Wi n t e r E d i t i o n ASEUR E L P YO E TAK E E FR PY CO Living with Chronic Pain WINTRY LEMON PHOTOGRAPHING SLICE YOUR PETS The Power of Giving How To Send an Email SENIOR S 1 Puzzles puzzles and moreDIGEST puzzles
Winter Edition HELP IS ALWAYS WITH YOU The world s smallest smartest medical pendant with fall detection One button operation Automatic Fall Detection Even if you can t push the button a detected fall will immediately alert the call centre Two way Talk Speak directly with the call centre through the alarm so you can quickly get help Our Largest Network 2 A one button push immediately alerts the 24 7 safeTcare call centre SENIOR S DIGEST You don t even need a phone just mobile phone reception in your area Over 65s may qualify for a E E R F PENDANT AVAILABLE IN MOST AGED CARE PACKAGES ply Conditions ap Proudly distributed monitored by Australian owned operated Emergency Medical Services Pty Ltd CALL NOW 1300 699 159 www emsas com au Help is with you 24 7 no matter where you are
Winter Edition A Note From The Editor With international travel off the cards inde nitely and let s be honest even when they do ease restrictions who will be con dent enough to head overseas right away road tripping around Australia has become the new craze And why not Australia is full of EPIC adventure and fun holiday destinations So much so that caravan sales have increased leading to longer wait times on new vans and higher priced pre loved vehicles ooding the market But what does this mean for the Grey Nomads the pioneers of domestic travel by caravan I like to think it means even more people to meet and interesting stories to share With the winter months upon us now is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a good book or in this case magazine and enjoy a warm cup of tea This edition you can learn how to make a no knot blanket great for cold evenings but if that doesn t warm you up then the chorizo chilli pepper pasta should do the trick And as always there are plenty of puzzles to re up the brain Thank you to those of you who have contributed to our edition but also to all of you who submitted work or articles for consideration I receive so many lovely letters and submissions that it s hard to narrow it down to the few who are published However please know that reading your contributions is the highlight of my role as editor Until next time Victoria CONTENTS FEATURES 4 Real Life Hero Uncle Jim 6 Fall Proof Your Home 22 Photographing Your Pets NEWS 10 The Power of Giving 12 Living with Chronic Pain 29 Safety at Home LIFESTYLE 9 How to Send an Email Message 25 Winter Recipes 27 No Knot Blanket Craft EVERY EDITION 3 Blast from The Past 8 Code Cracker Puzzle 14 Arrow words Puzzle admin seniorsdigest com au PO Box 2734 Nerang DC QLD 4211 24 Puzzles Senior s Digest is proudly supported and brought to you by Emergency Medical Services Pty Ltd Facebook Funnies Follow us on Facebook https www facebook com seniorsdigest SENIOR S DIGEST 1
Winter Edition Who Will Look After Your Pet in an Emergency Golden HeartsTM is a pet support program for seniors designed to help people 65 years and older with pet ownership And the biggest news ash here is that it is free to join A barrier to pet ownership for many older people is the concern that no one will be there to care for their pets in the case of an emergency situation This could include a hospital stay or during a bout of ill health Boarding kennels can be expensive and most elderly pet owners would not like the thought of their pet being alone in a kennel The last thing an older person who is suffering ill health needs is the added stress of worrying about their pet AWLQ to the rescue Golden HeartsTM members can use the Short Term Emergency Pet Care Service or S T E P S This program is subject to eligibility for genuine medical emergencies This can give older pet owners peace of mind that their beloved pets will be cared for no matter what happens The Golden HeartsTM program also supports older people who need to transition into an aged care facility that does not allow pets This can be a very di cult time and AWLQ offers a free surrender of a person s beloved pet They try and match the pet with a loving new home in a similar environment to what it had YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO OWN A PET Companion animals reward us with unconditional love acceptance and friendship 2 SENIOR S DIGEST Are you worried about who will care for your pet as you get older Well you don t need to worry anymore The Golden HeartsTM Seniors Pet Support Program has been created to help you the endearing tilt of the head from a faithful dog can lift our spirits just as the gentle purr from a contented cat can feed our souls Sharing your life with a companion animal has many health and social bene ts particularly for mature aged people Yet senior aged people often believe they are too old to care for a pet Many elderly people who do own a pet sometimes feel in need of extra support with the care of their animals but are unsure of who they can turn to for help Golden HeartsTM Seniors Pet Support Program has been designed to break down the barriers that stand in the way of senior people owning pets It helps make pet ownership as stress free as possible It gives those aged 65 and older the peace of mind and support they need to enjoy the many bene ts of animal companionship Whether you are looking for a companion animal with whom to share your life or you already own a pet AWLQ s Golden HeartsTM program is there to support you every step of the way ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF GOLDEN HEARTSTM If you are a member of Golden HeartsTM you can receive 50 off annual vaccinations through AWLQ s Community Vet Clinics plus 10 off everything else And there is also discounted pet grooming available Golden HeartsTM also has annual social events where members get to enjoy the company of like minded people Remember Golden HeartsTM membership is completely free The program supports a senior aged person through every step of pet ownership whether they adopted their pet from the AWLQ or not PAW To Join Golden HeartsTM Send an email to goldenhearts awlqld com au to learn more or call 07 5509 9033 You can also pick up a booklet from any of the AWLQ Rehoming Centres Vet Clinics or Op Shops
