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Wednesday, April 29, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week
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SENIORS Our Monthly Feature ...For Seniors and about Seniors
Decades of volunteering with Merle Sherwin By Devin Wilger Staff Writer At their conference in 2019, the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils recognized four prominent volunteers from different arts councils through the province. In Yorkton, they recognized long-standing volunteer Merle Sherwin, who has been volunteering with the Yorkton Arts Council since the later 1970s and early 1980s. She joined the board of directors of the Yorkton Arts Council in 1991, and served as president from 2010 to 2018. She was chairperson of Renaissance Yorkton, a group whose mandate was planning for the beautification of the downtown through the installation of two public murals, and the development of two walking tours. She has also been a member of the Yorkton Housing Authority Board
for many years and for much of that time, chairperson of their Personnel Committee. She was a founding member of the Yorkton Nursery School Co-operative Association as well as the Yorkton Dance Association. In addition, she has been a member of the Board of Westview United. Sherwin was on the Saskatchewan Arts Board for six years, which oversees activities from across the province. She’s presently the secretary for Parkland Victims Services and has been a member of Beta Sigma Phi since 1968, and is part of the Canadian Federation of University Women, Yorkton Branch. “I am kind of busy,” Sherwin joked. She said it’s a real honor to have been recognized by OSAC. “It means that perhaps all of the time and effort you put in has been appreciated.”
Always interested in the arts, Sherwin said that she got involved through the Sunflower Arts and Crafts show, which was the first area where she became interested in the Yorkton Arts Council. That lead her to different areas of the arts in the council itself, working on the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery committee and the performing arts committee. “It was rewarding to be involved,” Sherwin said. Her work with Renaissance Yorkton was involved in creating public murals in the community, and Sherwin said she believes strongly that art is a great way to bring people into a community. They brought in Dr. Karl Schultz, one of the people responsible for the Festival of Murals in Chemainus, B.C., to consult on the project. “As he said, people don’t come to your com-
munity to look at your sidewalks. They come to look at your art.” But it’s the new things that keep Sherwin interested in the arts, whether it’s new artists, new experiences or new people. “Yorkton is very fortunate in that we have a lot of very talented artists here.” A retired teacher, she said that she met a variety of people in that career, but that getting involved in the arts meant that she was able to meet a wide variety of people, and that meeting people from different worlds is what makes her most interested. “I enjoy volunteering because it’s an important thing for our community. Organizations depend on volunteer work, and I don’t know how we would survive without some of it.” Sherwin said that she feels lucky that she has
Merle Sherwin the opportunity to take part in the wide range of things she has been a part of over the years, and encourages others to volunteer as well. She noted that there are fewer volunteers now than there used to be, but that they are needed for things to happen. “There are a lot of things that wouldn’t happen without volunteers. When we put Sunflower on it’s the volunteers that do it, we only have two paid persons on our payroll, and we’re very fortunate because most
arts councils don’t have any paid personnel. We depend on the volunteers to bring the shows in, to bring in the art, to bring in Sunflower. If the volunteers don’t step up, these things don’t happen. It’s the same in all things.” Sherwin said that no matter what kind of activity you’re looking at, the volunteers make it work. “There are all kinds of activities for people, including sports, and we need the arts as well.”
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Treena Redman, OSAC Chair (left), presents the OSAC recognition award to Merle Sherwin.
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Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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just for SENIORS
April 2020
Amazing benefits to seniors having pets Pets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, which was conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million households are home to companion animals. Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help to
lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feelgood hormone serotonin. This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study, which looked at 1,800 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts, found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur hearthealthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels. Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors - including those who may be divorced or widowed - feel more secure and happy. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made
them feel loved. Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so. • Reduce pain: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided “sig-
nificant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.� • Feeling of purpose: Caring for an animal not only stimulates physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason
to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose. • Altered focus: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health issues and preoccupations about loss or
aging. • Increased physical activity: Pets require care, and that interaction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet. • Improved health: Ongoing research has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog. • Stick to routine: Caring for pets helps seniors maintain a routine. Having structure after retirement can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline. Pets bring many benefits to their owners’ lives, and they may be the perfect remedy for seniors looking for a friend and purpose.
How to help loved ones handle sundowning A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can catch families off guard. When such a diagnosis is made, patients and their families typically have a host of questions, including how far the disease has progressed and what to expect as it advances. One potential side effect of Alzheimer’s disease that can catch families off guard is sundowning. The National Institute on Aging notes that sundowning refers to the restlessness, agitation, irritability, or confusion that can begin or worsen as daylight begins to fade. Sundowning is difficult for Alzheimer’s sufferers, but also can be especially hard on their caregivers. As day turns to night, people serving as caregivers to Alzheimer’s patients tend to wear down, only to suddenly realize that the people they’re caring for are becoming increasingly difficult to handle. The NIA notes that sundowning can continue well into the night, compromising patients’ ability to fall asleep and stay in bed. Sundowning will not affect every Alzheimer’s patient, but caregivers should prepare themselves to handle such a situation should it arise. Learning more about sundowning can be part of that preparation.
