West Valley - July 2023

Affordable Comfort with Style SUMMER HOME MAKEOVER

Tubular Skylights

Solatube, the modern skylight that brings natural light to every room in your home.

• Great for hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.

• Solar-dimmable systems available

• Save 55% with Federal and State Tax Credits*

Skylight Replacement

Replace your old, cracked skylights with beautiful, energy-ef cient skylights.

• Refresh your home with Fresh Breeze Skylights

• Dual-paned glass blocks heat, UV rays, & noise

• Save 30% with the Federal Tax Credit*

Attic & Garage Fans

Our solar & electric fans remove hot air from your attic and/or garage; creating a cooler space.

• Prevents excessive heat

• Available for all roof and garage types

• Save 30% with the Federal Tax Credit*

Beat the Heat

20 op Five

Happy birthday America!

I love celebrating the 4th of July with my family—I savor the BBQs, music and mostly the fireworks. It’s hard to believe we’re more than half way through the year. With July 4th in the rearview, it’s time to start counting the days until cooler temperatures.

This month’s issue of The Grand Season is geared to those of you caring for a loved one. Over the last three months, many people in my life have begun providing daily care for a sick family member—including my mother. My mom’s new journey has opened my eyes to a whole new world—that it is not only physically, but mentally exhausting. It’s my hope this month’s articles will remind you that you’re not alone.

Thank you for your support of The Grand Season, and the businesses that make our publication possible each month. I hope you—and your family— enjoy the secondhalf of summer and create some amazing memories.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Melissa Whitton Associate Publisher

The demands of caring for an elderly parent, an aging spouse, or disabled child can result in a great deal of stress. If caregivers aren’t careful, they can jeopardize their own health and well-being.

There are steps you can take to limit caregiver stress and, also, reclaim a sense of balance, joy, and hope in your life. By learning to recognize the signs of caregiver stress, you can prevent things from becoming worse. Here are a few red flags to watch for:

• Anxiety, depression, or irritability

• Feeling tired and run down

• Problems sleeping

• Neglecting personal responsibilities

• You struggle to relax when given the opportunity

• You are increasingly irritated or impatient with the person you are caring for or others

While caring for a loved one will never be stressfree, these tips can help you avoid the symptoms of caregiver burnout and find more balance in your life.

Practice Acceptance

When faced with the burden of caregiving, you may feel the need to make sense of the situation and ask, “Why?” You can spend a tremendous amount of energy dwelling on things you can’t change. Aim to avoid the emotional trap of feeling sorry for yourself.

Say “Yes” to Help

Do not be shy about accepting assistance from others, when experiencing caregiver stress and burnout. Make a list of small tasks that others can help you with, and let the helper choose what they feel comfortable doing.

Take Care of Your Own Health

Those who provide care for a loved one tend to experience high chronic stress and skimp on selfcare—factors that raise the risk for many illnesses. Exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep are all important in coping with caregiver stress.

Jesse Olmedo, MD

James Barlow, MD Drew Reese, DO Hava Dodd, PA-C

AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ

A Message from Sue Royer

“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”

Sue RoyerDirector

About Us

Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living. When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.

We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:

• Group Homes

• Assisted Living Communities

• In-Home Primary Care Physicians

• Home Health Care Therapy

• Transportation

• Private Duty In-Home Care

• Respite Care

• Alzheimer’s Care

• Memory Care

• Hospice

• Support Groups Assisted living resources accepting:

• Private pay

• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS

• Medicaid

• VA Benefits

6 Reasons You Should Call AAA Senior Placement AZ

• We are well known and respected in the medical community.

• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.

• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.

• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.

• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.

• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.

Blueberry Peach Feta

FOOD SUMMER SALAD

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon zest, mustard, and salt. While whisking, slowly pour in oil until smooth and emulsified. Add shallots and whisk to combine. Add peaches, cucumbers, blueberries, and basil and toss to combine. Top with feta.

•Want to finish “The Look” of your landscaping?

•Want to protect yourself and your pet’s feet from burning cement?

602-680-0401 or Bob 623-810-7462

Dinner and a Movie!

Solve the crossword puzzle and mail it in for your chance to win a $50 Restaurant Gift Card and 4 Movie Tickets. Answers to the clues can be found in this month’s Grand Season Ads.

Sponsored by:

June Winners!

Grand Prize Winner

Mark Dauberman Sun City

___

Winners of Movie Tickets

1. Dava Esman, Goodyear

2. Michaela Robledo,, Litchfield Park

3. Brian Bierman, Peoria

4. Ron McLean, Sun City

5. Miriam Dotson, Sun City West

6. Karn Lefebure, Sun City West

7. LouAnn Kosier, Surprise

8. Tom Smock, Waddell

If you have a question about the puzzle, please call 623-594-1630 ext 3070.