1960 Winter Edition s 1963 55 Days at Peking Rob EG 1964 Love Me Do Beatles 1965 Que Sera Sera Normie Rowe 1966 These Boots are Made for Walkin Nancy Sinatra 1967 The Last Waltz Engelbert Humperdink 1968 Hey Jude Beatles 1969 Ob La Di Ob La Da Beatles bobborst com popculture number one songs by year TOP FILMS BY YEAR 1960 S 60 s ALL ABOUT THE 1960 S In 1960 Mr Squiggle first airs on television The kids show will run for 15 years On 12 December 1961 a woman was fined on Bondi beach for being unsuitably dressed whilst wearing a bikini 1962 the cassette tape was invented by the Phillips Co of the Netherlands The Berlin wall opens in 1963 Martin Luther King jr gives his famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963 Disney s Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews is released in 1964 based on the book written by Australian born Pamela Lyndon Travers In medicine limb reattachments and liver lung and heart transplant operations were completed successfully Before the end of the 60s a Rubella vaccine was perfected Australia converts to decimal currency in February 1966 Andy Warhol s creates his Marylin Monroe Pop Art 5 years after the actress dies In 1969 Australian television broadcasts live coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing 24 hours a day 4 June 1969 Hair the musical opened in Sydney with a controversial 30 second nude scene The famous Woodstock festival took place 15 17 August 1969 Daily entry was just US 6 00 POPULAR SONGS OF THE 1960 S 1960 It s Now or Never Elvis Presley 1961 I m Gonna Knock on Your Door Eddie Hodges 1962 Good Luck Charm Elvis Presley 1960 Psycho 1961 West Side Story 1962 To Kill a Mocking Bird 1963 The Birds 1964 Dr Strangelove 1965 The Sound of Music 1966 The Good the Bad and the Ugly 1967 Bonnie and Clyde 1968 2001 A Space Odyssey 1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid www ranker com BOOKS OF THE 1960 S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein 1964 The Godfather Mario Puzo 1969 The Master and Margarita Mikhail Bulgakov 1967 Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss 1960 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 1960 Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak 1963 Dune Frank Herbert 1965 One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest Ken Kesey 1962 Cat s Cradle Kurt Vonnegut 1963 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl 1964 www goodreads com list show 18 BORN IN THE 1960 S 1960 Jeremy Clarkson TV Presenter 1961 Julia Gillard Politician 1962 Steve Irwin deceased Conservationist 1963 Mike Myers Actor 1964 Elle The Body McPherson Supermodel 1965 JK Rowling Author 1966 Kiefer Sutherland Actor 1967 Nicole Kidman Model Actress 1968 Hugh Jackman Actor Entertainer 1969 Cate Blanchett Actress www famousbirthdays com year decade 60s html SENIOR S DIGEST 3
Winter Edition REAL LIFE HERO We would love to hear YOUR story Everyone leads an amazing life and heroes comes in all shapes and sizes Send us your story and if it s published not only will you have the chance to inspire others we ll send you a cheque for 100 Email admin seniorsdigest com au Mail to PO Box 2734 Nerang DC QLD 4211 T UNCLE JIM he rst time I shook hands with Uncle Jim I put out my hand and it disappeared into his st that closed like a vice Just as my ngers were reaching breaking point I sensed that I was expected to do likewise My puny hand responded in kind That s quite a grip you ve got Always remember that you can tell a lot about a man by his handshake Over the years I visited Uncle Jim and Aunt Winne in their at over Manahan s grocery shop at Annerley on numerous occasions I always dutifully laughed at his jokes no matter how often I heard them His size lack of mobility and walking stick kept him largely either on the bench seat at the xed table in the corner of the kitchen or at the TV set in the lounge room He couldn t safely negotiate the stairs to the outside world His days were passed there writing bush anecdotes which were frequently published in popular magazines playing cards with visitors and smoking his cigar 4 SENIOR S DIGEST His doctor recommended amputation of his foot He refused The infection travelled up his leg The doctors recommended amputation of the lower leg He refused Eventually amputation of the upper leg was recommended and again he refused on the grounds that I won t be half a man He carried that leg to the grave His great pleasure in life was smoking a cigar These were never consumed fully at rst lighting but were extinguished by licking his nger and tapping it against the tip until it ceased to glow This procedure was repeated several times in the life of the cigar until it could no longer be used without risk to ngers Then a match was pushed through the butt as a handle and it was smoked until his lips were in danger This photograph appeared in the foreword of Jim s small volume of poems titled Day Dreams Some of these were written during his war service and others were written when he was a stock inspector possibly in Winton Queensland I eventually learned that one morning on his rounds as a health inspector checking a building site he stood on something He continued walking around until he nished his shift When he got home Aunt Winnie pulled his boot off A very long nail came out of his foot with the boot He had walked around all day with it grinding on the bones in his foot It didn t heal well and an infection led to osteomyelitis by James Vernon www jamesvernonphotography com We were playing cards in the kitchen when I had a hair brained and soon to be regretted idea Seeing that he was about to extinguish his cigar I said Can I put it out for you Uncle He passed it to me rather hesitantly I licked my right index finger conscientiously and started tapping the red hot tip I tapped and tapped but neither the glow nor the heat diminished I had not considered that the size and skin texture of an old bushy s finger are not the same as those found on a thirteen year old I longed to lick my finger
Winter Edition again HE licked his finger only once therefore I would do likewise I could sense his discomfort as he empathised with my abused digit He could not interfere as it had been my own idea I tapped more determinedly but the glow and the heat seemed to be constant Finally several taps were achieved leaving a blackened cigar tip and ngertip I joyfully triumphantly and possibly heroically placed it on the ashtray Then came the ultimate accolade You re quite a heman aren t you Uncle Jim was proud of having been the rst person in Queensland to be both a health inspector and a stock inspector He knew the regulations applying to eateries and meat works chapter and verse He spent a lot of his time writing bush anecdotes that were frequently published in popular magazines When someone such as myself dropped in the ancient Remington typewriter was lovingly stowed into its corner in favour of his other pastime crib Cribbage Now Uncle Jim had a strange sense of humour If you were sitting down to a meal masterly redirection would distract your attention from your plate When attention to the task at hand returned a potato or some delicacy would have migrated from your plate to his Naturally it would be returned eventually after some banter So I wasn t surprised when he announced that he had a special treat for lunchcheese and garlic sandwiches You do like cheese and garlic sandwiches don t you I went along with the joke Of course Uncle They re my favourite He dragged himself from the table and lurched towards the refrigerator The sophistication of this joke was revealed when he opened the door There on a plate was block of cheese whose aroma assaulted my nose when he opened the door It had been stabbed with a skewer A short length of bath chain joined the skewer and the shelf You need a good mature cheese for these sandwiches