Seni r Spirit
The Official Publication of Henry County Senior Services and the
Vol. 8 No. 10
October 2012
From the Director
Henry County Council On Aging
Come Join Us For Fun!
Life’s Like a Boomerang.
The more good you throw out,
the more you receive in return.
~Josh S. Hinds
As the Fall season is approaching and a little nip is in the air,
we begin to think about the holidays. One of the first priorities
on many of our “to do” lists is
purchasing and preparing gifts
to share with others. During
Thanksgiving we are reminded
of how thankful we are for the
many blessings we receive during our lives. We also are thankful for blessings which did not
feel positive when we were in
the midst of situations.
In December, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or in
some other way, giving and
sharing is normally at the top of
the list. The Senior Services
Department is planning our
annual Adopt-A-Senior program for 2012, with the anticipation of adopting out around
400 senior adults. As the above
quote says, goodness is like a
boomerang and always comes
back to us. If you would like to
help this year, please contact
our offices. You will truly be
blessed knowing you brightened
the day for someone who might
have been forgotten during this
time of the year.
Susan Craig, Director
Henry County
Senior Services
770-288-7000
There is something for everyone to enjoy at Henry County’s senior centers! Card games such as canasta
and bridge, billiards; arts and craft opportunities; oil painting, stained glass, computer, line dance, crochet
and Tai Chi classes are available. Hot breakfast and lunches are available at all three centers and best of all,
a great group of people to enjoy it all with. Stop by your local center and see what we have to offer. You will
be glad you did. See you soon!
Page SS-2
Senior Spirit
Joke of the Month!
October 2012
Volunteer Spotlight
2013 Travel Plans
I received from a friend outlining
her travel plans for 2013:
•I have been in many places, but
I’ve never been in Cahoots.
Apparently you cannot go alone.
You have to be in Cahoots with
someone.
•I’ve also never been in Cognito. I
hear no one recognizes you there.
•I have, however, been in Sane.
They don’t have an airport; you
have to be driven there. I have made
several trips there, thanks to my
friends, family and work.
•I would like to go to Conclusions,
but you have to
jump and I’m
not too much
on
physical
activity anymore.
•I have also been
in Doubt. That is a sad place to go
and I try not to visit there too often.
•I’ve been in Flexible, but only
when it was very important to stand
firm.
•Sometimes I’m in Capable, and I
go there more often as I’m getting
older.
•One of my favorite places to be is
in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old
heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
•I may have been in Continent, and I
don’t remember what country I was
in. It’s an age thing.
From one unstable person to another... I hope everyone is happy in
your head – we’re all doing pretty
good in mine! Bless her heart and
may she have safe travels in 2013.
Ms. Deborah Furnish, our Meals on Wheels Volunteer for this
month is going on six years of getting up every Tuesday with a smile;
“I wake up feeling good, I’m going to visit my friends, my extended
family. Tuesdays make me happy!” she said still smiling. On
Tuesdays you will find her delivering meals not to just our senior
clients but to her “family”. Deborah and her husband Duane have
two wonderful children that enjoy helping her when they are home
from school. When she’s not checking in on her “family”, she loves
to read and do scrap booking with her daughter – it’s their own special mother-daughter time. Wishing Ms. Deborah many more
“Happy Tuesdays” and sending a big Thank You to her and all of
our Henry County Senior Service Volunteers.
Statistics from the
Senior Services Department for August
In-Home Personal Care: ............................................. 1,703 hours
Information & Referral: ............................................ 248 contacts
Case Management: ......................................................... 399 hours
Home Delivered Meals: ............................................... 4,161 meals
Senior Center Meals: ................................................... 6,655 meals
Ensure Supplements: .................................................... 1,116 units
Volunteer Hours: ............................................................ 688 hours
Waiting List for Services: ......................................................... 159
Thank you to our supporters from the senior citizens who benefit
from these services. The home delivered meals and in-home personal care enable many seniors to remain in their homes.
The Senior Spirit is published monthly by
The Henry County Times, Inc.
Mickie Jackson, Publisher
48 Racetrack Road • McDonough
770-957-6314
October 2012
Senior Spirit
Goodbyes Are Not Easy
SUSAN
CRAIG
Director
Henry County
Senior Services
After working in the Henry County
Board of Commissioners’ Office for
21 years, I transferred to the Senior
Services Department in 2006. To be
honest, I thought this department
was a place for the geriatric population to have fun, make quilts, shoot
pool, play cards, exercise, and congregate. The senior centers have
proven to be great places for seniors
to have fun; however, my eyes were
opened very soon after my arrival to
issues facing our homebound geriatric population, which are
addressed by this department every
day.
