Encore December 2017

A Guide to a FulďŹ lling Senior Life in Whatcom County

ENCORE Wednesday, December 20, 2017

What’s Inside....

The Volunteer Chore Program helps people countywide ..............................C2 Percy Hoekema is retiring from the Farm Bureau board after serving for 49 years ..................................................C4

A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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Volunteer Chore Program shows growth in 2017

Bob, right, helped repair some steps for Joelle, a client of the Volunteer Chore Program. The organization links together those in need of help with tasks, both indoor and outdoor, and volunteers looking to assist. (Courtesy photo)

Community members encouraged to get involved in the new year

By Ashley Hiruko ashley@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM — When Ferndale resident Marion needed help installing a bar in her bathroom at home, she reached out for assistance. Her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease impaired her in tasks that

others could do without effort. This was especially the case with chores that require a step-stool. She risked falling due to illnesscaused imbalance.

Marion eventually got the help she needed from the Volunteer Chore Program of Whatcom County and, along with it, the start of a three-year friendship with volunteer Shirley Obermeier.

The Volunteer Chore Program began in 1981 in response to state cuts in services for the elderly. Since then, the county has seen much growth in the need for a helping hand. Just in three years there has been

a 23 percent increase in the number of clients served, from 225 in 2014 to around 277 clients in October 2017.

But along with these numbers are more positive stories to share from 2017.

Affirmative responses come from both volunteers and recipients of the program.

“I look forward to seeing (Obermeier), even though it’s around once every two weeks,” Marion said of her regular visits with the volunteer. The pair have become friends after three years of interaction.

The goal of the Chore Program is to help keep clients, like Marion, living inde-

pendently in their own homes by connecting them with volunteers to help with essential tasks.

Clients are unable to perform certain chores themselves, and they often don’t have family or friends nearby who can help. They don’t have the income to cover the cost of assistance and don’t qualify for other programs. This makes volunteers crucial to the functioning of the Chore Program.

“Volunteering doesn’t take a lot of time or resources,” Obermeier said. “Just a little bit will make a difference for people

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

Washington Conservation Corps members volunteered to help with yard care and cleaning for someone on a service day. (Courtesy photo) who need a helping hand.”

Obermeier, who has been volunteering with the Chore Program for three years, read about it online and found the volunteer opportunity from a monthly list sent out in an email. “One [item] said ‘help someone in Ferndale’ and I thought, ‘Well, here I am in Ferndale,’” Obermeier said. “I live close and it’s a nice little visit for me too.”

The Chore Program assists seniors, veterans and disabled adults with these types of tasks: oven cleaning, floor scrubbing, vacuuming, dusting, flower planting, small home repairs, shopping and crucial transportation. In 2017 so far, 147 volunteers have provided 3,990 hours of service.

And while Obermeier chose to stick to helping a single client on a regular basis, the ways others choose to help can be structured differently.

Bellingham resident Keith Johnson has been helping out for six years — choosing mainly one-time gigs that get him outdoors and working with his hands.

“There’s all sorts of opportunities and it kind of depends on what you’re good at and what your interests are,” Johnson said.

Some volunteer opportunities are quickly done, like moving a piece of furniture or getting rid of unwanted items, while others

require longer durations of devoted time.

But for him, the flexibility of the program has made it a viable option. Johnson has a full-time job as well as children he has to work around. The volunteer program made that feasible.

Among his clients, Johnson has helped several elderly women over the last couple of years with ongoing yard work. Others he knew from the neighborhood.

“Sometimes there’s people you recognize on (the chore list),” Johnson said. “I know what they need, so I volunteer to take care of it.”

Johnson shares many reasons for continuing his volunteer effort, the first of which is how appreciative the people are.

“Sometimes [they are] just so disbelieving that someone would come help them for free,” Johnson said.

He recommends that anyone give the program a try going into the new year.

“Try it because there’s no commitment,” Johnson said. “You don’t have to sign a contract. You can go out and do a few projects. See if you like it. I’m sure you will.

It’s very rewarding.”

For more information, contact Abby Lund, program director, at 360-734-5121 ext. 172 or by email at chore@whatcomvolunteer.org.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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Percy Hoekema ends 49 years on local Farm Bureau board He remembers back to Farm Bureau building at Depot, Badger roads

By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

Percy Hoekema talks with Richard Clyne, state Farm Bureau director of safety issues, at the Whatcom County 2017 annual meeting in October. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)

WHATCOM ­ — Percy Hoekema is wrapping up 49 years on the Whatcom County Farm Bureau board of directors.

“When you got on, you didn’t get off,” he said as explanation of serving continuously on the board since joining it in 1968.

