Commun ty Matters Topeka Presbyterian Manor
August 2015
Why you should stop stressing over stress By Jeanne Dorin for Next Avenue
We’ve all heard the bad news. Stress can lead to a panoply of problems, from depression and fatigue to cancer and heart disease, and perhaps, as recent research suggests, premature death. The unrelenting onslaught of information about these dangers can itself create more stress, as we worry about our health and longevity on top of woes over jobs, finances, college-age children with limited job prospects and caring for aged parents. But now comes — at last — news that may bring your anxiety level down a notch or two. Despite research documenting the potential dangers of stress, it is not a foregone conclusion that you will get sick or come down with any of the diseases or ailments associated with this problem. According to Sheldon Cohen, a professor of psychology and director of the Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity and Disease at Carnegie Mellon University, we humans actually have quite a bit of resistance and resilience. “Most people who are stressed out can cope with it,” suggests Cohen. STRESS, continued on page 2
Resident brings sweet sounds to Manor There’s something about a violin. The sweet sound is soothing and refined, and Topeka Presbyterian Manor resident Dorothy Risebig has been enjoying both playing and teaching this instrument for many, many years. While she’s lived at Presbyterian Manor less than a year, she’s already graced us with her musical talent and can sometimes be heard “serenading” a neighbor with a birthday song. “I started playing the violin when I was 12. My teacher would take me around to the other schools to play, and I asked him why. He said, ‘Because you’re good.’ I guess I was because I kept on playing,” said Dorothy. Not only did she keep on playing, but she eventually began teaching violin lessons. “I started teaching younger students, anywhere from 4 to 5 then on up to high school. I was really busy during the summer months. Sometimes, I’d get big groups of kids to play, 20 to 30 at a time. We used a method called the Suzuki method,” said Dorothy. Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki developed this method more than 50 years ago, which has a focus on parent responsibility, loving MUSIC, continued on page 3
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How has music been important to you? In an upcoming issue of Community Matters we will be focusing on music and its role in making our lives better. If you’ve got a story about what music has meant to you, contact Activity Director Amber Lopez, and your story may be selected for an upcoming Community Matters newsletter. STRESS, continued from page 1
In his research, Cohen has found that the biggest variable for most people in dealing with stress is the availability of social support systems, which provides the means for individuals to deal with stressors. A meaningful chat with a good pal over a cup of coffee can help reduce stress.
“If it’s humor or feeling cozy at home, that’s fine. Joy is essential. Spiritual connections, whether religious or to nature, give people another tool to offload their worries,” she says.
Lavretsky, director of the Late Life Stress and Wellness Research Program at UCLA, says her life “Find something that works for you,” changed after starting yoga, which demonstrated to her the importance says UCLA geriatric psychiatrist of having balance in life. Dr. Helen Lavretsky. Her new book, “Resilience and Aging,” “Don’t worry about how long you documents how a person’s negative will live,” she advises. “Make sure reaction to stress can be offset by you are healthy and enjoy today. enhanced resilience — the ability Don’t worry about the sky falling.” to bounce back from adversity and maintain individual biological and Copyright© 2015 Next Avenue, a division psychological equilibrium. of Twin Cities Public Television Inc. To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amber Lopez, activity director, at alopez@pmma.org.
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Community Matters August 2015
Take note: OktoberFest now Fall Fest
Mark your calendar for fun! Our traditional OktoberFest will be bumped up a little earlier in the year and will be called Fall Fest to incorporate a broader theme. Join us Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a buffet, music on the deck (weather permitting) and more. A free-will offering will be collected to defray costs, with a suggested donation of $5. Stay tuned for more details!
MUSIC, continued from page 1
DONATE YOUR VEHICLE Support Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Today by Donating a Vehicle! We’ll pick up at no cost and you get a tax deduction.
Just call (844) 490-GIVE for information
Thyroid: What everyone should know By Gayle Golden for Next Avenue
An estimated 24 to 28 million Americans who likely have some form of thyroid disease, many of whom develop the disorder later in life.Yet according to American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, nearly half of those with thyroid disease don’t know they have it or are misdiagnosed. That’s because thyroid disease — particularly among older adults, when the disorders can become more common — often masquerades as other ailments. Hypothyroidism, an underperforming thyroid and the most common of thyroid diseases, may be overlooked by older people who dismiss its symptoms of fatigue, constipation, dizziness or weight gain as simply the price of getting older. An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, can look like heart rhythm problems, muscle weakness, anxiety or age-related osteoporosis. Thyroid lumps are more among older people, yet often can’t be detected without a neck exam. While most lumps are benign, some require treatment. THYROID, continued on page 4
encouragement and constant repetition. “That Suzuki stuff is really good. One to two times a month we’d all come together and play pieces we knew. Most of the students would play the same thing. We sounded pretty good. We’d work on it a lot.You have to watch posture a lot when you learn any instrument.You either look interested or you look disinterested, and don’t hold it well.You’ve got to watch it really carefully,” Dorothy said. Dorothy’s passion and attention to detail are evident in the success of her former students. One is a music instructor at Fort Hays State University and the other in the Lindsborg school district. And although they didn’t pick up the violin, Dorothy inspired her daughters to pursue careers in music. They play the bassoon and oboe in the St. Joseph, Mo., Symphony. Dorothy hopes her daughters will be able to come showcase their talents for her fellow Presbyterian Manor residents, and she’s proud of the musical legacy she’s creating. “I’ve had about 50 students over the years. My favorite thing is to see the parent involvement. When they go home with their mother or father who have taken notes, the parents are so interested. Some even learn to play themselves,” said Dorothy. Since moving into Presbyterian Manor, Dorothy still sees students, although not as many. She also enjoys spending time with her cat Sugar Babe, who’s known to hide in his box when she pulls out her violin to play. “I used to have a cat that would climb up around my neck when I played. It made it a little difficult,” Dorothy said. Topeka Presbyterian Manor
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Topeka Presbyterian Manor 4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 Return Service Requested
Don’t you think it’s time to
feel the music?
Donate headphones, iPods and iTunes cards to Presbyterian Manor’s Music & Memory program for residents. Contact Activity Director Amber Lopez for details. 4
Community Matters August 2015
THYROID, continued from page 3
As many as 10 percent of Americans older than 60 have some form of thyroid disorder, says Dr. Hossein Gharib, an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, who has served as president of the American Thyroid Association. The thyroid hormone replacement drug Synthroid (levothyroxine), used for underactive thyroids or when the thyroid has been removed, is the second most dispensed medication in the United States, with more than 22 million prescriptions written annually. “People do not always recognize thyroid disease because they might think it is just a normal part of aging,” Gharib says. “That’s why it’s important to ask for thyroid screening.”