NEWS BITS Octogenarian and Army golf tournaments
Calling men and women golfers 80 and over during this calendar year— come play a nine-hole golf course at no cost! The 10th annual Mackenzie Place Octogenarian Golf Tournament will be held on July 11 at the Colorado Springs Country Club, 3333 Templeton Gap Road. Shotgun start is at 10 a.m. The event includes range balls, putting green, green fee, golf cart and a buffet lunch afterward. If you’re interested in playing, contact Al Williams at awilliams863@comcast.net or call 719-473-1782.
The Pikes Peak Chapter, Association of the US Army
will hold its first annual golf tournament on August 1 at the Country Club of Colorado, 125 E. Clubhouse Drive. Registration is at 6:30 a.m. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m. The cost is $125 per player. For more information, contact scott.leeling@ gmail.com or 719-963-9760.
Voices of Grief support groups These support groups provide a safe place for people to integrate their loss and educate themselves around the challenges and misconceptions of grief. One group meets from 6-8 p.m. on Thursdays for eight consecutive weeks beginning July 7 at CONO Commons, 1506 N. Hancock Ave. The cost of $80 includes a book and supplies. The other group meets from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays for five consecutive weeks beginning July 23 at Humana Healthcare, 5310 N. Nevada Ave. The cost of $50 includes a workbook. Preregistration is required for both groups. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, contact sarah.lee@voicesofgriefcenter.org or 719-505-2257.
PPACG approves $6 million for older adult services The Pikes Peak Area Council of
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Medical practice offers blood pressure control education “Blood pressure is our business” is the tagline for a new program at Age Well Medical Associates. Patient education is an integral part of the program. Blood pressure control is one of the most important measures to track for patients’ well-being. The American Heart Association literature states that nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure and are unaware of it. Most of the time there are no obvious symptoms, but when left untreated, the damage that affects your circulatory system is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke and other health threats. Age Well developed a program to identify, educate and treat high blood pressure. It starts with our providers, who identify patients who are high risk and have hypertension. Education happens at the office visit and includes lifestyle changes, eating modification and medications. A dedicated nurse meets with each patient to continue the discussion. Patients may be sent home with a kit for self-monitoring, including a blood pressure cuff, tracking log and educational material. The patient then makes a follow-up appointment to return the kit and track their progress toward their own personal blood pressure goals. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” absolutely applies to healthy blood pressure control. For more information, contact the office at www.agewellmedical.com or 719475-5065.
Governments (PPACG) Board of Directors recently approved $6,186,679 in funding for services to older adults. This money supports seniors in El Paso, Park and Teller Counties to live as healthily and independently as possible. The funding provides case management, legal assistance, reassurance and safety contacts, access to homemaker services, home delivered meals, nutrition education, counseling, visual assistance and access to eye care, dental services, chore assistance, memory screening/ education/counseling, congregate meals and so much more. PPACG awarded $816,000 for specialized transportation services through the Federal Transit Authority Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities funds to two agencies. Quality of life for seniors
WWW.LAFIFTY.COM
is a priority as the number of 50+ individuals along the Front Range continues to rise.
“Elderoscopy” resources for families
Older adults experience plenty of “probing” medical examinations as they age, which can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. Yet the most uncomfortable exam may actually be a critical conversation between older adults and loved ones about end-of-life plans. 1 in 6 Americans would rather have a colonoscopy than make these tough decisions and document their wishes. To relieve this anxiety and help navigate this process, aging experts at Home Instead developed Elderoscopy, an educational program with tools to start the conversation. An Elderoscopy starts a dialogue between older
adults and their loved ones, examining wants and needs. The time is ripe, as nearly half (48 percent) of all adults report the COVID-19 pandemic has made them more likely to talk about end-of-life plans. Areas covered in the examination include your home, lifestyle, health, marital status, driving, finances, relationships and plan for your final years. If you’re an aging adult or provide care for one, you can find free resources and support materials, such as a checklist of questions, conversation starters, guides and storytelling elements, at www. homeinstead.com/elderoscopy. For more information on personalized care provided locally, call 719-5340908.
Invitation for hope: surviving and thriving after breast cancer Support a worthy cause through this special exhibit of original fine art from breast cancer survivors on July 1, 5-8 p.m. The artwork is for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition, there will be special Saturday presentations from 12-3 p.m. that are free to the general public: July 2, Roundtable Discussion: Journey to Survivorhood and Thriving after Breast Cancer; July 9, Food for Thought: The potential role of nutrition in women’s wellness and Turning off Breast Cancer; July 23, Healing Therapies During and After Cancer (includes lymphatic massage and reiki) and July 30, Ways to Help the Body and Spirit Heal After Breast Cancer (includes acupuncture and yin yoga). All events are held at Jana L. Bussanich Art, 218 Colorado Ave., suite 111 (under the Colorado Ave. bridge). RSVP is required. Please call Natalie Becker to reserve a spot at 719-644-0340. ■