Hoekema was bested in the membership voting by Suzzi Snydar, by far his junior at the county group's annual meeting in October.

Even so, he still had some duty to do for the Farm Bureau, as a delegate to the state annual meeting Nov. 14-15 in Yakima. Percy attended with his wife Lois and 11 others from Whatcom County.

As to years past, Hoekema recalls that the Farm Bureau had its own space back then in a building owned by Heinie and El-

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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About a dozen from Whatcom County including Percy Hoekema, far right, attended the state Farm Bureau annual meeting in Yakima in November.

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eanor Shagren at the corner of Depot and Badger roads north of Lynden. Heinie was on the board in 1968; others were Herman Miller and Henry Vermeer.

Both the chapter and Farm Bureau’s insurance arm, now Country Financial, moved to a building on Hannegan Road, sharing a receptionist, he said.

The Whatcom County Farm Bureau, in today’s digitally driven world, does not keep a fixed physical location. The Mt. Baker Rotary Building has been a main gathering place for meetings in recent years.

Melodie Kirk is a coordinator for the board. Leslie Honcoop is the current president.

Two Hoekema sons, Marvin and Jeremy, continue to be in dairying in the Everson area, with dad having a stake in the land and the machinery they need to farm.

It has been six years since Percy relied on a paycheck from dairying, which he considers to be the true test.

Percy joined his father, Joe, in dairying on the Emerson Road family farm also in 1968, when he came on the Farm Bureau board. In 1984 the farm won the Whatcom County Dairy Family honor, as Percy and Lois were taking it over with their children.

They still live on the original place.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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PeaceHealth implants its first tiny Micra pacemaker

The tiny new Micra heart pacemaker was implanted in a Whatcom County patient for the first time in Bellingham recently. Opposite page shows the comparison to a standard pacemaker. (Courtesy photo)

Size is a factor, but device also meets a variety of challenges to the standard

BELLINGHAM — The first Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) implant procedure was recently performed at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

The Micra is the world’s smallest pacemaker to help treat patients with slow heart rates (bradycardia).

The Micra is the first pacemaker that

attaches to the heart directly, without any wires and without the need for creating a special “pocket.” It is 93 percent smaller than a standard pacemaker by volume, and it has an estimated average battery life of 12 years.

Medical doctor John MacGregor performed the procedure at PeaceHealth St.

Joseph. He shared his thoughts in a press release.

“I want people to realize that the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System represents a truly revolutionary change in pacing technology. Never before has the option of a functional permanent pacemaker without wires existed. This changes everything,

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

ENCORE and it is a very exciting advancement in the field of heart rhythm disorder management.”

The Micra is designed to be used in patients who have symptomatic bradycardia. These individuals often feel significant fatigue or dizziness, can experience shortness of breath, and can even suffer from fainting spells and may not be good candidates for standard pacemaker systems.

Other good candidates for the Micra system are patients with absent or blocked veins preventing standard pacemaker placement, or high risk of infection or other complication with standard pacemakers.

Some patients may have a strong preference to avoiding a traditional pacemaker for cosmetic or lifestyle-related reasons, and for them the Micra may be an attractive alternative.

The Micra pacemaker allows a patient to receive the benefits of heart pacing in the challenging scenario of no good options for placing a standard pacemaker. It can help these patients enjoy a good quality of life in the face of complex and significant health challenges.

Learn more about cardiology services at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center at https://www.peacehealth.org/st-joseph/cardiovascular-center.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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Lifestrong YMCA program can help in cancer recovery Nearly 14 million people in United States are cancer survivors

Getting past cancer treatment should continue to involve regular exercise, medical research shows. (Courtesy photo)

The days of recommending rest and avoiding activity to cancer patients are over.

Research shows that physical activity is important after a cancer diagnosis, during treatment and beyond. Being active can improve a survivor’s physical functioning and quality of life, while reducing cancer-related fatigue. But that’s not all — it can also help reduce depression.

With all of that in mind, Livestrong at the YMCA can help. Following are some testimonials of cancer survivors who benefited from the support program.

• To regain a healthy state of mind: “My husband pushed me to enroll in Livestrong at the YMCA because I was struggling with post-treatment depression. I didn’t want to, but with his sup-

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ENCORE port I made it a priority to go to class. After 12 weeks, not only did I feel stronger, but my depression had lifted too.”

People often are frustrated with their body after cancer treatment, and they struggle to understand what works for them. Livestrong at the YMCA’s goal is to empower adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase quality of life through a 12-week fitness and strength program.

Specially trained instructors work closely with survivors to ensure each participant is safe and able to work toward increased muscle mass and strength, better balance, flexibility and endurance, and improved energy and self-esteem.

