assume the decision was correct….which result would satisfy you most?

Finally, you can always test the waters; make a smaller gift first…see how it is received, what feedback you get, and how your modest gift is used.  In other words, don’t wait until the curtains are closing on the final act.  Pick a card, any card.

Mike Robinson is Senior Vice President of Planned Giving for United Way of Pierce County.  Please consult a qualified estate planner before making a gift in your will.

Contributing Author by — September 15, 2012 in Everything Else

“Caregivers are generous people,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources.  “Often times there is nothing they won’t do for their loved one.  However, far too often we see caregivers who simply have not taken care of themselves and are falling apart.  Taking care of themselves just falls off their agenda and then, sadly, problems arise.”

“Getting and Using Respite” is a workshop offering caregivers information about access to respite and how to make the most of their time.  Because some caregivers rarely get a break from their daily routines of meal preparation, personal care, medication management, doctor visits, housework, and financial accounting, the workshop focuses on providing exposure to a variety of support systems that make respite possible.  Getting a break for themselves – even for a few hours – is one of the most important things caregivers can do for themselves.  Without a break, caregivers can burn out resulting in poorer quality care and possible placement of their loved ones into community services such as nursing homes, foster care, or hospitals.

“Getting and Using Respite” is jointly sponsored by the Pierce County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), the Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of King County and the Respite and Crisis Care Coalition of Washington.  The workshop will be held Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Soundview Building, 3611 S. D Street in Tacoma.  The presentation is free and no RSVP is required.  It is intended for anyone who is caring for a family member who is over the age of 60, an adult over 18 who has a disability, or a vulnerable child under 18 who has a disability or special need.  For additional details call the ADRC at (253) 798-4600.

Contributing Author by — September 15, 2012 in Everything Else