Visiting Angels June 2018

Visiting Angels June 2018

June 2018

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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My Hero Father’s Day was started by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, William, served in the Civil War and raised Sonora and her five siblings alone after Sonora’s mother died in childbirth. After hearing a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, Sonora was inspired to propose a holiday that celebrated loving, hardworking fathers. The first Father’s Day celebration was held in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. However, Father’s Day wouldn’t become an official holiday in the United States until 1972, when Richard Nixon signed a proclamation declaring it a federal holiday. Mothers are often celebrated as the nurturers of the family, but many fathers offer just as much love and support and they never receive the same recognition. My own father has been gone for 29 years, but I can still feel his love and the influence he had on my life. Just as fathers are for many little girls, my dad was my hero. In my eyes, he was the smartest man in the world and he knew how to fix anything. Throughout my life, I was blessed with so many wonderful memories of my dad. Even today, I can remember him giving me piggyback rides through the house, or helping me pull out a loose tooth and leaving it under my pillow for the Tooth Fairy. He taught me how to ride a bike My own father has been gone for 29 years, but I can still feel his love and the influence he had on my life .

Remembering My Father

and bandaged me up when I fell off. Once, my dad even made a splint out of an old magazine

and a dishtowel before taking me to the hospital after I broke my arm.

My favorite memory of my dad is when he taught me how to swim. Years later, I learned that, despite having served in the Navy, my dad didn’t know how to swim. In fact, he was terrified of the water. But when I wanted to learn, Dad put his fears aside to help me. This was the kind of man my father was. He was always there to support me, whether that was sitting in the front row at the school talent show, teaching me how to change the oil in my car, or helping me proofread a high school or college term paper. He always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, and he told me he was proud of me. I remember showing him my first ultrasound after he was already sick with cancer. Dad was so excited, and though he passed away before he got to meet his first grandchild, I know he would have been an incredible grandfather. Sonora Smart Dodd envisioned a holiday to honor the fathers who sacrificed so much for their families. Fatherhood is not necessarily defined by blood. Many people have adoptive fathers or father figures in their lives who support them in the same way my father always supported me. This Father’s Day, all of us at Visiting Angels want to celebrate all the amazing fathers whose support and love have touched our lives in ways we will never forget. Thank you.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Improve Cognitive Function in Minutes

reports that long-time meditators don’t show a decline in the thickness of the prefrontal cortex. The Hippocampus Your hippocampus helps you process and form new memo- ries, and it’s very sensitive to stress. In fact, research shows that your hippocampus will shrink in response to stressful situations and chronic stress. The remedy? Meditation. Dr. Lazar’s study showed a positive correlation between medi- tation and a higher concentration of gray matter in the left hippocampus. The Amygdala Often called the fear center of the brain, the amygdala is triggered by stressful situations. But unlike the hippocam- pus, which shrinks in response to stress, the amygdala has been shown to become denser. In one study, people who attended mindfulness meditation classes showed a smaller stress response in brain scans compared to those who did not attend the classes. Meditation may help to decrease the density of the amygdala and therefore increase your ability to handle stress. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there’s a good chance that five minutes of meditation each day will simply make you feel better. People who meditate report an increase in overall well-being. Why not give it a try? tax breaks on medical expenses. However, many retirees are not prepared for the high cost of medical care when they are no longer part of a company plan. Medicare only covers a percentage of your medical bills, which means retirees have to dip into savings to pay for medical costs. While this certainly isn’t good news, there is a silver lining. If you take steps to increase your retirement plan contributions, you can compensate for those daunting health care costs. This could mean cutting your spending or canceling trips now, but by ramping up your savings, you’ll be able to enjoy more of these things later in retirement. Given the rate at which health care costs are rising, you really have no choice but to face the problem head-on. Social Security won’t be able to provide enough income to cover medical expenses. The sooner you add to your portfolio, the better positioned you’ll be to save without worrying about dipping into your assets.

Meditation has often been touted by New Age gurus as a way to find inner peace and

