Visiting Angels - January 2022

Visiting Angels - January 2022

January 2022

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

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The Tremendous Value of Family Stories We all have a piece of family lore. Maybe it’s a recipe that’s been passed down through the generations, or perhaps it’s the origin story of a tradition. Whatever it is, the stories that thread through our families stitch us together in a way few things can. For my family, one piece of history we treasure is about our relative, Hobart Bosworth. otherwise). I see the ways in which the stories I do have foster greater connection Share More Stories in 2022

between me and those who came

Some of you may actually know Hobart. He was a famous silent movie actor who starred in one of the first silent movies ever made. What most people don’t know is that Hobart got his start in live theatre — he even performed across Arizona. Sadly, just as Hobart began succeeding in his theatre career, he contracted polio. This limited how often and hard Hobart could work, and recuperating often meant taking stints off from work. For one reason or another, the polio is believed to have made Hobart lose his voice. (At least, that’s what we’ve been told by family members.) Despite harrowing experiences, Hobart took this difficult situation and turned it into a career! By the time he lost his voice, silent movies began gaining traction, and Hobart went on to become one of the silver screen’s first and most famous stars! It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? But it’s true, and it’s one of my family’s favorite stories to share. The plight of Hobart is just one story of a handful that I cherish, but I can’t help but feel saddened by the lack of effort I put into asking my parents questions about our family while they were still alive. Both of my parents died when they were young, and as I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that I would have liked to ask them certain questions about our family’s history (both personal, medical, and

before me. I just wish I had even more stories!

One such connection is to my grandma. My mom is from Canada, so I didn’t know her side of the family as well as I know my father’s side. However, I often felt fascinated by the stories my mom would tell about her relatives. My favorite speaks to the kindness and generosity of my grandma. The story takes place in the Great Depression in my grandmother’s small store in Canada. She accepted credit as a form of payment, back when credit cards didn’t exist. She completely understood the gravity of the era they lived in — and, according to my mother, although my grandma must’ve known she might not see a dime for the items she “sold,” that didn’t matter to her. She wanted to help. Consequently, she lost the store after giving out so much credit that she couldn’t afford it anymore! The loss of a business is a sad story, but the reason why my grandmother went out of business is inspiring. I’m proud to be related to a woman like that.

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interested in, whether that’s food, animals, or sports. Visit VolunteerMatch.org to find opportunities in your area sorted by organization type. 4. Move to a 55-plus community. Also called retirement communities or active adult communities, these neighborhoods are known for their low-maintenance housing, amenities, and group activity options — and they’re all over the U.S. If you want to find friends in your age group to swim and play tennis with, a local real estate agent can help you find them. 5 WAYS TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS IN RETIREMENT Don’t Spend Another Year Lonely!

Friendship just might be the fourth secret to longevity, right behind eating well, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, making friends can reduce stress, improve your self-confidence, and give you purpose in life! People with good friends are also more likely to exercise and less likely to drink to excess. But making friends is tough, especially in your golden years. To finally kick loneliness to the curb in 2022, try these five tips. 1. Get a dog. Adopting a dog (assuming you truly want one) will incentivize you to leave the house for walks, vet visits, and more. You’ll likely attract new friends in the neighborhood when they stop to pet your pup, and you can also meet people at the dog park or obedience classes. If nothing else, you’ll have your dogs in common! 2. Join a hobby group. The easiest way to find friends with similar interests is to pursue those interests. If you like to quilt, join a quilting group, and if you kayak, look for an outdoors club near you. Facebook is a great resource for finding online hobby groups, too! Just type your interest into the search bar and select “Groups” on the left-hand side of the screen. 3. Volunteer. Volunteering has similar benefits to joining a hobby group with the added benefit of giving back to the community! There’s likely a cause for whatever you’re

5. Become a mentor.

Mentorship is a valuable way to form friendships across generations. You can sign up for an existing program

in the field you retired from or reach out to a local college or high

school career center and offer your services. They’ll likely have graduates who’d love to meet you!

Skills That Enrich Us The Importance of Having a Hobby January is National Hobby Month, and it’s the perfect time to try something new! The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why!

Hobbies are stress relievers. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time.

Hobbies offer a social outlet. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you!

Hobbies develop patience. When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success.

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3 APPS TO RECORD YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES Let Your Story Be Heard!

