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Visiting Angels February 2018

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Visiting Angels February 2018

February 2018

5274 Scotts Valley Dr #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-0616 www.VisitingAngels.com/SantaCruz 229 Reindollar Ave., Suite E Marina, CA 93933 831-392-0876 www.VisitingAngels.com/Monterey

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When Grandma Got an iPad The Value of Technology in Our Seniors’ Lives

Several years ago, my daughters gave Grandma an iPad for Christmas. She had an old home computer, but with the iPad, we could stay connected to her with FaceTime and Skype, as well as through email and Facebook. Because she was mentally sharp and an excellent typist, we thought she would quickly learn how to use her new iPad. Turns out, we were way off. The touch-screen technology was so foreign to her. For the first month, every interaction with the iPad ended in frustration. We finally got her a stylus and a keyboard, and while the familiar technology helped, what made the biggest impact was enrolling her in an iPad class for seniors. She came home after the first class so excited. “I didn’t know the iPad could do all this!” At that point, there were only three more sessions left in the course. “Think about what it would be like if I’d been through the whole series,” she said. “I’d know everything!” There’s a myth that people over 50 are technologically impaired. In my experience, seniors are entirely capable of learning anything they want! When it comes to technology,

a senior’s life. Staying connected to your community is important, and even if a senior isn’t able to leave their home as often, social media has

been shown to help strengthen that connection. They can keep in touch with friends and neighbors

and share details about their life. A study conducted in the United Kingdom and Italy found that seniors who learn how to use social media, Skype, and email report higher levels of mental and physical health than seniors who do not adopt this technology. Our Visiting Angels caregivers often help our seniors stay connected through technology. Family members can be spread out over great distances, and while phone calls are great, getting that face-to-face contact using FaceTime or Skype on a weekly basis can really strengthen relationships. When family members do come together in person, they already feel connected. Grandparents don’t feel like they have to get to know their grandchild. Technology can be especially important for empowering seniors to be a part of special family moments. When my youngest daughter graduated from college, Grandma was too sick to fly down to join us. Fortunately, the school livestreamed the graduation ceremony. Using her iPad, she was able to watch her granddaughter walk across the stage with the rest of us. In fact, she had a much better view! While we sat in the far back, she later told us, “I had front row seats.” Talk about technology being able to help seniors connect with their family!

they might not learn as quickly as someone of a younger generation, but for many, it’s their first time interacting with such gadgets. It’s like learning a foreign language. It may be challenging at first, but with time and practice, anyone can become fluent. There are so many ways technology can improve

“A study conducted in the United Kingdom and Italy found that seniors who learn how to use social media, Skype, and email report higher levels of mental and physical health than seniors who do not adopt this technology.”

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Be Social Media Savvy and Stay Connected

IT’S OKAY TO HIT UNFRIEND Likewise, if you find yourself sick of Judy’s moment-by- moment updates of her dog’s kidney stone, feel free to cut ties. That might entail unfollowing (you remain friends, but no longer see their posts in your feed), unfriending, or blocking a person entirely. There’s no reason to keep in touch with someone whose very profile picture makes you angry. CHECK A SOURCE BEFORE SHARING Just because something is online, that doesn’t make it true. It’s just as easy for someone to post a lie about a celebrity or politician as it is for Judy to post about her dog. If you read a news story that gets a rise out of you, double check the facts before you hit share. Googling the article’s claims and main points will bring up similar articles — if those claims are true. This will help you determine if it’s breaking news or a big hoax. Just 10 years ago, snail mail and expensive long-distance calls were the only way to keep in touch with the people we couldn’t see every day. Thanks to social media, we can stay connected to our loved ones around the world. Now that’s something that deserves a like. start aggressive and then become more conservative as your beneficiary approaches college age. The downside with these sorts of plans is that there will always be risk involved; there’s no guarantee on investment returns. PREPAID TUITION PLANS States and some private institutions have 529 plans available that let you pay for your grandchild’s tuition up front, well before they are ready to head off to college. Some plans guarantee to cover a set amount of future tuition expenses in exchange for a lump sum or payment plan. Other plans allow you to buy “units” or “credits,” which translate to a fixed percentage of an institution’s tuition. Essentially, you pay the cost of tuition today rather than what it will cost by the time your grandchild goes to college. Prepaid plans are far less risky than savings plans, but they aren’t as flexible. They often limit options to state schools or select institutions, though most plans offer some form of reimbursement option if your beneficiary decides to attend another school. College just isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Knowing your options and finding a savings strategy early in your grandchild’s life can help ensure the avenues of higher education stay open for them.

