Visiting Angels - October 2020

Visiting Angels - October 2020

October 2020

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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As I stood in my home with a pending evacuation notice as a safety precaution from wildfires this past summer, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I thought back to all the life that had been lived in the house and how devastated I would be to lose it. All of my material possessions could be replaced, but the memories made in this home were priceless. I flashed through memories of raising my two kids, the family dinners shared in this home, and my dog who called this place home for 10 years. I thought about my neighbors, who I’ve grown close to after 30 years in this home. There were many memories — some good, others not so good — and all were worth remembering. As I stood there contemplating what I should bring with me, I noticed a plaque hanging on my kitchen wall. It was a gift from a friend, and its message spoke louder at that moment. It reads, “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” I was lucky to have quite a bit in that home. Of course, I grabbed the important necessities, like cash, my passport, and valuable paperwork. Then I snagged precious, irreplaceable photos and packed up sentimental jewelry and artwork that had special meaning, too. I carefully chose From the Ashes

Healing and Learning Together After Summer Wildfires

items I would be heartbroken to lose and had to be honest with myself about what I would leave to potentially perish. With my little car loaded up, I drove to a friend’s condo where I stayed for more than a week while I waited to return to a standing home. Thankfully, I was one of the lucky residents in our region. My home survived the historic fires, and I was also unharmed. It’s been an emotional time for all of us — our law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters have worked around the clock to protect us. I’m filled with gratitude that the decisions I had to make prior to evacuation were moot, and I’m continually grateful for those who work so hard for our safety. This experience has left me and many others contemplating fire safety and prevention and what we could all do to be better prepared in the future. Each October, we observe Fire Prevention Week. I highlighted this specialty awareness week in the Visiting Angels newsletter back in 2018 with advice on fire prevention for seniors. But in light of the wildfires in our region this past summer, I feel compelled to highlight fire safety precautions and measures specifically for seniors once again. One of the biggest concerns for seniors is accessibility. For our clients who may be hard of hearing, this may mean installing smoke detectors with flashing lights or a bed that vibrates to awaken them in the event of a fire. For clients with canes or walkers, this may mean creating a fire evacuation plan tailored to their needs and regularly keeping walkways and exits clear. Those experiencing issues with smoke detectors or accessibility should seek help immediately.

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Does Vitamin D Help Our Bones and Our Muscles?

A Previously Unknown Benefit of Vitamin D

As the weather cools and the days get shorter, we can’t rely as much on the sun for our daily dose of vitamin D. The primary function of vitamin D is regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are necessary for strengthening our bones and teeth, which becomes increasingly important as we age and our bones naturally become more brittle. While these benefits of vitamin D are well documented, did you know that getting your daily dose of vitamin D can also contribute to healthier muscles? A few years ago, researchers published a study that seemed to show that vitamin D could potentially help people gain muscle mass. While the research team said their results weren’t conclusive, their findings were certainly interesting. Vitamin D enters the body in an inactive form. It doesn’t become active until it comes in contact with the right enzymes in either the liver or the kidneys. To learn more about what factors affect this vitamin’s rate of absorption

and activation in the body, researchers observed the levels of inactive vitamin D in 116 women ages 20–74. What they found was that women with higher muscle mass had lower levels of inactive vitamin D, while women with lower muscle mass had higher levels of inactive vitamin D. The conclusion researchers drew was that active vitamin D might help optimize muscle strength. While that conclusion is not ironclad, vitamin D’s other well-known benefits still make it worth getting your daily dose. It can aid weight loss, enhance mood, support cardiovascular health, boost the immune system, and strengthen bones, among many other benefits. So, its potential muscle-boosting properties are just another reason to get more vitamin D. To get more of this important vitamin in your diet, try adding salmon, mushrooms, and even canned tuna to your menu. Also, as winter approaches, it might be time to start taking a vitamin D supplement. Whether you’re 20 or 74 years old, it’s never too late to find ways to strengthen your muscles.

How to Budget for and Maximize Your Savings

While saving money is difficult for some and easy for others, we can all agree that doing what we can

1%–2.2%. So, if you put $10,000 in a traditional savings account with a 0.01% interest rate, then you’d earn $1 at the end of one year. But if you put the same amount into a high-yield savings account with a compounding interest rate of 1%, you would earn around $135 in one year. Pay yourself first. Even if you have a great savings account with a high interest rate, it won’t do much good if it’s empty or not being added to regularly. Many people don’t think about their savings until after the bills have been paid each month. However, it’s actually better to save first! Contributing to your savings before you pay your bills or make other purchases will ensure you prioritize saving and maximize your great interest rate. As a bonus, when you put money into your savings first, then pay your bills, you’ll minimize the temptation to spend on unnecessary extras. To figure out how much to save each month, start by making a simple budget. Add up your monthly expenses, then see how much is left and how much of that you can put away. Make saving a priority by building this habit into your monthly routine, and you will rest easy knowing that you have a little extra tucked away for a rainy day.

to put a little money aside can help us in the long term. Here are two ways you can get the most out of your savings.