It made so much noise trying to get out of the fridge last night that I had to tie it down He pulled out the stake picked up the cheese gave it a stunning blow and said Here Smell that Isn t that good I sniffed obediently Oh yes Uncle Obviously made with the milk from discontented cows that was accidentally spilt into the drainage ditch and matured on racks in the open air on the windward side of the sewage treatment plant Next came bread and butter Inch thick slices of bread were cut and thickly spread with butter Slabs of cheese were cut and added I started to get a bit apprehensive My apprehension increased when he extracted a knob of garlic from a cupboard This was shattered with a blow of his hand the cloves peeled sliced and sprinkled over the cheese Apprehension became horror The pension didn t extend to wasting food for a practical joke I had said the cheese and garlic sandwiches were my favourite I HAD to eat them I bit I chewed I swallowed Cheese and garlic sandwiches Bloody delicious Mum eventually told me that both Uncle Jim and Aunt Winnie had cancer and had very short life expectancies He went into Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital and she was admitted to Mt Olivet They had lived together for many years but they would die apart I visited him rst He wasn t expecting me I almost walked past him he had changed so much The wavy hair was still there but thinner and grey His frame had shrunk until it almost disappeared completely into the bedclothes I approached his bed and he extended his hand as he looked up with a ash of welcoming recognition We shook hands This time it was a feeble grip that suggested fragility I can t remember what we talked about but I spent quite a while with him Uncle Jim might have appeared to be an ordinary man He had served in the First World War but never talked about it The only times he mentioned it to me were to explain the term no man s land and why it was bad luck to be the third person to light a cigarette off the same match The ame could be easily seen by a sniper who would follow its progress The third recipient was a perfect target He had experienced many of life s vicissitudes but never let them get him down He fought the restrictions caused by his leg and never complained Although his humour was corny and repetitive he could always be relied on for a laugh He was also a ne if unrecognised poet These characteristics qualify him well for the title hero SENIOR S DIGEST 5
Winter Edition Fall Proof Your Home The Bathroom Grab Bars Install grab bars inside and outside the bathtub and shower and near toilets Lighting Use night lights Wet Surfaces Put non skid strips or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet The Bedroom Lighting Again use night lights with a switch close to your bed Keep a ashlight by your bed in case the power is out and you need to get up Keep your telephone near your bed Hallways and Stairs Handrails Make sure they are both sides of the stairs Ensure they are secured properly and not wobbly Always use both handrails when you are on the stairs unless you are carrying something Then try to at least hold onto one handrail Make sure what you are carrying doesn t block your view of the stairs 6 SENIOR S DIGEST An amazing 60 of falls happen at home It s the place where a lot of time is spent and people move around without thinking about safety There are a few simple changes you can make to your home to ensure your safety Lighting Good lighting is important Install light switches at the bottom and the top of the steps and at each end of a long hallway Tidy Up Having areas you walk kept tidy will help to prevent falls Do not leave items in places you could trip on them later Carpet If carpets are xed rmly they will not slip Check that there are no areas where the carpet is loose or fraying Use non slip strips for wooden and tile oors which you can purchase from your local hardware Mats and Rugs Don t use mats or rugs in small areas
Other Living Areas Electric Cords Wires Secure electric cords and telephone wires against walls and away from walking paths Carpet Secure all carpets and large area rugs rmly to the oor Furniture Arrange your furniture especially low coffee tables and other objects so they are not in your way when you walk Lounge Chairs Make sure your lounge and chairs are the right height for you to get in and out of them easily Pets Know where your pets are when you are standing and don t let them trip you Other Tips Don t walk on newly washed oors they are slippery Keep items you use often within easy reach Don t stand on a chair or table to reach something that s too high use a reach stick instead or ask for help Reach sticks are special grabbing tools that you can buy at many hardware or medicalsupply stores If you use a step stool make sure it is steady and has a handrail on top Have someone stand next to you Winter Edition Your Own Medical Alarm If you re concerned about falling think about getting an emergency response system If you fall or need emergency help you push a button on a special pendant for help Home Improvements Prevent Falls Many State and local governments have education and or home modi cation programs to help older people prevent falls If you have fallen your doctor might suggest that an occupational therapist physical therapist or nurse visit your home These healthcare providers can assess your home s safety and advise you about making changes to prevent falls Keep emergency numbers in large print near each telephone SENIOR S DIGEST 7
Winter Edition CODE CRACKER Lovatts Publications Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet Work out which number stands for which letter to complete the crossword We ve given you two letters to start All words are from a dictionary and no proper nouns are used All letters of the alphabet are not always used When you have cracked the code fill in the answer in the boxes below 1 C L UE S 13 4 5 17 7 4 17 13 10 21 8 10 7 12 12 17 14 7 10 19 20 8 16 10 13 14 3 20 21 18 6 21 17 6 19 17 7 4 4 9 14 10 4 1 ANSWER 15 13 3 20 10 6 6 20 6 6 14 10 5 2 5 12 20 3 9 9 6 4 G 19 4 17 19 5 20 6 11 12 3 6 10 6 5 12 20 16 20 18 13 13 12 2 13 13 7 19 6 5 13 1 8 6 5 20 6 7 8 13 5 6 6 10 10 14 5 3 6 20 5 15 17 14 5 3 20 12 1 21 6 20 12 18 3 6 7 15 12 8 1 7 1 13 6 10 11 12 T 13 20 14 20 15 6 16 19 17 18 1 20 19 14 6 10 19 4 9 19 4 18 19 13 20 7 21 6 22 20 23 12 24 3 25 26 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 8 SENIOR S DIGEST