During your loved one’s lifetime, they have created tons of memories, and they have stories to tell. Thinking and discussing their life can benefit them in many ways by keeping their mind active and engaged and providing them with a sense of self-worth. This can also improve communication and create stronger bonds between you, your loved ones, and their at-home caretaker(s). You can record your stories on apps on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, but some of these apps aren’t user-friendly for older adults. Someone can explain how to use it; however, the confusion of navigating these apps can be overwhelming and frustrating. Here are a few recording apps that are user-friendly for seniors. StoryPress You can listen and share recordings with others and find dialogues that are on topics and interesting. The app is free and can be used with preloaded interview questions or in a mode that allows you to create an oral history. You can also pay a fee to receive your recordings in a form that older generations will be familiar with: CDs or DVDs. OneDay This question-and-answer app provides topics such as childhood, wartime, and romantic experiences. You can record these videos and share them with your loved ones either through text or email. To use OneDay, you must

sign up for either an annual, monthly, or team subscription. You or your loved one’s caregiver can set up an account and

create stories for your family member to share as well. This creates an opportunity for engagement between you, the caregiver, and your relative. It also allows seniors to open up about their experiences. StoryCorps This free app allows you to record meaningful conversations with anyone at any time. It has easy-to-use tools that guide you through the entire interview process. It can help you prepare interview questions and also record your conversations in high quality. You can add pictures to your interview, a summary, and also keywords to help you easily find them in your collection. You can choose to share your story with the world or only with your loved ones. Allow your family member’s voice to be heard with one of these apps. Contact your friends at Visiting Angels to learn more about how our caregivers can help you preserve these stories and experiences.

Directions In a large bowl, mix the ingredients together. Serve and enjoy! • 2 cans black beans, drained • Cilantro, chopped and to taste • 1 lime, for zest and juicing Liven up your healthy eating this year with this Latin-inspired, flavor-packed recipe! Ingredients • 1 small mango, skinned and chopped • 1 avocado, chopped • 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 red chile, seeded and chopped • 1 medium red onion, chopped Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com

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That’s the power of a story. It binds us together; it shows us that we’re all human. It evokes emotions like pride, joy, laughter, and sadness. Today, we live in a world where social media connects us like never before, but we only get to see the highlights. We don’t hear about the lost voices of a theatre actor or the storeowner who gave so much to her community that she lost the very thing she relied on. I’m challenging you to change that this January. Share your family’s stories with each other. Share the legends — good and bad — that make your family what it is today, even if you believe it’s mundane. (And don’t forget to share about medical histories, too! This can be valuable.) Our caregivers have often learned just how priceless these stories can be. We often hear stories from our caregivers about the families they serve. They’re powerful and meaningful.

Share your story and help create a greater bond.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 24/7 831-430-0616

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

www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast Home Care Organization #444700002

Inside

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Share Your Family’s Stories

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How to Make 2022 Your Last Lonely Year

Why Hobbies Are Important

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Strengthen Connections By Recording Stories

Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad

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3 Free Things to Do in Monterey!

Spend the Day in Monterey — For Free!

Travel back in time with antiques! There are few moments as blissful as nostalgia, so take a trip down memory lane and you explore Monterey’s two premier antiquing spots, Cannery Row Antique Mall and Orientation Asian Antiques. You will be amazed at the collections that can be found at these two areas, and whether you want to learn more about history or connect with your roots, each spot is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon immersed in history. Be sure to ask the employees about some of your favorite pieces for an extra connection! You can learn more about each activity — and find 24 other free things to do — at SeeMonterey.com.

If you’re looking for a cure to your cabin fever, look no further than Monterey! Enjoy a day exploring our lovely, local coastal town without spending a dime when you check out these free activities.

Get artsy at Carmel-by-the-Sea! Calling all art lovers! Carmel is your destination for locally crafted artwork, curated by one of the strongest art communities in the U.S. Carmel is home to one of the “oldest cooperative art galleries” in the nation, and the Carmel Art Association remains heavily active in the area! Pop into local galleries to experience some of the magnificent masterpieces in various shops and stores in Carmel. If you’re looking for more, be sure to swing by on the second Saturday of each month between 4–7 p.m., when you will be treated to the Carmel Art Walk!

Explore Fort Ord! It’s hard not to find something

for everyone at Fort Ord. With 83 miles of trails, Fort Ord National Monument is the perfect spot for those looking to get in touch with nature. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers are all invited to respectfully cruise down the trails, while those who prefer a more leisurely pace will be delighted by all the wildlife you can see at Fort Ord. Regardless of how far you go, a day spent at Fort Ord is just what you need to connect with nature.

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