On one of my first days, I stood in
the hallway and listened to case
managers screen incoming calls to
prioritize true emergency cases. In
my world, I did not realize an 85
year old Veteran could be hungry. I
did not realize some seniors lived on
a mere $500 per month and had to
choose between purchasing groceries and having prescriptions
filled. I also was naive to the fact
family members would actually
abuse, exploit and neglect the older
generation.
On the reverse side, I saw community Volunteers picking up hot nutritious meals for delivery to homebound seniors. I also witnessed
many family members and friends
going the extra mile to enhance the
lives of our older population. During
fundraising events, it was heartwarming to see the outpouring of
support, both monetarily and in
other ways.
The in-home services provided by
the Senior Services Department are
normally unknown to most until a
need arises in one’s own family.
The Department and the Henry
County Council on Aging work very
hard all year long to support its own
cause by raising at least 45% of its
total budget through grants and
fundraising events. This may seem
insignificant to many; however, to
the 90 year old lady who is able to
remain in her home, it is the difference in her quality of life.
As I prepare to retire on October
26th, I have come to realize what a
privilege it has been to work in
Senior Services. I was raised by parents who believed in sharing with
others, and this experience has
opened my eyes to how insignificant
most of our own concerns are in
comparison to many others. While I
prepare to say good-bye, I won’t be
going away. I have learned how to
lobby at the State Capitol for populations who need assistance and I
have had the privilege of meeting
others in our community who support those less fortunate. My intentions are to continue my lobbying
efforts and to become an active volunteer so I maybe can make a difference in someone’s life. Thank you to
everyone who has supported me in
this chapter of my life.
HOME MEDICAL SUPPLIES
• Lift Chairs • Scooters • Power Chairs • Stair Lifts
• Vehicle Lifts • Hospital Beds • Walking Aids
• Oxygen • Orthopedic Supplies
• Bathroom Safety • Incontinence Products
Page SS-3
Why visit a senior center?
What do you think of when someone says the words senior center?
Do you picture older people (much
older than you, of course) sitting
around playing bingo and shuffleboard? Eating bland meals while a
television is blaring?
Time to update your vision! Senior
centers are not what they used to be.
Today’s senior center is a vibrant,
action-packed combination of local
fitness center, job and volunteering
headquarters, transportation hub, and
tasty dining locale.
And September is a great time to get
to know your local senior center.
September is National Senior Center
Month. Make plans to visit your local
senior center this month. Here are
some things you might discover:
Most senior centers are for anyone
aged 50+.
You don’t have to be on Medicare to
Call the senior center nearest you for
information on activities and to register!
Heritage Senior Center 770-288-7001
Hidden Valley Senior Center 770-288-7002
Locust Grove Senior Center 770-288-6944
Providing the Best in Hospice Care to the Henry County Area
At VITAS, the Focus is on Life
If you knew someone facing a serious illness, wouldn’t you want
to make life as meaningful as possible?
When patients cannot be cared for at home, VITAS offers inpatient
care in its Stockbridge and Austell inpatient units and in facilities
in Roswell, Marietta, Cartersville, East Point and Atlanta.
That’s what VITAS is all about:
• VITAS is about the person, not the disease.
• VITAS is about making the most out of the time we have.
• VITAS is about comfort, even during a crisis.
• VITAS is about Life.
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770-474-7644
take advantage of all the great opportunities at your local senior center.
Today, nearly11,000 senior centers
serve 1 million older adults aged 50+
every day.
Approximately 70% of senior center
participants are women. Three-quarters visit their center one to three
times per week and spend an average
of 3.3 hours per visit.
Research shows that compared with
their peers, senior center participants
have higher levels of health, social
interaction, and life satisfaction.
Senior centers don’t just offer card
games.
Sure, cards are available (and fun
and challenging). But most senior
centers offer far more than that—
everything from trips and special
events to fine arts and crafts, music
and dance, lifelong learning, and fitness and health programs.