stillness. But what if meditating could reduce the effects of aging on your brain? According to research, taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate may improve cognitive function. As meditation’s popularity has spread, so have studies of the practice. The results of 100 studies examining the cognitive effects of meditation all show evidence of improvements in psychological and cognitive functions. Some of the results are intuitive, such as how meditation helps us deal with stress. But other results are incontrovertible, such as scans showing that meditation causes structural changes in the brain. For people facing age-related changes like memory loss, the results of these tests are especially relevant. The studies point to evidence that meditation can strengthen certain areas of the brain — the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala — that weaken as we age. The Prefrontal Cortex Your prefrontal cortex thins with age, which is associat- ed with decreased cognitive function in your later years. However, meditation may reduce this age-related thinning. Dr. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist specializing in the effects of yoga and meditation on cognitive and behavioral function, Even with Medicare, medical expenses can be costly. Many retirees worry that rising medical costs will eat away at their retirement savings. Even when offset by insurance, health care costs are above what the majority of people (working or retired) can pay, regardless of whether they have Medicare, employer-subsidized health insurance, or insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Fidelity estimated that couples who retired in 2017 at age 65 faced a cost of $275,000 for health care throughout their retirement, a 6 percent hike from 2016’s estimate of $260,000 and more than a 70 percent increase since Fidelity came out with its initial estimates of retiree health costs in 2002. These totals include Medicare premiums, copays and deductibles, and prescription drug costs, but not nursing homes or long-term care. Obviously, health care costs continue to rise every year. Over time, employers have offered ways to help workers offset costs through health savings accounts, which provide

Save for Rising Health Care Costs Now

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MEMORIES WITH DAD

of your dad’s favorite stories. You can record an audio file, write the tale in a journal, or help Dad create the story visually in a scrapbook. SHARE YOUR OWN STORIES If Dad is no longer able to share stories about his long life, then try sharing your own stories. Even mundane things you don’t think are all that interesting, like work or that weird spider you saw while cleaning the house, can help your dad feel like he’s part of your life, even if he’s not able to spend as much time with you. Though it’s not always possible to visit in person on Father’s Day, letting Dad know you’re thinking about him can mean more than any gift. The best way to celebrate a great Father’s Day is to make time for a phone call and tell your dad how much you love him.

3 Ways to Celebrate a Great Father’s Day

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17, and it’s the perfect occasion to make some great memories with your dad. Here are a few suggestions about how to spend the day. CATCH A GAME If your dad is a fan of baseball, why not make plans to take him to a Major League game? It’s probably been awhile since he’s been able to catch a ball game, and spending some time outside surrounded by other people can do him some good. If the stadium stairs pose a problem, consider catching a Little League game instead. SAVE HIS STORIES We all have stories to tell, and after someone is gone, retelling their stories is how we help their memory live on for future generations. This Father’s Day, take a moment to save some

Happy Father’s Day!

SUDOKU

One-Pot Vegan Spaghetti

This vegan pasta recipe is quick, delicious, and super healthy — a perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients • 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth • 9 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti • 1 small zucchini, cut into semicircles • 1 red onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced Directions 1. Bring broth to a boil in a large pot. Add all ingredients except the broccoli and kale, and simmer for 9 minutes.

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/2 cup broccoli florets • 1 handful kale, roughly chopped • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs • Salt and pepper, to taste

2. Add broccoli and kale, and simmer 3 more minutes. Remove from heat when pasta is al dente. 3. Transfer to a bowl and serve. Inspired by veganheaven.org

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Inside

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Happy Father’s Day

How Meditation Can Help the Aging Brain

Are You Prepared for Rising Health Care Costs?

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What Are Your Father’s Day Plans?

One-Pot Vegan Spaghetti

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Local Events

Ready to Have Some Fun? Mark Your Calendars for Great June Events

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: ‘MACBETH’ WHERE: Del Mar Theatre, Santa Cruz WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 7 p.m. ADMISSION: $15 WEBSITE: www.landmarktheatres.com/santa-cruz/del-mar- theatre “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” Upon hearing these words, spoken by three mysterious witches, the once noble Macbeth sets out on a path of corruption, murder, and ruin. Recorded live in London, William Shakespeare’s most destructive play explores the dark side of ambition and asks how ruthless men and women can become to achieve their goals. LIGHTEN UP AND NOURISH: A SUMMER COOKING WORKSHOP FORWOMEN WHERE: New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz WHEN: Friday, June 22 to Sunday, June 24 ADMISSION: : Visit website to register WEBSITE: newleaf.com You are what you eat, so isn’t it time to learn how to cook meals that taste great and make you feel awesome? This three-day cooking experience, led by natural chef and

nutritionist Jenny Brewer, proves eating healthy doesn’t mean sacrificing good flavors. Learn how to make breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts with whole foods and nutritious ingredients. Great tastes with no guilt!

‘ROMANCING THEWEST’ WHERE: Flynn’s Cabaret & Steakhouse, Felton WHEN: Friday, June 22, 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, June 23, 1 p.m. ADMISSION: $20 WEBSITE: romancingthewest.org The American West was more than just sheriffs and gun slingers. “Romancing the West” is a narrative-style concert in which celebrated performers bring together unique musical styles and stunning visual imagery

to explore 240 years of cultural history. Join the likes of The Blue Delilahs, John Elliot, Jacque Nunes, and others while learning about the Native American people, Spanish missions, the Great Depression, and much more.

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