Why does sundowning occur? The exact cause of sundowning, which is sometimes referred to as “late-day confusion,� is unknown. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that certain factors may aggravate the feelings of confusion felt by Alzheimer’s patients who experience sundowning. Those factors include:
• fatigue • low lighting • increased shadows • disruption of the body’s internal clock • the presence of an infection, such as a urinary tract infection The NIA notes that one theory suggests A l z h e i m e r ’s - r e l a t e d changes in the brain can disrupt a person’s internal clock, confusing their
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sleep-wake cycles as a result. That can confuse Alzheimer’s patients and contribute to the feelings of agitation and irritability that are common among people who experience sundowning. What can be done to combat sundowning? The NIA recommends looking for signs of sundowning in late afternoon and early evening and trying to determine what might be causing these behaviors. Try to avoid anything that appears to trigger these behaviors, if possible. Reducing noise, clutter or the number of people in the room when sundowning symptoms typically appear may help reduce the confusion Alzheimer’s patients feel during this time of the day. In addition, scheduling a favorite activity or providing a favorite snack at this time of day can
give Alzheimer’s patients something to focus on, potentially cutting off the confusion before it surfaces. The NIA also recommends making early evening a quiet time of day reserved for playing soothing music, reading or going for a walk. Caregivers who also have children to look after can explain the importance of this quiet time to youngsters and ask for their cooperation. Closing curtains or
blinds and turning on the lights at dusk can minimize shadows in the house, potentially making this time of day less confusing for Alzheimer’s sufferers. Sundowning is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease that can be difficult for caregivers to manage.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week
just for SENIORS
April 2020
Healthy eating options for seniors “Let food be thy medicine” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates, the ancient scholar considered to be the father of modern medicine. The saying relates to the notion that what people put in their bodies can heal and/or prevent certain conditions. For seniors with medicine cabinets full of overthe-counter and prescription medications, the idea of relying predominantly on food to promote optimal health may be tempting, and various foods can be particularly useful to the 50-and-over demographic. According to the World Health Organization, poor diet is a major contributor to many of the diseases that affect older people. Poor diet has been connected to the development of diabetes,
and degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis also may be linked to the foods one eats. The National Council for Aging Care says micronutrient deficiency is often a problem among the aging due to factors like lack of variety in diet and reduced food intake. Eating a variety of foods can provide all of the nutrients people need to stay healthy as they get older. Certain foods may be particularly helpful. • Brain-friendly foods: Foods such as avocado, leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, blueberries, and salmon are good sources of vitamin E, antioxidants, omega3 fatty acids, and other nutrients that may help ward off dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, advises Sonas Home Health Care.
• Anti-inflammatory foods: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent inflammation that can cause cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Aging.com says foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, should be consumed at least twice per
week. • Fruits and vegetables: Fresh, canned or frozen produce tend to be high in micronutrients, including a variety of important vitamins that are essential for all components of health. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
advises eating dark green vegetables, such as leafy greens or broccoli, and orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes. • Energy-boosters: Choose whole grains that can provide sustained energy by way of healthy carbohydrates over processed grains. • Bone-friendly foods: Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, can prevent calcium from being leached from the bones, which contributes to conditions like osteoporosis. • Digestive systemfriendly foods: The digestive system slows down as the body ages, as the walls of the gastrointestinal tract thicken and digestive contractions that push waste along may slow down and
become fewer. Foods rich in fiber can promote proper digestion by moving food through the digestive tract mor easily. High-fiber foods also may help naturally reduce blood cholesterol levels. • High-iron foods: Without enough iron in the body, a person may feel tired and lethargic from a reduced production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. A lack of oxygen in body tissues from anemia can be serious, says the National Council for Aging Care. Tofu, spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and fortified breads and cereals are high in iron. Smart food choices can help seniors live long and healthy lives.
Living with your kids can be problematic If you’re planning to move in with your child’s family, it’s important to be clear about what everyone’s expectations are from the outset. Here are three issues that can prove troublesome and some quick tips for successfully navigating past them.
2. Chores Ideally, everyone will be responsible for some
aspect of managing the home. This can include cooking, cleaning, child
care and yard work. No matter how chores are divided, it’s important
to be clear about what everyone’s role is in this regard. 3. Money Make sure you clarify what you can contribute financially from the getgo. It may even be a good idea to sign an agreement or lease with your
1. Privacy It’s important that everyone living in the household has a reasonable degree of privacy. Make sure all family members know to respect your personal space and reassure them that you’ll respect theirs.
family regarding what payments you’ll make and when. Living with your child and their family can be a fulfilling, enjoyable experience. To ensure everyone cohabitates harmoniously, communicating openly and honestly is key.
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3 tips for paying off debt A reduction in your monthly income once you retire can make managing debt difficult. Here are three strategies that can help. 1. Make a budget When it comes to managing debt, the first thing you should do is get a clear picture of your financial situation by listing what you owe, your expenses and your income as fully and precisely as possible. Knowing how much money you make every month, how much you need to spend and how much you have left over will make it easier to determine where you can save money. 2. Think about interest rates Tackle debts with the highest interest rates first. Paying these down sooner rather than later will save you money. You may also be able to consolidate your debts (possibly by refinancing your mortgage) and thereby pay a lot less in interest. 3. Maximize your revenue Depending on your situation, you may want to consider returning to the workforce on a
part-time basis. You should also make sure you benefit from every tax credit you’re eligible
for, including those for home care and home improvements. Finally, spend some time advan-
cing your understanding of how financial matters work to help you make more informed spending and saving choices. If you need more help, contact a professional. Many financial experts specialize in helping retirees.
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OUR NEXT FEATURE - WEDNESDAY, MAY 27