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Greetings,
The last month has been a difficult one for our nation.
Natural disasters have caused unprecedented harm to
people and property. As outlined in the featured
column,
please make the effort to prepare for the unexpected.
As always, we hope you enjoy The Beacon and
we
welcome your comments. Have a safe autumn.
| Conference On Caregiving |
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Caregivers deserve a day just for them! On October 22,
that's what they'll get in the form of "Caregiving 411."
Sponsored by Hallmark Health and Mystic Valley Elder
Services, "Caregiving 411" is a daylong conference
dedicated to helping family and professional caregivers.
The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at
Malden Catholic High School in Malden. Caregivers can
choose between a number of workshops including:
Read more... »
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| Behind The Scenes With A SHINE Volunteer |
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Over 400 strong, MVES volunteers contribute
thousands of hours of service to elders. Elaine O'Brien,
who has been volunteering for the SHINE (Serving Health
Insurance Needs of Elders) program for a year and a
half, recently talked with us about volunteering and the
upcoming challenges that the SHINE program faces.
Editor: Why do you volunteer?
E. O'Brien: When I retired, I didn't like it! I missed work,
although I didn't want to work eight hours every day. I
like to be occupied and to stay busy. Volunteering
provides some structure and I feel useful because I can
help other people.
Read more... »
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| Changing Senior Trust |
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Growing up in the 1970s, I knew trust was something
shared between neighbors--and strangers. My
neighbor, Flora, was a grandmotherly woman who
welcomed the neighborhood children, many of whom
she didn't know well, into her home without concern for
her safety. She would poke her head out of her back
door and invite me in for a visit. Lemonade, cookies,
and amusing stories always welcomed me.
Read more... »
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| Encouraging Self-Care |
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Question: My 87-year-old father always used
to dress
very fashionably and was meticulous about personal
care. He took a shower every morning and again before
he went to bed. Now he only bathes occasionally and
doesn't pay any attention to how he looks. He becomes
a little agitated if someone mentions this. What do you
think could be going on?
Answer: Some people are fortunate to age with grace
and dignity--then there are others who seem to hit
every bump in the road as they get older. It can be
very embarrassing for families when a relative no longer
seems to care about their personal hygiene. It is
especially bewildering when there has been such a
drastic change in behavior. The reason apparently isn't
obvious so you are going to have to go through a
process of elimination to try and determine the
underlying issues. I would suggest being sensitive and
subtle when dealing with this topic. Most people are
easily offended when questions of personal hygiene are
brought to their attention.
Read more... »
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| Preparing For Disaster |
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The vivid images and desperate stories of Hurricane
Katrina's devastation have rocked our entire country.
How could so many Americans be displaced? How could
a region, a state, a country be so unprepared for the
disaster that ensued after Katrina's winds and storm
surge struck?
Such questions and their complicated answers will be
debated for years--as they should be. No matter the
findings, however, we as individuals should do all we
can now to prepare for a major disaster.
As individuals, we can't control many aspects of a
potential disaster. Still, by thinking through several key
areas, we can achieve a level of preparedness that will
help us if a calamity occurs.
Listen. We have more information available to
us than
ever before. Listen to warnings, alerts, and weather
reports on the radio or television. Use the Internet to
learn about impending trouble. Most importantly, follow
the recommendations of public safety officials.
Read more...
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