All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

Stay active and exercise inside when it’s cold outside

By Meredith Bailey

When the temperature drops, the lure of “hibernation,” snuggling under a blanket and reading a book or watching a favorite TV show is hard to resist. We all need a little rest and relaxation to recharge, yet too much time spent with our feet up isn’t good for the body or the mind — even when it’s cold outside.

“Your health doesn’t take a vacation during the winter months,” said Jenn Ropp, diabetes education and nutrition program coordinator at MultiCare Health System. “Staying active can help you maintain a healthy weight, keep your blood sugar levels within a normal range, and support your mental health and well-being.”

Regular exercise can also help protect your body from injury.

“During the winter months, we see a lot of slips and falls due to icy conditions,” said Allison Blumenthal, a sports orthopedic surgeon at MultiCare Integrated Sports Medicine. “The more you’re able to maintain your core strength, the less likely you are to fall and the less extensive your injuries are likely to be if you do fall.”

While the benefits of maintaining fitness year-round are many, staying active when the chill sets in can be a challenge. Pacific Northwest winters aren’t always amenable to many outdoor activities. Here are tips to keep yourself motivated and your body active.

Come up with a plan. 

Without some forethought, exercise can slip down or completely fall off your to-do list.

“Don’t just say ‘I’m going to work out some time today.’ Decide on a specific time that you’re going to exercise, what you’re going to do and what you need — clothing or equipment, for example,” said Annie Doyle, senior health and well-being director at YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. “You’re more likely to exercise consistently if you’re prepared and it’s built into your schedule.”

Make it fun. 

Exercise shouldn’t be drudgery. Try new activities until you find ones you like, and switch them up so you don’t get bored.

“You’re more likely to stick to something if you enjoy it and actually look forward to doing it,” said Blumenthal. “Maybe that’s doing Pilates in your living room or simply cranking up the music and dancing — whatever type of movement brings you joy.”

Set goals. 

Fitness goals can help us stay motivated, but not just any goal will do. “Setting short-term, achievable goals that you can measure can be really useful for keeping yourself on track for meeting a more long-term goal,” Blumenthal said. “For example, maybe today your goal is to exercise for five more minutes or do one more bicep curl than you did the day before.”

It helps to have a friend or family member hold you accountable to your workout plan. “This could be someone you’re actually exercising with or just someone that you check in with a couple of times a week about what you accomplished and how a particular activity is going,” said Doyle.

Go virtual. With a little online sleuthing, you can find exercise apps and virtual classes for all ages, skill levels and interests. YMCA 360, for example, “allows you to stream thousands of fitness classes as well as classes on other topics like cooking and meditation,” said Doyle. “We have something for everybody, from very young children to older adults, as well as families. This program is a way to bring our instructors into the comfort of your own home and keep your workout exciting and fresh.”

Transform everyday activities into exercise opportunities. 

You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership to remain active when you’re inside. “Exercise can be incorporated into almost anything you do around the house,” said Blumenthal. “For example, do lunges down the hallway instead of walking, or do situps and pushups during commercial breaks when you watch TV. If your job involves sitting at a desk, set a timer for every 30 to 60 minutes to get up and move around.”

Use your spring and summertime interests as inspiration. 

From hiking to softball, many of us have outdoor activities that we love to do when the weather turns warm. Instead of biding your time until the seasons change, work on maintaining or even improving your level of fitness for those activities now.

“Let’s say you’re a gardener. What kinds of exercises could you do in your home to better prepare your body for bending up and down, or some of the other movements associated with yard work?” Ropp said.

Get a step counter (pedometer). 

Step counters use sensors to track your steps. “If there’s a day where you have haven’t been quite as active, then you can take some extra loops around the house to compensate,” Ropp said.

According to a 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who take at least 7,000 steps a day had a 50 to 70 percent lower risk of mortality than those who took fewer steps.

Listen to your body. 

When you are trying a new activity, ease into it and let your body be your guide.