Referrals:
1.800.93.VITAS
Information:
1.800.723.3233
VITAS.com
twitter.com/VITASHospice
Serving Greater Atlanta
VITAS Office
31 Rock Quarry Road
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Page SS-4
Senior Spirit
October 2012
OCTOBER EVENTS
Heritage
Hidden Valley Locust Grove
Senior Center
Senior Center
Senior Center
1050 Florence McGarity Blvd.
McDonough
600 Spraggins Memorial Pkwy.
Stockbridge
280 Mose Brown Dr.
Locust Grove
770-288-7001 770-288-7002 770-288-6944
SPEAKERS
All speakers begin at 1:00
unless otherwise noted
•Henry County Sheriff’s Department Senior
Safety Seminar – October 19th
MEETINGS
•AARP – meets the first Tuesday of each month
from 10:30-12
•Red Hat Society – 1st Thursday of every month
@ 1:00
•Open Door Stroke Survivors Support Group
– 4th Thursday @ 1:00
•Health and Self Awareness Support Group –
3rd Thursday @ 1:00
•PrimeTime Adventurer’s Travel – Quarterly
meeting Oct. 17th @ 1:00
DAY TRIPS
Call Cindy Collins at Heritage in McDonough
at 770-288-7003 for information
or stop by to pay and register.
•Forum and Trader Joe’s – October 9th
•North Georgia Mountains (LG trip) – October
10th
•Golden Crest Tour and Lunch – October 23rd
ENTERTAINMENT
•Robert and Friends – performing the 1st
Friday of each month @ 10:45
•Lamar Worthy – will be performing the 2nd
Friday @ 10:45
•BINGO – 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each
month @ 1:00
SPEAKERS
All speakers begin at 1:00
unless otherwise noted
•HC Sheriff’s Senior Safety Seminar – October
5th
•Finding Joy In Life – October 10th
MEETINGS
•Senior Center Site Council – Quarterly
DAY TRIPS
Call Nelda at Hidden Valley in Fairview
at 770-288-7016 for information
or stop by to pay and register.
•DeKalb Farmer’s Market – October 4th
•Harrah’s Cherokee Casino – October 11th
ENTERTAINMENT
10:30 unless otherwise noted
•The Three Old Men & Friends – 1st Friday
•Pat Daniel, Pianist – 2nd Friday
•Lamar Worthy – 3rd Friday
•David Trivett, Pianist – 3rd Wednesday
•Geriatric Jammers – 5th Friday
The Hidden Valley senior center is open until
8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings for billiards,
games and classes. We always welcome activity
ideas from our clients so give us a call!
SPEAKERS
All speakers begin at 1:00
unless otherwise noted
SPECIAL EVENTS
•Flu Clinic – October 12th from 8-3
•Fine Arts Festival – November 3rd from 9-5
•Rock n Roll 50’s Dance – 11/1 ($10 - includes
a light dinner)
•Senior Health Fair and Business Expo –
November 15th from 9-1
•Movie Night – 2nd Thursday of each month @
6:30 ($5)
DAY TRIPS
Call Traci Terrell at Locust Grove at
770-288-6992 for additional information
or stop by to pay and register.
•Oakland Cemetery and lunch at Six Feet
Under – October 24th
ENTERTAINMENT
•BINGO – 1st and 3rd Tuesday @ 10:30
All centers have a monthly
birthday celebration and
bingo. Call the center
nearest you for
specific classes,
activities
and times.
Ongoing Activities
Some of the classes offered include: Line Dancing,
Computer Classes, Beginner Bridge, Oil Painting, Quilting,
Crafts, Knitting/Crocheting, Exercise, Defensive Driving,
Yoga, Ceramics, Stained Glass & more.
Join in a friendly game of Canasta, Bridge, Skip-Bo,
Rummi-kub, Billiards, Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect
(just to name a few) anytime!
October 2012
Senior Spirit
Page SS-5
Fall prevention: 6 tips to prevent falls
September 22nd is Fall Prevention
Day. Falls are a leading cause of
injury among older adults. Still, fear
of falling doesn't need to rule your
life. Instead, consider six simple
fall-prevention strategies.
1. Make an appointment with your
doctor
•Have your doctor review your medications for side effects and interactions that may increase your risk of
falling.
•Write down the details, including
when, where and how you fell.
Discuss instances when you almost
fell but were caught by someone or
managed to grab hold of something
just in time.
•Certain eye and ear disorders may
increase your risk of falls. Your doctor may evaluate your muscle
strength, balance and walking style
(gait) as well.
2. Keep moving - Physical activity
can go a long way toward fall prevention. Activities such as walking,
water aerobics, and yoga may reduce
the risk of falls by improving
strength, balance, coordination and
flexibility.
3. Wear sensible shoes - Consider
changing your footwear as part of
your fall-prevention plan. High
heels, floppy slippers stocking feet,
and shoes with slick soles can make
you slip, stumble and fall. Wear
properly fitting, sturdy shoes with
nonskid soles. Choose lace-up shoes
instead of slip-ons, and keep the
laces tied. If you have trouble tying
laces, select footwear with fabric
fasteners.