Winter Edition How to Send an Email Message In a previous edition we did a step by step guide on how to create an email account Now that you have one here is how to use it 1 Visit www gmail com 2 Type in your email address When prompted type in your password 3 This will take you to the next screen which is your email Dashboard This screen will list any emails in your inbox Any new emails will automatically appear when you log in The ones in bold font are new and you have not opened them before 9 In the Subject box type a brief description about the email you are sending 10 The big open box at the bottom is where you type your actual message This can be as long or as short as you need 4 To open and read a bold email simply click anywhere on that email line 5 The full email will open and you can read it as it appears on your screen 6 When you have nished reading it click the word Inbox in the top left hand side of the screen to return to your list of emails 7 In the top left hand side there is a red button with the word COMPOSE click this to start a new email message 8 A new screen will pop up In the To box you type the email address of the person you are messaging 11 To attach a le or a photo click the paperclip image along the bottom of the message box This will bring up a search screen of the les on your computer Select the le you wish to attach and click Open 12 Finally once you are done simply click SEND Congratulations You are now sending and receiving emails SENIOR S DIGEST 9
Winter Edition The POWER 5 of GIVING ways to give that don t cost money Research suggests that contribution and giving not only helps us feel happier it can also help us stay healthier for longer Giving has been called food for the soul And the beauty is that there are lots of ways you can give without the price tag Here are 5 gifts that you can give at any time of year that won t cost you money will help you feel good and might just mean the world to someone you care about 1 Give your Time Just sitting with someone helping them nut out a challenge or having a long leisurely chat over a cuppa is a true gift Just being with someone can boost their emotional state and your own 10 SENIOR S DIGEST 2 Give your Energy 3 Give your full Presence When you re facing a task that can seem overwhelming or could be physically demanding like decluttering a room what a relief it can be when someone offers to give you a hand and they mean it If you have the energy to help someone with a task it helps your physical and mental motivation and state and it is absolutely true that a problem shared is a problem halved and more hands make much lighter work While you can be physically with someone in the same room it is another thing altogether to really give someone your full attention really listening to what they have to say without judging without butting in without focusing on what you are going to say next Fully focusing on someone allows them to feel truly heard and seen That person can tell
Winter Edition their stories and reminisce and when they stop talking ask a leading question like tell me more or what happened then and watch them light up as they continue to own the communication space 4 Forgive Although this can be a tough one to forgive is one of the greatest gifts you can give mostly to yourself We have all felt wronged and hurt by the words and actions of others or we could have been punishing ourselves for years We all have wounds that can leave us with lasting anger and bitterness and if we don t practice forgiveness we will be the one who pays physically emotionally and spiritually or their year And you ll feel good too knowing that you haven t left anything unsaid 5 Express your Love and There s never a better time to give than right now and it will be such a gift Gratitude How many times have we heard someone say I never got the chance to tell him her how I really felt So often we keep these thoughts and feelings to ourselves and the moment passes Or we can just nd it di cult If we do make the effort to tell those closest to us how we feel about them or how grateful we are to them it can be such a powerful thing for everyone involved That comment might just be the thing that brightens up their day Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can to all the people you can as long as you ever can John Wesley Jo Devin Co founder Positive Living Skills www positivelivingskills com au SENIOR S DIGEST 11
Winter Edition LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN By Samantha Moss I was loading my dishwasher recently and ghting with a plate refusing to t in I was in severe lower back pain and trying to get the task over as quickly as possible I was also trying to t way too much into this particular load as you do So as I continued to engage in one to one combat with my dishwasher I cried out Come on where there s a will there s a way 12 SENIOR S DIGEST My renewed determination actually worked and with a quick reshu e of a few bowls my plate nally found its resting place Phew Door closed button pushed all done Is It Really That Easy As I returned to my armchair to rest and recover from my efforts I began thinking about the old English proverb I d just used to spur myself on to success Where there s a will there might be a way Where There s A Will There s A Way It just rolls off the tongue so easily doesn t it I have always lived my life with a mind over matter type approach I ve always believed if I was determined to achieve a particular goal I could find a way to do it Generally I could Not anymore Life isn t as easy now n u
Winter Edition Chronic pain due to a rare bone disease has changed everything in my life An old English Proverb cheering me on to achieve absolutely anything isn t going to help Does That Mean I Should Give Up Trying Chronic pain or illness can signi cantly impact most areas of our lives there is no denying that So should we put up an out oforder sign and let life pass us by No I don t think we should I do think we need to be realistic though about our new capabilities I could set a goal of running up a mountain but let s be serious I d be setting myself up for failure Due to my rare bone disease I have a non union broken femur severe spinal stenosis an unstable lumbar spine 7 foot fractures and I mobilise with crutches a walker or power scooter In ammation quickly builds around my broken bones and pain sears as bone on bone begins to rub My feet fracture just looking at them and I m not exaggerating I clearly have major obstacles to a goal of running up a mountain no matter how many times I stoically shout where there s a will there s a way So What Is Achievable Realistic goals can be achievable for those of us with chronic pain and illness some quiet days something inevitably disturbed my rest and recovery plans No one was going to mind or worry if I didn t write my weekly blog post It mattered to me though I m passionate about writing It s been my main focus since medically retiring 6 years ago It s how I connect with others and it keeps my brain active When we set goals they need to be achievable and it helps if we can nd a reason which drives us to want to achieve them r g k c a So maybe the old English proverb does have some truth to it Finding A Way Don t let fear of disappointment put you off setting goals It s so important we feel a sense of purpose when living with pain Life needn t completely pass us by Firstly I had to mentally commit Committing required me to push aside my first thoughts telling me to leave it until next week Finding something you are passionate about and setting a realistic goal to achieve it can be such a great way to take your focus away from your pain and disability To