It’s time to break the bad news to your grandkids: Social media

isn’t just for them. A study from the Pew

Research Center found that 47 percent of baby boomers are using social media. Facebook in particular proves to be an excellent resource

for adults moving through the later stages of life. This social media platform helps keep you in touch with friends, family members who live far away, and workplace acquaintances who you don’t see during retirement. Social media can help you gather the people you want to keep in contact with in one centralized location. Here are a few things to remember for keeping your digital friendships enjoyable. SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T A DIARY No one wants to see a feed clogged with posts from the same person. Your friends might like reading about exciting vacations or days with the grandkids, but they don’t need updates about your wait in line at the grocery store. Sharing TMI (too much information) will put you on the fast track to losing friends. There are many strategies out there for folks who want to invest in their grandchildren’s education. Different options may be more attractive than others depending on your income bracket and the needs of your family. Traditional strategies, like life insurance policies or paying for your grandchild’s schooling directly, only work if you have the capital. Furthermore, those methods can often negatively affect how much financial aid your grandchild qualifies for. Before you commit yourself to one of these paths, it’s worth exploring a third option: 529 saving plans. 529 plans are income tax-free savings plans specially designed to help you invest in a child’s higher education. In general, these are treated favorably by financial aid assessors, meaning you won’t hurt your grandchild’s chances of receiving government grants. There are two broad types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. SAVINGS PLANS College savings plans use one or more investment portfolios to grow your grandchild’s tuition fund. Each portfolio contains a diversified mix of investments curated by the plan’s money manager. Most plans allow you to select from a menu of portfolio options that best fit your goals and risk tolerance. Many college savings plans

INVEST IN YOUR GRANDCHILD’S EDUCATION

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cognitive decline. Valentina Socci and Michele Ferrara, head researchers on the study, instructed participants to consume flavonoid-rich cocoa on a daily basis. At the end of the study, participants who had showed signs of memory impairment and mild mental decline reported enhanced memory performance, attention, processing speed, and verbal fluency. “This result suggests the potential of cocoa flavanols to protect cognition in vulnerable populations over time by improving cognitive performance,” researchers explained. “If you look at the underlying mechanism, the cocoa flavanols have beneficial effects for cardiovascular health and can increase cerebral blood volume in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. This structure is particularly affected by aging and therefore the potential source of age-related memory decline in humans.” This is by no means permission to eat an entire box of discount chocolate after Valentine’s Day. Socci and Ferrara agree further research is needed to support their results. Plus, in addition to flavonols, chocolate is full of sugar and calories, which your body doesn’t need. That said, a little can go a long way. If you’re craving something sweet, feel free to enjoy a small square of dark chocolate! It might be the brain boost you need.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Can Chocolate Improve Brain Power?

We know chocolate is delicious, but could it possibly be healthy, too? Recent research from the University of L’Aquila in Italy suggests the answer is yes! This conclusion comes from a study that looked into how flavonols, a chemical compound found in cacao beans, might be able to treat patients with signs of dementia or

SUDOKU

DETOX SALAD Sweet and Zesty

Ingredients For the Salad:

For the Dressing: • 1 large carrot, roughly chopped • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger • 1 tablespoon honey

• 3 cups chopped kale leaves • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets • 2 cups chopped red cabbage • 1 cup matchstick carrots • 1 cup chopped cilantro • ½ cup toasted slivered almonds • ⅓ cup sliced green onions • 1 diced avocado

• 1 tablespoon white miso • ½ teaspoon sesame oil • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions 1. To make the salad, add all

Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.

ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine.

2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth.

(Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.)

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Scotts Valley Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

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Inside

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#StayConnected

Are You Committing a Facebook Faux Pas?

Protect Your Grandchild’s Future

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A Sweet Treat for Your Brain

Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash!

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Local Events

For the Young at Heart Fall in Love With Great Local Events

EVERYTHING CHOCOLATE WHERE: New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6:30–9 p.m. ADMISSION: $45 WEBSITE: newleaf.com

Dive into the beauty and mystery of the ocean. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, listen to music and guest speakers, and browse ocean-themed goods from local vendors. Including brief educational lectures and a block party, Our Ocean celebrates the greatest wonder of the natural world. RED BALL 2018 WHERE: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 6–10 p.m. ADMISSION: $200 WEBSITE: redball.squarespace.com Show your support of art and creativity in our community with an evening of fine dining, dancing, and artistic spirit. The Red Ball is Santa Cruz MAH’s annual gala, and last year it raised $120,000 to help fund the growth of ambitious art and history projects inside and outside the museum. Come dressed in your best and help ensure our community is able to enjoy the creative arts for generations to come.

Calling all chocolate lovers! If you’ve ever wanted to make fresh truffles, creamy hot chocolate, and other tantalizing chocolate confections, this class is for you. Ayurvedic chef and dessert aficionado Talya Lutzker teaches everything you want to know about crafting the perfect chocolate delicacies. With dairy and dairy-free options available, this class is perfect for all chocolate fans. OUR OCEAN WHERE: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, Santa Cruz WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 6–9 p.m. ADMISSION: Free WEBSITE: eventsantacruz.com/event/our-ocean

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