4. Remove home hazards - Take a
look around your home. Your living
room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom,
hallways and stairways may be filled
with hazards. To make your home
safer:
•Remove boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and phone cords from
walkways. Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from
high-traffic areas.
• Secure loose rugs with doublefaced tape, tacks or a slip-resistant
backing — or remove loose rugs
from your home. Repair loose,
wooden floorboards.
• Store clothing, dishes, food and
other necessities within easy reach.
• Immediately clean spilled liquids,
grease or food.
• Use nonslip mats in your bathtub
or shower.
5. Light up your living space Keep your home brightly lit to avoid
tripping on objects that are hard to
see. Also:
• Place night lights in your bedroom,
bathroom and hallways.
• Place a lamp within reach of your
bed for middle-of-the-night needs.
• Make clear paths to light switches
that aren't near room entrances. Turn
on the lights before going up or
down stairs.
• Store flashlights in easy-to-find
places in case of power outages.
6. Use assistive devices - Use a
cane or walker to keep you steady on
your feet. Other assistive devices
can help, too. For example:
• Hand rails for both sides of stairways
• Nonslip treads for bare-wood steps
• A raised toilet seat or one with armrests
• Grab bars for the shower or tub
• A sturdy plastic seat for the shower
or tub — plus a hand-held shower
nozzle for bathing while sitting
down
If you are interesting in improving
your balance, Heritage Senior
Center offers a Balance Class on
Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. Please contact Cindy Simmons at 770-28-7021
for more information.
Tapestry Hospice is a local company founded and
owned by physicians and nurses who share a deep
commitment to the mission of hospice. We live here.
We work here. We have our own family as patients.
We focus on the home, where familiar surroundings
and loving support enhance quality of life...
when time is precious.
Allow us the honor of assisting you or your family in
your time of need.
1335 McDonough Pkwy • McDonough
770-692-5115
Page SS-6
Senior Spirit
October 2012
Second annual
Pizza Hut Fundraiser
Seniors visit Wren’s Nest
Hidden Valley Seniors shown at a recent outing to The Wren’s Nest
where they enjoyed some history and storytelling from the works of
Joel Chandler Harris.
Locust Grove Senior Center had its Second Annual Pizza Hut
Fundraiser in September to help raise money for the center. Thank you
to all that volunteered and those of you that joined us with some of the
best pizza in Locust Grove! Good Food and Good Times!
Jim Mitchell assists the storyteller in making the characters come to
life at the Wren’s Nest.
Live life to the fullest.
All too often people facing advanced illness don't know where to
turn for comfort and support. Sacred Journey Hospice can help
you care for those you love. Call us today to find out what Hospice
can mean to you and your loved ones, so they can continue to live
life to the fullest!
State License 075-176-H
Living life’s journey with comfort,
care and compassion
138 Peach Drive, McDonough, Ga
30253 678.583.0717
SacredJourneyHospice.com
Judy Vance, Arthur Weems and Beverly Kaczkowski participating in
Tai-Chi class taught by William Miller. Tai-Chi classes are held at
Heritage Senior Center on Mondays from 3:00 untill 4:15.
October 2012
Senior Spirit
N
Page SS-7
urse’s Notes
By Pamela B. Cates, R.N.
Tame Your Allergies
This Fall
When it comes to allergies that
peak during the fall season, the
biggest culprit is ragweed. This
pollen rich plant blooms from late
summer until the first frost, making
the allergy-prone sniffle and sneeze.
And indoor allergies, such as mold
or dust mites, can also be triggered
at this time of the year. But you
don’t have to just sit back and suffer. Here are some tips that can help
you get through the season.
- Keep track of the pollen count.
The higher the count, the more likely your allergies will be triggered,
so you can plan your outdoor activities accordingly.
- Have your heat ducts cleaned.
Indoor allergens can be stirred up
and pushed through your home
when you start up your furnace on
the first cool day. So before you
turn on the heat, have the system
cleaned out.
- Use over-the-counter antihistamines when symptoms flare up.
They relieve sneezing, a runny
nose, watery eyes, and an itchy nose
or throat.
- After the heating system is
cleaned, install a fresh high-efficiency particulate air filter to help
screen out indoor allergens and prevent them from permeating your
home.
- A pile of damp leaves can harbor
mold, so it’s best to wear a mask
that screens out pollen and other
allergens (they’re available at most
drug stores) when raking and doing
yard work.
- Keep your windows closed on
days when the pollen count is high,
especially if it’s also windy. You
don’t want to invite allergens into
your home.
- Pollen counts normally peak
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so if
the pollen count is high, plan your
outdoor activity for earlier in the
morning or later in the afternoon in
order to limit your exposure.