Answers to June Puzzle

Mail puzzle with answers to: Grand Season Puzzle, P.O. Box 5474, Sun City West, AZ 85376

Questions about the Grand Season Puzzle? Visit www.thegrandseason.com for updates or call 623-594-1630 ext 3070.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES: Solve the crossword puzzle and mail it in to win. The answers to all crossword clues will contain all or part of a company name found in this month’s Grand Season ads. Must be 21 or older to enter the contest. Employees of the Grand Season or its advertisers are ineligible. When entering an advertisers’ name, there are no spaces, no LLC, or Corporations. Example: C & R Plus II would be entered into the spaces as: C&RPLUSII Entries must be postmarked no later than July 21st. A drawing will be held from all correct entries. One winner will receive a $50.00 Gift Card and 4 movie tickets, with a photo in our magazine. 8 winners will receive a consolation prize of a 2 movie tickets. Winners will be notified by phone, and prizes will be sent by mail. Winners will be announced in the August issue of the Grand Season.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (623) 594-1630

BALANCING ACT

Caregiving can cause wear and tear on a marriage, especially when it’s a live-in situation. Marital strains, conflicts, tensions, and disagreements can stem from finances, less time together, stress, frustration, fatigue, and resentment. It’s hard to get along when you’re emotionally and physically exhausted from trying to balance everyone’s needs.

Maintaining your marriage while providing the best care possible for your loved one, and not losing your sanity in the process is difficult, but not impossible. The solution to protecting and nurturing your marriage while caregiving lies in patience, understanding, emotional support, and a commitment to working together. Hopefully these ideas will help you achieve a stronger, more intimate relationship than ever.

Remember, your spouse is your number one priority

Presumably, you’ll be spending the rest of your life with your spouse, long after your loved ones are gone. When your relationship is under stress, it’s important for both parties to make your marriage a priority.

Communicate

Honest communication is the key to any healthy relationship. Staying connected helps prevent misunderstandings. Talk with your spouse about how this new role is affecting your relationship and how they can support you.

Adjust your expectations

Unrealistic expectations not only set you up for disappointment, but they also set you up for guilt, bitterness, frustration, and resentment. Set reasonable and realistic expectations for both yourself and your spouse. Remember, they’re doing their best, just like you. Be kind–don’t beat yourself up. When fatigue, anxiety, or aggravation sets in, let yourself feel it. Take a nap, scream into a pillow, write it down in a journal–whatever it takes to let that feeling be felt–then let it go and move on.

Foster “we” time

Fun and romance are often the first things to fly out the window in a marriage, especially under the added stress of family caregiving. Three’s a crowd. Make sure you get some one-on-one, unchaperoned time together to reconnect. Otherwise, your partner will inevitably start to feel neglected.

Seek support

Your partner is your live-in sounding board, but constantly venting your frustrations to them isn’t fair. Connect with others in similar situations online or in-person.

Say “thank you”

Oftentimes, you as the caregiver do not receive a “thank you,” so why would your partner? Make sure your spouse knows how much you appreciate their support by expressing your gratitude.

BEVERAGE CLUB

HONEY DEUCE

Ingredients

Crushed ice

3 oz. lemonade

1 1/4 oz. vodka

1/2 oz. raspberry liqueur

Honeydew, for garnish

Directions Fill a Collins glass with crushed ice. Top with lemonade, vodka, and raspberry liqueur and gently stir to combine. Using a melon baller, scoop 3 balls of honeydew and slide them onto a skewer.

Top drink with skewered melon balls.

SUMMER SHANDY

Ingredients

2 lemons, thinly sliced

2 limes, thinly sliced (save a few slices for garnish)

1 apple, sliced

1 c. blueberries

1 (12-oz.) can ginger beer

2 (12-oz.) bottles wheat beer (like Hoegaarden)

1 c. lemonade

1/2 c. seltzer

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher (or a large bowl) and stir. Chill for 2 hours, or until cold. Serve with lime slices for garnish.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

FROM PAGE 28

BLUEBERRY GINN & TONIC

Ingredients

1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1 tbsp. water

Ice 3 oz. gin

12 oz. tonic water

Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring blueberries, granulated sugar, and water to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until most blueberries have burst, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate until chilled. Divide 4 tbsp. blueberry syrup between 2 ice-filled glasses. Add gin and top with tonic water. Add more blueberry syrup or tonic water to taste. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Onions are the only commodity banned from futures trading in America.

Some New York City taxis are actually undercover cop cars.

When George Washington died, Napoleon Bonaparte gave a personal eulogy and ordered a 10-day mourning period for France.

Persian King Agha Mohammad Khan ordered the execution of two servants for being too loud. Since it was a holy day, he postponed the event for 24 hours and made the servants return to their duties. It turned out to be an unfortunate decision, as they murdered the ruler in his sleep that very night.

People are 30 times more likely to laugh at something if they’re with someone else.

Platypuses may be cute, but are also so odd-looking that when scientists first discovered them, they thought the animal was a hoax.

The man for whom Mount Everest was named, George Everest, didn’t want the honor, pointing out that his name was difficult to write or pronounce in Hindi and that all previous Himalayan peaks were officially given indigenous names.

Clint Eastwood, who turned 93 on May 31, is set to direct his 41st feature film. Eastwood’s directorial debut was “Play Misty for Me,” 52 years ago, in 1971. His next film, “Juror #2,” has Gabriel Basso (of Netflix’s “Night Agent”) as the title juror, along with Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Kiefer Sutherland and Zoey Deutch. “Juror #2” has a serious moral dilemma, in that he could sway the jury’s verdict either way.

Robert De Niro must be crazy about fatherhood. In 1976, he had a son with his wife, Diahnne Abbott, and adopted her daughter, Drena. He was in a relationship with Toukie Smith from 1988 to 1996, which produced twin sons. In 1997, he married Grace Hightower, and they had a son and a daughter via surrogate. He has four grandchildren, and this year, he revealed he recently had a seventh child. He must need to work nonstop to be able to pay the bills and alimonies for all those wives, partners and children!