achieve my goal of writing a blog post I had to nd a way It was a valid option but as I thought about the following week I knew I had other goals I needed to achieve so postponing it became a non option This was a positive thought process as it forced me to think about strategies to achieve my goal sooner I also knew aside from any other reasons it would be a great distraction from my pain I use writing as part of my pain management therapy Here was my reason to drive me to achieve my goal rtsbA Let me give you an example I had a goal recently to write an article for my blog I was absolutely exhausted pain was soaring through my body and no matter how much I tried to string together my mobile phone rather than using my tablet or PC It has removed so many of my writing obstacles as sitting upright is often not an option 4 Take my time and enjoy the process there s no rush With a simple plan in place determination commitment and planning was rewarded and I was able to hit the publish button later in the day So I made a 4 step plan 1 Take extra afternoon pain meds 2 Wait for an hour so they kick in 3 Write while lying down on my bed using my phone I ve taught myself to blog on B Using the word Simple I ve created an easy to remember planning outline S I M P L E S Set a timeframe I Improvise where necessary M Modify your plan if you meet a roadblock P Picture the nal outcome as you work L Listen to your body if you need a rest E Enjoy the process I hope the S I M P L E planning outline will help you achieve goals which might seem out of reach right now Keep your goal simple keep it relevant to your abilities Before long you could be discovering despite chronic pain where there s a will there might be a way www mymedmusings com SENIOR S DIGEST 13
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W i An ut et u rm E dni tEi do int i o n GROUP DEMONSTRATIONS The Latest Technology In Personal Medical Alert Alarms With technology moving so quickly these days it s important to stay abreast of all the developments in personal alarm technology to ensure you are as safe as possible Emergency Medical Services Pty Ltd is active in the community busy educating seniors on these fantastic improvements and showcasing the safeTwear system which is a medical alert device with automatic fall detection Kurra Probus Beach Club SafeTwear is a small light simple to use pendant with a built in speaker and microphoe for two way communication and its own SIM card which means it can be worn and used anywhere there is a mobile network in Australia almost everywhere The result being that you are protected at home AND when out and about The safeTwear system includes safeTcare a 24 hour monitoring service for the device Your alerts will be responded to quickly by trained professionals 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year No exceptions 60 Better Cannon Hill There are some incredible savings to be made for seniors currently on antiquated home bound systems with monthly monitoring payments or those self monitoring who want to upgrade to a monitored system as well as for new customers There is NO COST for one of the experienced team to visit your group Most groups offer morning tea or lunch Why not make an event of it To book a group demonstration for your club retirement community or friends please call 1300 699 159 Elanora View Club Australia s rst ever provider of mobile go anywhere personal medical devices Now in 4G with voice instructions So easy to use safeTwear 1300 699 159 SENIOR S DIGEST 15
Winter Edition DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE A Personal Medical Alarm with 24 7 monitoring from EMS is an absolute essential service for a long list of people who suffer from medical conditions disabilities and those who may require support when others are not around to help It should also be strongly considered for seniors who are in a high risk category of falls who live alone or even those returning home from hospital and require a checkin to make sure all is okay with their recovery DO YOU KNOW THESE NUMBERS However facts speak for themselves There is a lot that can happen and unfortunately it does Statistically the numbers show it Take a look Let us give you 6 key stats of a most common occurrence FALLS for those aged 65 years or more and you may be surprised just how prevalent it is 1 It is an eye opener to know that 2 3 1 in 3 people aged 65 years or older have a fall in any given year Approximately 66 of all injury related admissions to hospitals are related to falls That 60 of those falls happen in the home when doing everyday actions like going to the bathroom getting out of bed or a chair 4 Emergency Services or a 5 6 Doctor is required for 25 of those people and time is critical to get to them fast Those who do fall are 20 30 more susceptible to fall again 50 of people 80 years or older fall each year and are in an even more elevated group if care is not given as quickly as possible DO YOU KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS If we stay with FALLS for a minute longer and understand what some of the reasons are why this happens is that people who are older in life are in a higher category of risk of falling due to ageing their Proudly Australian owned and operated 16 SENIOR S DIGEST
Winter Edition balance worsening their muscle tone slower response and even eyesight to name just a few Then for many who do fall they are unable to get back up on their own and for some time can be exactly where they fell and this can seriously affect their health deterioration even further Time is critical Response and assistance are equally paramount Did you know these facts Do you know the other types of accidents medical conditions and disabilities that can trigger a call for help We absolutely know what can happen and unfortunately it often does We handle it around the clock 24 7 every single day of the year We all know of family that have required care at one time or another and those who received help in time and those who did not At EMS we have a strong care mindset and believe that people should be able to live life with dignity even if it means there is someone there to give them a helping hand only when they need it All the while giving them space to live as they choose yet they know that help is there with just one press of our medical alert pendant button monitored 24 7 by our expert trained staff every day of the year It s true 24 7 monitoring and medical alarms do save lives Our highly trained professional team are helping those in these uncertain times with this new era we are in where medical emergencies and falls have become much higher risks Our professional safeTcare trained staff monitor safeTwear medical alert pendants 24 7 Our proven service is a safeguard to thousands of people across Australia and tens of thousands of families with peace of mind knowing we re here for them too Could it help you or someone you know Would it provide them peace of mind Would their family sleep better at night knowing we are there for them Chat with us on 1300 699 159 or email us care emsas com au today and make a difference SENIOR S DIGEST 17