• On how transformational the program can be: “When I came to Livestrong at the YMCA, it was with awareness that I could no longer do my highly active job.

I felt my treatment-damaged muscles

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record were ruined forever. But at the end of the 12 weeks, I was able to do a few hours a week. After a second 12 weeks, I was strong enough to accept as much work as I wanted to.”

Survivors often face new health challenges from their disease and treatment as well as new physical, emotional and daily concerns. After six years of working with local survivors, YMCA staff are confident that regular, safe and supported physical activity helps survivors reclaim their health and well-being.

• On sticking to anything when you’re not feeling your best: “You go to work for your paycheck.

You go to Livestrong at the YMCA for your life!”

For more information on Livestrong at the Whatcom Family YMCA and how you or someone you know can benefit from participating in this life-changing program, contact Tammy Bennett at tbennett@whatcomymca.org.

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Swimming is always a good way to take the pressure off of body joints.

(Courtesy photo)

Most seniors don’t make adjustments to improve vehicle safety AAA Foundation highlights simple, inexpensive features WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 90 percent of older drivers do not make inexpensive adaptations to their vehicles that can improve safety and extend their time behind the wheel, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Common adaptations like pedal extensions, seat cushions and steering wheel covers can help to improve safety by reducing a senior driver’s crash risk.

Those age 65 and over are more than twice as likely as younger drivers to be killed when involved in a crash.

“While many seniors are considered to be safe drivers, they are also the most vulnerable,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our research suggests that most senior drivers are not taking advantage of simple and inexpensive features that can greatly improve their safety and the safety of others on the road.”

The research brief, “In-Vehicle Technologies, Vehicle Adaptations, and Older Drivers: Use, Learning, and Perceptions” is the first phase in the foundation’s groundbreaking Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) project.

Researchers are currently generating the largest and most comprehensive senior driver database ever. This critical information will support in-depth research to better understand the risks and transportation needs of an aging population.

For this phase of the study, researchers looked at 12 vehicle adaptations and found that fewer than 9 percent of senior drivers reported using any of the devices.

Some of the inexpensive devices that can be purchased and put to use in new or existing vehicles are: • Cushions and seat pads, which can improve line of sight and help alleviate back or hip pain.

• Convex/multifaceted mirrors, for improving visibility and minimizing blind spots.

• Pedal extensions, helping drivers obtain a safe distance from the steering wheel/airbag and optimizing visibility.

• Steering wheel covers, improving grip for drivers with arthritic hand joints.

• Hand controls, allowing the driver to perform all vehicle maneuvers and functions without the use of lower extremities.

Choosing the right features and working with a trained technician is imperative to safety behind the wheel.

Of those drivers who have a device, almost 90 percent reported that they did not work with a trained professional to install the modification, although that is

a key recommendation by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

AAA urges drivers to consult with a trained technician to guide them in making adjustments to their vehicle.

“When an ache or pain begins hindering driving ability, many older drivers are able to continue driving safely after making a few adjustments,” said Elin Schold Davis, project coordinator of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Older Driver Initiative. “Occupational therapy practitioners trained in driving rehabilitation are especially valuable in connecting the dots between medical challenges that can affect driving and the appropriate equipment and adaptations needed to remain safely independent in the vehicle.”

Vehicle adaptations also benefit seniors’ mental health by extending their time on the road. Previous research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that seniors who have stopped driving are almost two times more likely to suffer from depression and nearly five times more likely to enter a long-term care facility than those who remain behind the wheel.

In the LongROAD study, more than 70 percent of senior drivers had experienced health conditions that impact muscles and bones such as arthritis, hip/knee replacement and joint pains.

Some seniors in the study reduced their driving due to these conditions. The installation of certain devices like steering wheel covers can help lessen the impact of arthritis while larger mirrors and assistive devices on seats can help with limited neck mobility.

“It’s surprising that more seniors are not utilizing simple and inexpensive vehicle adaptations when you consider the large number who are dealing with muscle and joint conditions,” said Jake Nelson, AAA director of traffic safety and advocacy. “Knowledge is power when it comes to extending time behind the wheel, and AAA is committed to providing seniors with the information they need to make sound decisions.”

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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Fall prevention information for seniors Capstone physical therapist Jeannett Penner gives guidance

To enjoy happy golden years while staying active, seniors need to be aware of their physical limitations and make adjustments. (Courtesy photo)

Falls are very common among older adults. One in three seniors over the age of 65, and nearly one in two seniors over age 80, will fall at least once in a year.

Falls often have very serious consequences, including hospitalization and serious injuries and sometimes death.

Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.

About 20-30 percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures and head trauma.

These injuries make it difficult to live independently and can increase the risk of early death. Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls. The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg,

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand.

Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear can actually increase the likelihood of another fall. Having a fear of falling may make the individual more aware of maintaining safety in hopes of avoiding a future fall. However, having a true fear of falling reduces that person’s overall activity level, which in turn reduces strength and balance reactions. Often people develop changes in their walking due to this fear of falling. This includes taking shorter step lengths and walking more stiffly.

Are you at risk of falling?

Many predisposing factors can increase an individual’s likelihood of having a fall. If you answer “yes” to more than four of these statement, you may be at risk of falling.

• I have fallen in the past year. (People who have fallen once are likely to fall again.)

• I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely. (People who have been advised to use a cane or walker may already be more likely to fall.)

• Sometimes I feel unsteady when I am walking. (Unsteadiness or needing support while walking are signs of poor balance.)

• I steady myself by holding onto furniture when walking at home. (This is also a sign of poor balance.)

• I am worried about falling. (People who are worried about falling are more likely to fall.)

• I need to push with my hands to stand up from a chair. (This is a sign of weak leg muscles, a major reason for falling.)

• I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb. (This is also a sign of weak leg muscles.)

• I often have to rush to the toilet.

(Rushing to the bathroom, especially at night, increases your chance of falling.)

• I have lost some feeling in my feet.

(Numbness in your feet can cause stumbles and lead to falls.)

• I take medicine that sometimes makes me feel light-headed or more tired than usual. (Side effects from medicines can sometimes increase your chance of falling.)

• I take medicine to help me sleep or improve my mood. (These medicines can sometimes increase your chance of falling.)

• I often feel sad or depressed. (Symptoms of depression, such as not feeling well or feeling slowed down, are linked to falls.)

Also, risk factors are associated with

“If you have a walker or cane, you need to use it!” says Jeannett Penner of Capstone Physical Therapy. (Courtesy photo) an increased incidence of falling. They include muscle weakness, difficulty with balance or walking, vision problems, preexisting medical conditions that limit mobility (such as Parkinson disease, stroke or diabetes), conditions that cause confusion (dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.), being on more than four medications at the same time, use of an assistive walking device, environmental hazards (e.g., throw rugs, pets), difficulty completing activities of daily living, and low blood pressure.

How do I prevent or reduce falls?

The good news is that there are things that you can do now to reduce your risk of falling. The sooner an individual makes changes to reduce fall risk, the better!

One of the most important things to do is to start an exercise program. Exercise programs should incorporate flexibility, endurance activities and strength and balance components. Exercise produces many health benefits that offset the normal process of aging. Exercise that incorporates balance retraining and challenges to your equilibrium will strengthen your balance reactions and help to reduce future falls.

Physical therapists can help prevent

falls with an evaluation and development of an individualized treatment plan including exercises to improve strength, mobility and balance. Capstone Physical Therapy has physical therapists who are experts in reducing falls and can help to develop an individual exercise program to help you reduce falls.

Capstone has physical therapists that are board-certified experts in geriatrics (GCS). Very few physical therapists have this specialty certification and advanced training. There are only four in Whatcom County, and one is at Capstone!

Most insurances (including Medicare and Medicare-type plans) will pay for sessions with a physical therapist. Most plans do require a doctor’s referral, so you may need to contact your primary care provider to obtain a referral for PT. There are other environmental and medical factors that can be addressed to reduce your fall risk. Home safety is very important, as 55 percent of falls occur in the home.

Our homes are the places that we usually feel the safest and people use their safety devices the least in their home.

However, the opposite is what needs to happen. Homes should be kept safe to

reduce the likelihood of falls. To accomplish this, throw rugs should be removed, walkways should be well lit, and furniture should be moved to allow mobility in the home if assistive devices are used. Make sure night lights are on for getting out of bed at night. Grab bars should be installed in bathrooms and at the entry to a home.

Use a raised toilet seat and/or bath bench in the shower. Keep pets out from under foot, so you don’t fall over them.

If you have a walker or cane, you need to use it! Wear safe footwear, as slippers and sandals can be a fall hazard. Medications should be reviewed with your primary care provider to ensure they don’t have side effects that can cause dizziness or loss of balance. You should have your vision regularly checked.

Falls can be a very common and serious hazard for older adults. However, there are actions that you can take to prevent falls. Contact Capstone PT to schedule an evaluation to determine your individualized plan to reduce falls.

Jeannett Penner is a physical therapist at Capstone Physical Therapy. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy, is certified in geriatrics and is an orthopedic clinical specialist.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Ferndale Record

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