“Exercising can be uncomfortable sometimes and normal soreness is reasonable, but if something you’re doing is causing pain in a specific area, you should stop and possibly seek medical care if it persists,” Blumenthal advised.

One of the goals of exercise is to get your heart pumping, but don’t overdo it. “If someone asked you how you were doing and you couldn’t respond, then your heart rate is too high,” Doyle said. “It’s time to slow down or take a break.”

Source: MultiCare Health System.

The Senior Scene by — January 30, 2024 in Health & Fitness

A free dental, vision, and medical clinic for seniors and other people in need is scheduled for Feb. 15-18 at Seattle Center.

Services that will be offered through Seattle-King County Public Health, regardless of insurance, income or immigration status, will include dental fillings and extractions, eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses, physical exams, behavioral healthcare, social work, immunizations, laboratory tests, mammograms, ultrasounds and x-rays.

A limited number of tickets will be distributed at Fisher Pavilion starting at 5:30 a.m. each morning on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional information is available at seattlecenter.org/patients or call 206-684-7200.

“We primarily serve what we refer to those who are increasingly left out of our healthcare systems and safety nets.” said Julia Colson, the free clinic’s founder and project executive, “The elderly, immigrants and refugees, the uninsured and underinsured, those who may make too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to afford the care they need–this is who we most often see looking for help.”

As healthcare costs continue to rise and public services dwindle, the clinic fills a vital need, Carlson said. For many patients, it’s a long-overdue chance at care for chronic health conditions or treatment they couldn’t otherwise afford, she explained.

The Senior Scene by — January 30, 2024 in Everything Else
It’s time again to file income taxes, and the help is free

By Christina Clem

There are few constants in life, but there is something that happens like clockwork every year. That’s right. Tax season is upon us. Fortunately, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service.

The program was conceived in 1968 by four volunteers who prepared 100 income tax returns at one site. Today, trained volunteers serve low to moderate-income taxpayers at thousands of locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers, and senior centers nationwide. There’s no fee, and AARP membership isn’t required. Almost anyone can receive free assistance. Those with particularly complex issues and complicated returns are encouraged to seek professional services.

Tax-Aide offers several tax preparation options, as well as the traditional in-person service. One popular option is the Drop-Off Model, where taxpayers come to a site with all their paperwork and return later to sign and pick up their completed return. Tax-Aide also provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes. Taxpayers can also request help from a Tax-Aide, IRS-certified counselor to coach them through the process through computer screen-sharing. 

“Every year, Tax-Aide helps tens of thousands of Washingtonians,” said Marguerite Ro, AARP Washington state director. “Whether you are a working or retired individual, our volunteers can help answer your questions and prepare your tax returns.”

For the 2023 tax season, 26,000 volunteers helped more than 1.5 million taxpayers receive over $1 billion in refunds.

Tax-Aide volunteers receive extensive training to ensure they know about and understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code. Tax-Aide is offered in cooperation with the IRS.

Before visiting a Tax-Aide site, please note:

  • You will need to bring your important documents to the site.
  • Federal Tax assistance is available at all locations.
  • Site hours are subject to change on a weekly basis. Check again the day before you plan to go to the site.

To find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site or get more information, including a comprehensive list of documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-227-7669.

The due date for the U.S. individual income tax return is April 15.

Christina Clem is a communications specialist for AARP Washington.

The Senior Scene by — January 24, 2024 in Everything Else

Orting Senior Center is trying to raise money to fill a large whole in its budget after losing government funding.

Pierce County officials in 2023 didn’t award a grant that in past years has covered the center’s operational costs such as utilities and staff. Some of that has been replaced county funding for the center’s role as a mealsite, but more is needed “to keep our operations going,” said Staci Guirsch, the center’s director.

An online drive through gofundme.com has a goal of raising $125,000, according to Guirsch.

In an online post, Guirsch thanked “everyone who has donated and shared our story. The support given for the seniors in Orting is amazing. We couldn’t do what we do without you.”

The Senior Scene by — January 24, 2024 in News