Winter Edition THE UNINVITED By Margot Titcher WRITERS CORNER An old lady lives in my mirror I see her whenever I pass She s not here by invitation She spies on me through the glass I ve no idea how she got there She s no one I d choose for a friend Her skin s all wrinkly and spotted Her hair all grey with split ends I have never caught her smiling As into her face I peek But once when I was ultra sad I saw tears upon her cheek I ve told her she must take her leave This unit s too small for two I ve shouted and I ve glowered But she shouts and glowers too Proudly sponsored by It seems I have no solution The old hag s determined to stay I guess I m stuck with her presence Day after day after day TIME By Rose Cavill Poets Wanted Please send us your original 20 line or less poem or 500 word or less short story Writers receive 25 per poem and 50 per short story published in Senior s Digest Mail to Po Box 2734 Nerang DC QLD 4211 or Email admin seniorsdigest com au 18 SENIOR S DIGEST I once had a friend called Time When I was young Time was always there for me I had Time around for everything Back then Time was so slow and I would beg Time to go faster As I grew older Time and I didn t always agree I had to keep an eye on Time It seemed that when I desperately needed Time Time wasn t there Time became my enemy and I found myself racing against Time Often even ghting Time Now I am old and Time is no longer on my side Time has won The race is over and Time is not so fast anymore It doesn t matter what I say or do now Time will eventually run out on me for good My Time is gone FLOOD By Joan MacMillan Torrential rain and blustering gales pursued their reckless plunder while turbulent clouds sped swiftly by then another clap of thunder And without any warning oodwaters quickly rising the township was in peril the river uncompromising Houses were just washed away to join the raging torrent cattle buffeted and dragged along as they too joined the current Six precious lives were lost as the menacing waters rose and sadness descended on the town it was hard to recompose When the waters receded mud and slush a devastation the spirit of the people came together in collaboration And there were many stories of heroism bravery and fear and together the township rallied to toil rebuild and clear
Winter Edition Memory by Barry O Farrell One of the regular Senior Citizen customers enters the pharmacy Aimlessly meandering the aisles he looks at everything recognising nothing He comes to a stop in front of the colourful packets on the shelf They are the pastel colours favoured by pharmaceutical companies Artistically arranged they sequence the full spectrum of the rainbow He eyes all the colours Spoilt for choice his mind slows further A sales assistant watches the confused old man and approaches May I help you Sir What are you looking for he asks quietly I m trying to remember begins the old man I m looking for the Memory Section I need something for my memory This is the Memory Section You have found it Well done encouraged the Sales Assistant The old man s face broke into a feint smile The sales Assistant continued Memory is a wonderful thing Let me help you What type of memory are you thinking you might like this week Not sure Tell you what young fella Why don t you choose a memory for me This time let s make it a happy one SENIOR S DIGEST 19
Winter Edition The Lemon Tr By Francis Cox Duals of green from an English pallet are dusted with the yellow Australian light The browns and khaki of the hill s bones leach into tender pale folds and hardening emerald blades This diminutive damsel dresses sparsely her form and fruitfulness coyly arrayed Yet she moves with grace in the breeze nodding at the waist to those around Her bony toes like gloved ngers have seized the ground overlapping one another in their urgency to grasp The ratchet of her strength is here holding hard to her accidental place in the world All her resolve is downward to the earth all her life is spread upward in blind selfassertion It is enough to slowly prosper through the seasons and swell her seed The blossoms are redolent with bittersweet need Leaf miners chew on the soft new leaves Thorns stand rampant on twig and stem while black ants patrol for aphids and bronze orange insects sipping the fructuous sap Spindly branches will bow beneath the weight of fat fruits given gladly to those who would take the seed 20 SENIOR S DIGEST Believe in Yourself By Merryl Jorgensen You must believe in yourself In yourself you must be true To make a difference in your life The choice is up to you Set some goals for yourself No need to make them grand Don t forget we must all Sit before we stand A positive outlook is what you need To get you through the day Believe that you can do it Then success will come your way Always say that you will try Be proud when you achieve But the rst big step you must take Is in yourself you must believe
Winter Edition Mouse By John Hancock Big sister Sharon was late when John arrived at the gate so he left the schoolyard without fuss and boarded a bus to see the circus in town They sent him home with a clown but with free tickets to go the family went to the show The entertainment was great but it was just tempting fate The elephants came on and they couldn t nd John His mother started to cry then a policeman came by and asked if we d searched Sharon spotted John perched on an elephant s back as it walked around the track Mother screamed out his name a little mouse took the blame and scurried off in fright towards the bright circle of light Jumbo saw the mouse coming in a ash he was running with a mighty bellow he went straight out of the tent It was John s lucky day he fell into some hay Another problem was dawning for at the sound of his warning all the elephants took fright and ran into the night People came from all over to see it was on National T V as the men of the town tracked the elephants down The mouse got the blame which in a way was a shame because now all mice of a night stay out of the light SENIOR S DIGEST 21
Winter Edition Photographing YOUR PETS Y by Glynis Scrivens ou don t need to be an expert to take good photos of your pets All you need is patience time and a few tricks up your sleeve plus a digital phone or camera Don t expect your pets to co operate They ll wander off look the other way and generally behave as though they don t want to be photographed just like your family and friends when you point a camera at them But keep trying you ll be rewarded with a few gems among the blurred images Here are some hints for taking better photos of your pets 1 Use comparisons props It s a good idea to add something to your photo to give a sense of proportion When our guinea pig Possum had babies we wanted to show how small they were One way of doing this was to photograph them playing with one of my boots With our young chicks it was impossible to resist the temptation of posing them beside eggcups 2 Don t use a ash When photographing your pets try to avoid using flash The sudden blinding light can be frightening for them and may make them camera shy in future We learnt this the hard way with our dog Spirit Spirit s life was one long adventure full of hijinks and misdemeanours He always seemed fearless Even fierce thunderstorms didn t faze him So we were surprised to see him react in fear the first time we photographed him using a flashlight His whole body trembled and it took us a while to pacify him 22 SENIOR S DIGEST