Open a high-yield savings account. There are multiple ways to open a savings account, but which is the best? If you want the highest interest rates and low (or no) fees, a high-yield savings account is your best choice. The main difference between this kind of account and a traditional savings account is the annual interest rate. While some brick-and-mortar banks do offer high-yield accounts, many — and those with the highest interest rates — are offered through online-only banks. Why is it worth moving your money into a high-yield account? They offer interest rates that are 20–25 times higher than traditional savings accounts. Where a savings account at a traditional bank may offer a 0.01% interest rate, a high-yield savings account offers rates between

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Prepare for Fire Prevention Now By Creating an Action Plan for Wildfires

Tip No. 2: Create a Plan Create a plan with your family that ensures your loved ones are safe and will be protected swiftly. Decide who will help with packing, who will drive, what neighborhood route to take, where your loved ones will stay, and alternative solutions. Designate one family member to send out an alert to execute the plan, when necessary, and all everyone else has to do is wait. Tip No. 3: Practice You may have an idea of what is going to work, but you won’t know how well it will work until you try it. Once you have a plan, a neighborhood route, and a kit prepared, practice the evacuation a few times. You don’t want your first experience to be during an emergency. Work out the kinks now so the evacuation goes off without a hitch and everyone stays safe. Wildfires always come with heightened chaos, but you can manage it with a little preparation. If we can help make this possible for you and your loved ones, please let us know.

Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, which resulted in sweeping changes in fire prevention after 300 people were killed and thousands of others were left homeless by the flames in 1871. As Californians know, wildfires can be deadly and difficult to manage. The best strategy you have for dealing with a wildfire is to prepare for it before it happens. As we continue to recover from this year’s devastating wildfires, our team at Visiting Angels encourages each of our families and their loved ones to develop a wildfire preparedness plan. Here are three tips to get you started. Tip No. 1: Pack a Kit It’s best to have a suitcase or bin that’s ready to go when you need it. The kit should include clothes, prescription medications, a list of any health conditions, emergency first aid and survival materials, and copies of legal documents. Store the kit in a fire-safe space and make sure it’s easily accessible. By storing everything you would need to make a quick and safe exit before a fire happens, you can save time on evacuation. ... continued from Cover At Visiting Angels, we also encourage everyone who knows a senior at home to develop an evacuation plan for them. The plan should outline who is transporting the senior and where they should be taken to. This could be a drop-off site to meet with family members or a family member’s home. A plan can prevent last-minute panic and a stressful, haphazard response. Lastly, it’s important that seniors keep their homes clear of obstacles and free of clutter. We’re all guilty of it. (I’m thinking about the boxes of photos I have sitting in my basement at this very moment!) But having clutter and papers sitting around our home can sadly become the fuel that accelerates a flame. Cleaning and organizing your home regularly can help prevent a fire from spreading. We’re all still recovering from this year’s historic wildfires, and while we have been so encouraged to see the way our community has come together, we can continue to grow and learn. If we can offer you, your loved one, or any older adults in your life help in recovering from the fires or creating safety plans for the future, please let us know.

Classic Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth

• 1 cup canned light coconut milk • 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions 1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve! Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

We want to support you and protect other lives that have surely been well-lived. Stay safe.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Personalized Homecare ... When You Need It ... From People You Trust!

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

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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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Fire Prevention for Seniors in Light of the 2020 Wildfires

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A Previously Unknown Benefit of Vitamin D

How to Save More Money

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Don’t Fear Wildfires: Create a Plan for Protection

Classic Pumpkin Soup

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2 California Hauntings That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine!

Haunted in California

2 FAMOUS HAUNTINGS IN MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ

Stokes Abode Along Hartnell Street in Monterey sits one of the city’s most infamous houses. Built as one big room in 1833 and sold to James Stokes just four years later, Stokes Abode is said to be home to more than one ghost. Stokes was a sailor who abandoned his post and later impersonated a doctor or pharmacist. Rumors circulated that Stokes’ prescriptions did more harm than good, as many of his patients died rather than recovered. Yet, his reputation remained intact — until the premature death of his wife and his 21-year-old son. Afterward, Stokes’ family reported that he devolved, and he eventually killed himself almost a decade after his wife’s death. Stokes Abode has passed through various owners since that tragic end and has twice served as a restaurant that once hosted Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and other celebrities through the ‘50s and ‘60s. Today, those who walk through its historic halls claim to hear the screams of female patients or feel a tap on their shoulder, though no one is behind them. Many attribute these events to the home’s murky history, but it appears the home has little trouble finding owners. The 7,225-square-foot home was listed for sale once again in March 2020 for just over $2 million.

From the Gold Rush era to the mysteries of the redwoods, California has a long history, and with it, a few ghost stories that raise hairs. Here are two of our favorite local hauntings you can share with your family this spooky season.

Brookdale Lodge Once host to Marilyn Monroe and midcentury gangsters, the Brookdale Lodge has a long history in Brookdale, California, and the legacy of Sarah Logan is no different. Patrons and workers have often reported seeing a little girl, Sarah, in a dress wandering the halls or looking lost. When she is approached, Sarah will often run out of the room and disappear. Employees of the lodge have even set up a locked room with books and toys for Sarah — which often move around in the room. Other guests have mentioned spooky or supernatural events occurring in certain rooms of the lodge, too. Whether these stories are true or merely fiction taken from the lodge’s long history, the legacy of the lodge lives up to its past. Learn more about Brookdale Lodge’s history — or book a stay — at BrookdaleLodge.com.

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