- If you have pets that live inside
but also spend time outdoors, wipe
them down with a damp cloth to
remove any pollen lurking in their
fur before they come back into the
house.
100% SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED
OR YOUR MONEY BACK
At THE PALMS AT LAKE SPIVEY
A Luxury Rental Retirement Community
It’s all part of the lifestyle that
discerning residents have come
to expect from The Palms at
Lake Spivey. With a full complement of services and amenities
to support our residents highly
independent lifestyles, life could
not be grander than at The
Palms at Lake Spivey.
And like our current residents, we feel so confident that you
will be completely satisfied with The Palms at Lake Spivey we
are making you this unprecedented offer:
If you are not completely satisfied after
residing at The Palms at Lake Spivey
for 60 days, we will refund 100% of all
rental fees you paid during your stay!
For further details about this risk-free offer and to schedule
a personalized luncheon tour, please give us a call today at
770-477-7207.
Senior Service’s featured trainer this month is Connie Nowell. Connie
has been working for the Heritage Senior Center for 5 years. She is an
awesome trainer and has many certifications including Group Fitness,
Senior Fitness, Zumba Basic, Zumba Gold, Yogafit, and SilverSneakers.
Connie designs her aerobic workouts to improve senior’s strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health and endurance. Connie is a great asset to the
Exercise program. She prides herself on keeping up with the latest
knowledge and changes in senior fitness and adds to her levels of
Certifications by attending workshops.
8080 Summit Business Parkway • Lake Spivey, Georgia 30236
770-477-7207 • www.ThePalmsAtLakeSpivey.com
Offer available for Independent Retirement apartments only. This is a limited time offer and may be discontinued at
any time at the discretion of management. Offer available to new residents only. ©2012 Five Star Quality Care, Inc.
Page SS-8
Senior Spirit
October 2012
Prime Time Adventures Travel Club News
YOU ARE INVITED! Travel
Club Meeting, October 16, 2012,
1:00 PM, Heritage Senior Center,
McDonough, GA. Come and hear
about the existing trips, plus some
NEW ones!
The smiling faces in the picture
are the happy people that just got
back from the Essential Britain
and Ireland trip. We’re still reliving our experiences. We are in
Shakespeare’s Stratford-on-Avon
where we enjoyed a typical
English Cream Tea.
JEWELS OF ITALY – May 18 –
June 2, 2013. This exciting vacation covers three countries –
Italy’s main sites, Vatican City,
and San Marino (one of the smallest countries in the world.) Don’t
Just Dream It – Do It! ~~ guided
sightseeing in Rome, Florence,
Venice, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the
Hill Towns, Naples, the archaeological site of Pompeii, Sorrento,
Isle of Capri, and much more.
CANADIAN TRAIN ODYSSEY
– September 2 – 12, 2013 – a
cross-country train adventure that
begins in Toronto and ends in
Vancouver, including beautiful
scenery and fun-filled activities in
some of Canada’s most popular
cities.After a visit to Niagara Falls,
where you take a Maid of the Mist
cruise, you board VIA Rail’s The
Canadian – a premier continental
train – and head west. The next
three days and nights are spent in
first-class, refurbished art deco rail
cars. Observe unparalleled views
of Canada’s countryside, pass
through the majestic Canadian
Rockies, and end the train portion
in Jasper. While in the Rockies
take a thrilling ride aboard an Ice
Explorer on the Columbia Icefield,
or choose to helicopter over the
Canadian Rockies, take a gondola
ride in Banff, or visit beautiful
Lake Louise. The final destination
is Vancouver.
Still time to discover the amazing
cities in AUSTRALIA and NEW
ZEALAND while minimizing the
number of times you have to pack
and unpack. The highlight of this
vacation is your 13-night cruise on
a luxurious Royal Caribbean
Cruise Lines ship. On this tour,
you’ll see some of the scenic
sights that make Australia and
New Zealand famous. Immerse
yourself in some of the most
breathtaking scenery in the world.
The date is January 23 – February
10, 2013.
If you are interested in more
information on these and other
planned trips, please contact
Nancy Hall at 770-898-8860,
primeteacher@bellsouth.net, or
one of the Henry County Senior
Centers. I answer email when I’m
traveling and return calls as soon
as possible on my return. You do
not have to live in Henry County
to travel with us. We welcome anyone with the love to wander and
discover. Please help us get the
information to others by telling
your friends and family about our
travels.
401 (K) Rollovers
Made Easy.
Call or stop by today
for more information.
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
John H. Dorminy
190 Turner Street
McDonough, GA 30253
(770) 957-0250