Winter Edition to treasure and add a special dimension to our relationship with our pets If you own a black cat photograph them in a witch s hat at Halloween Buy your dog a supporter s beanie for your favourite football team It ll make a great pick me up photo for your son or daughter to have on their desk at work 7 Don t be afraid to get up close and personal It can be interesting to photograph just your pet s face Another option is to photograph pets interacting with each other For example mice will hold tails CONNECTING YOU WITH OTHERS 3 Try action photos Don t be scared to try action photos of your pets When your dog is chasing a ball or fetching a stick photograph him as he bounds back to you Take as many photos as you can With digital technology it s easy to delete the shots that are blurred 4 Catch them off guard Pets misbehaving can make great photos If your freeranging hens come into the kitchen and steal the cat s food take a photo before shooing them out 5 Capture everything Photographing your pets doing something they hate can produce hilarious photos Our dogs hate the B word Any hint of a bath and they ll slink away pretending to be invisible As for their expressions after a bath priceless Go on be mean You ll be glad you did The photos will bring back lots of funny goofy moments 6 Dress them up Pets love to join in our activities and this includes special events such as Christmas Who hasn t put a piece of tinsel on their bird s cage or tried a pair of reindeer antlers on the family dog Grab your camera These are moments Photos are for sharing and the internet provides a range of options that will keep you in touch with all the pet lovers in your life and perhaps even help you forge some new friendships Email your best pet photos to family and friends who don t live close by Animals are a great way to put a smile on people s faces If you re on Facebook or Instagram post photos of your pets It can be fun to create an online pro le for your pet on social media Our rats Florence and Noah had them and received messages from more than a hundred guinea pigs mice and rats from around the world even from a threeyear old cat in Maryland Don t forget to email your very best photos to pet magazines lifestyle magazines and women s magazines Who knows You might earn pocket money to spoil them with SENIOR S DIGEST 23
HEXAGON WORD Winter Edition BROKEN HEARTED BROKEN HEARTED thesehearts broken hearts to form thecouples nameswho of ten couples who Mend Mend these broken to form the names of ten carved their names on a tree only to find it chopped half itThere s only down one way to get all carved their names on a down tree and onlysplit to in nd chopped and split ten couples together correctly in half There s only one way to get all ten couples together correctly Use the clues to fill in the spaces in the numbered hexagons Each answer runs clockwise but can start anywhere in the shape Where hexagons touch they have the same letter We ve given you the first answer Thetheletters hexagon reveal a mystery keyword Use clues in to the ll inwhite the spaces in the numbered hexagons Each HEXAGON WORD answer runs clockwise but can start anywhere in the shape Where hexagons touch they have the same letter We ve given you the rst answer The letters in the white hexagon reveal a mystery keyword CLUES 1 Item 2 Jettisoned cargo 3 Giant Panda food 4 Games of golf 5 Tempestuous 6 Obey AALPHABET SUOP Broken Hearted 025 Lovatts Puzzles SOLUTION Boris Moira Aidan Carla Buddy Nancy Jimmy Irene Allan Carol Jerry Dolly Lloyd Linda Tommy Erica Alwin Donna Frank Fleur RED HERRINGS Fill inLovatts the gaps with letters to nd the names of eight areas Puzzles around the Fill home Yes twothe ofnames the examples are in theOnly gaps eight with letters to find of eight areas around produce the home Only eight Yes two of the redPUZZLE herrings and won t anything but frustration All SOLUTION examples are red herrings and won t produce anything but the answers have seven letters 1 Object 2 Jetsam 3 Bamboo 4 Rounds 5 Stormy 6 Comply frustration All the answers have seven letters Alphabet Soup 003 Lovatts Puzzles SOLUTION Whiskey Sour Fizz Harvey Wallbanger Brandy Alexander Pina Colada Martini Gimlet Julep Daiquiri Bloody Mary 24 SENIOR S DIGEST Wheel Words PX 0007 Mystery keyword EMBRYO
Winter Edition Chorizo Chilli Pepper Pasta Ingredients 200g shell shaped pasta tbsp olive oil 100g chorizo dice remove skin 400g can cherry tomatoes 2 pickled chilli peppers sliced 30g basil small pack hand torn Parmesan cheese Method 1 2 3 4 5 Bring a large pan of water salt to the boil Add shell shaped pasta boil for 10 mintues Heat oil in the pan over high heat Add chorizo cook for a few minutes Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes Drain the pasta Toss the mix through the pasta and stir in the peppers and basil Serve with grated parmesan cheese Wintry Lemon Slice Ingredients cup Nestle sweetened condensed milk 100g butter 200g Arnotts Granita biscuits 1 cup desiccated coconut 2 tsp nely grated lemon rind Lemon Icing 2 cups pure icing sugar 20g butter softened 2 tbsp lemon juice Method 1 Grease a 3cm deep slab pan Line with baking paper 2 Heat condensed milk butter in a small saucepan on medium heat Stir for 5 minutes or until smooth Remove from heat 3 Crush biscuits into ne crumbs either by hand or with a food processor Transfer to a bowl combine with lemon rind coconut 4 Press mixture over the base of the pan Cover refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or until rm 5 Lemon icing Sift icing sugar into a bowl Add lemon juice butter Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth and combined 6 Spread icing over slice SENIOR S DIGEST 25 7 Wait for icing to set then dust with icing sugar Enjoy
Winter Edition TOP 20 GREATEST TOYS OF ALL TIME In 2014 executives from 100 British toy companies were invited to cast their votes on the games which they thought had most shaped the industry and childhoods over the last 50 years All of the executives were asked to reveal their top three toys of all time with the only condition being that they weren t allowed to vote for their own toys Lego was crowned the greatest toy of all time with all but a few voters putting it in the number one spot Iconic board game Monopoly came second with Action Man in third slot car racing game Scalextric in fourth and football toy Subbuteo in fth The rest of the top 10 was rounded off with Rubik s Cube Star Wars toys Barbie Matchbox Cars and playing cards Other recognisable names in the top 20 included Ker Plunk Frisbee Atari Play Doh However popular toys absent from the list included games such as Etch A Sketch Dungeons and Dragons Pok mon cards and Cluedo See if your favourite toy from childhood is on the list below 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Lego Monopoly Action Man Scalextric Subbuteo Rubik s Cube Star Wars toys Barbie Matchbox Cars Playing cards Ker Plunk Playmobil M A S K toys Atari Frisbee Trivial Pursuit Play Doh Super Soaker Yo Yo Sylvanian Families https nostalgiacentral com 26 SENIOR S DIGEST
Winter Edition No Knot Fleece Blanket By Amanda Formaro Easily create a no knot eece blanket in no time with this method A snuggly warm blanket makes a great homemade gift idea Supplies 1 5 metres of printed eece 1 5 metres solid color eece Sharp scissors Ruler or a piece of cardboard cut into a 4 inch square Instructions 1 Place solid fabric on the work surface then place patterned eece directly on top making sure all edges are lined up 2 If needed trim any edges with scissors to ensure everything lines up neatly 3 Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure and cut a 4 inch square from each corner of the eece cutting through both the patterned and solid fabrics Alternatively you can use a 4 inch square piece of cardboard or paper as a template and cut around it 4 Next cut 4 inch long by 1 5 inch wide strips along all four sides of the eece cutting through both fabrics 5 Take each strip and fold it up placing them onto the top of the fabric 6 Cut a small slit into each strip again cutting through both pieces of fabric 7 Insert the ends of the strip and gently pull through the slit Be sure to pull the strips through snug but be gentle as eece stretches easily This will make them lay at hence no knots Thanks to https craftsbyamanda com no knot fleece blanket SENIOR S DIGEST 27
1 010 JUN21 Winter Edition My niece moved in to care fo fforr me but she ke k keeps ep leaving leav a ing me av alone wi without ffood fo od orr medicine Would you stand up for her rights Together we can stop elder abuse Visit www qld gov au stopelderabuse Call the Elder 28 SENIOR S DIGEST Abuse Helpline
Winter Edition SAFETY AT HOME Home security measures such as deadlocks on doors and windows may be necessary however it is important not to let these precautions trap you inside your home in an emergency Check these safety tips Have one common key for all door locks Keep a spare key where it cannot be seen or reached by intruders For example hang it in the middle of the back of a door Choose window security screens that can be opened from the inside Show all occupants including overnight visitors how to escape through security doors or windows if an emergency occurs A spare key can be kept outside in a secure key safe Slippery surfaces or di culties getting in or out of the bath or shower can cause slips trips or falls in the bathroom or toilet Plan NOW for your future needs in these areas Check these safety tips If the bathroom oor becomes particularly slippery when wet investigate ways to reduce its slippery nature Even if you are not currently frail consider planning for the future by installing grab rails over the bath in the shower recess and beside the toilet to reduce the risk of falls Use non slip strips in the bottom of the shower or bath Where possible avoid using the bath if you are unsteady on your feet Make sure items such as hair dryers radios and electric razors are not used in any damp areas and are out of the reach of children Store medication and cleaning agents separately in locked cupboards Re t bathroom toilet doors or t lift hinges so doors open outwards a person may become trapped if they collapse against an inward opening door Most personal alarm pendants are water proof If you have one wear it when you shower Source thanks to Queensland Fire and Emergency services SCALDS perawater tem check the rs t io n se ld d the co rs children an er Turn on ow sh To protect or er h at at b e hot w running a h cold Th ture when C d nish wit an er out 60 C 10 at w ab ot homes is an then add h li ra C st 50 u A ature of re in most safe temper m temperatu u im ax the ideal m more than SENIOR S DIGEST 29
Winter Edition NOVICE Level 1 MODERATE Level 2 Answers will appear in the next edition of Senior s Digest 30 SENIOR S DIGEST
FIND A WORD 4 M O N I T O R I N G T B A S M WE A A N L R I E D O R MR T P R D X S A P WL L I F N E D E S T A U F A L L O A L E N K R P J E I J C K V A E E 7 safeTcare safeTwear T Q F V T I S O D C P Y E S A E E M H E D R WG L E N N B C V Y E D S A HARD Level 3 T WD K X E MB T L P E Z C C P A T C R I A E O O R N WR T N I E F E D 1300 699 159 www emsas com au S N O T T U B H S U P Z 8 Winter Edition LIST OF WORDS ALARM ALERT AWARD BEST CARE DETECTION EMERGENCY FALL GPS HELP INDEPENDENT KEYSAFE LIFE LIVE LOVE MEDICAL MONITORING PENDANT PUSHBUTTON SAFE SAFETWEAR SENIOR SMARTEST ZERO 2 GENIUS Level 4 3 Answers will appear in the next edition of Senior s Digest 8 SENIOR S DIGEST 31
Winter Edition PUZZLED ACROSS 1 6 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 25 28 29 31 32 Throat lump 4 1 5 Amongst News outlets Powered bicycle Shabbier Positioned Refusing UN resolution Lower back pain Stuffing Danes country Synagogue scholar Omaha is there Informers Biting gnat Did breaststroke Social customs DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 13 15 17 19 21 22 24 26 27 30 Bank machines 1 1 2 All wheel drive 1 1 1 Rise to feet Inflating up Sideways movement Slightly wet Matted strands hairstyle Celt Loathed Boils off Set in motion Stunned taken More tender Degraded Lightweight timber Allow inside Congeals Pair SOLUTIONS FROM LAST EDITION OF SENIOR S DIGEST CODE CRACKER SOLUTION Page 8 SOLUTION A 10 B 16 C 15 D 19 E 6 F 9 G 4 H 18 I 17 K 21 L 5 M 8 N 7 O 13 P 11 R 14 S 20 T 12 U 1 W 2 Y 3 ANSWER COFFEE BROKEN HEARTED SOLUTION Page 14 Burt Tess Jake Emma Hugh Dora Toby Lily Eric Judy Adam Gina Tony Lena Mark Cora Ross Lisa Matt June HEXAGON WORD SOLUTION Page 14 1 Frumps 2 Vacuum 3 Clothe 4 Kosher 5 Employ 6 Piping Mystery Word MUESLI MATCHBOX SOLUTION Page 14 Sundry manage marrow legend mayhem nale robbed Mystery Word WIN PRISM SOLUTION Page 14 Kale taro zucchini eggplant capsicum broccoli RED HERRING SOLUTION Page 14 RED HERRING Juniper Parsley Caraway REDHERRING Oregano Chervil Paprika Chicory Mustard Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd Fill in to WIN complete the answers below and mail or email to be in the running to win a 50 Coles Myer Gift Card Code Cracker Answer pg 8 Hexagon Mystery Word pg24 Wheel Words Mystery Word pg24 Name Phone Address Mail to SENIOR S DIGEST PUZZLES PO Box 2734 Nerang DC QLD 4211 OR email answers to admin seniorsdigest com au 32 SENIOR S DIGEST
Winter Edition SENIOR S DIGEST 33
E V I SA S E L IV safe safeT f Twear The word s smallest smartest Emergency Pendant with fall detection 2 way talk and GPS location Now in 4G with voice instructions So simple to use safeTcare 24 7 professional monitoring Help is always with you Proudly Distributed Monitored by EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Email care emsas com au Web www emsas com au To Find out More Call 1300 699 159