Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1498764
We serve you with dignity, determination, and kindness • Personal Hygiene Assistance • Medication Management • Nutritional & Dietary Care • Medical and Non-Medical Transportations • Nurse On-Call At No Cost • Personal Hygiene Assistance • Medication Management • Nutritional & Dietary Care • Medical and Non-Medical Transportations • Nurse On-Call At No Cost We Partner With long Term Insurance Companies Peggy Pollard, Teacher www.PeggyDance.weebly.com Join the funnest social dancing in Santa Cruz! Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing In-Person & Online Dances & Lessons Meet cool & sophisticated new friends! Meals on Wheels, Elderday are Essential Resources in Critical Time for Older Adult Wellness A recent report by Kaiser Family Foundation Health News highlighted new alarming new data that the rate of older Californians dying of malnutrition has drastically accelerated since 2018. According to the report, deaths attributed to malnutrition more than doubled, from about 650 in 2018 to roughly 1,400 in 2022, according to pre- liminary death certificate data from the California Department of Public Health. The same trend occurred nationwide, with malnutrition deaths more than doubling, from about 9,300 deaths in 2018 to roughly 20,500 in 2022, according to the U.S. Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention. Being homebound, low-income, and not having reliable access to healthy food greatly increases the likelihood that a person 65 and older is not eating enough or practicing poor eating habits that lead to nutri- tional deficiencies. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the lockdowns that accompanied the global event exacerbated this issue, but malnutrition deaths continued to climb even as lockdowns waned in 2022. This report underscores the incredible valuable Community Bridges' older adult programs such as Meals on Wheels for By Community Bridges Santa Cruz County and Elderday Adult Day Health Care provide. Malnutrition is prevent- able and these are vital resources for families and older adults strug- gling with this issue. Through Meals on Wheels, Community Bridges provide nu- tritious meals to the region's older adults at our congregate dining sites in Watsonville and Santa Cruz and through home delivery across Santa Cruz County. Our home-delivered meals also now include a breakfast option, allowing us to double the nutritional value we can offer the more than 500 older adults that we provide home-delivered meals to. And we believe the program offers more than just a meal. Our dedi- cated team of volunteer drivers provides a weekly wellness check for our participants, many of whom are homebound and isolated from their friends and family. Through Elderday, we provide high-quality day services for adults with complex medical condi- tions. But our program is so much more than health care. Through our planned daily activities— like music, yoga, art and woodworking—we ensure Elderday is a fun, active and supportive commu- nity in which we put our participants' health and wellness at the forefront. Soon, we'll be opening our new Elderday location in downtown Watsonville which will expand our ability to serve some of the most vulnerable mem- bers of our community. The statistics included in the KFF Health News report are alarming, but the local resources stand at the ready to address the growing need among older adults. For more informa- tion about Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County and to apply for home-delivered meals, visit communitybridges. org/mealsonwheels. For more information about Elderday Adult Day Health Care, visit communitybridges.org/ elderday. Schedule a tour of our Santa Cruz facility by calling 831-458-3481. Contributed photo 3 fun and effective outdoor exercises for seniors The benefits of spending time in the great outdoors are significant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spending time outdoors may improve mental health and help to reduce stress, and the vitamin D the body absorbs while outside can have a posi- tive effect on blood cells and the immune system. Seniors can benefit from the great outdoors as much as anyone. Vita- min D helps the body absorb calcium, which strengthens bones. That's especially beneficial for seniors, as the National Council on Aging notes that bone density often decreases after age 50, which can increase the risk of fractures. That's especially so in women over the age of 50, as a 2021 report from Amgen, Inc., indicated women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density within five to seven years of menopause. Spending time in the great outdoors also provides a social benefit, encouraging individuals from all walks of life, in- cluding seniors, to get out of their homes and spend time with other people. With so much to gain from spending time outside, seniors can con- sider these three outdoor exercises as they seek to maintain or improve their overall health. 1. Walking: Walking is free and effective. In fact, WebMD notes that a brisk 30-minute walk can improve blood flow, con- tribute to a stronger heart, strengthen bones, and even help people sleep better at night. In addition, a 2022 study published in the journal JAMA by Metro Create Neurology found that people between the ages of 40 and 79 who walked about 9,800 steps per day were 51 percent less likely to develop dementia than people who didn't walk much at all. 2. Cycling: Riding a bike is both fun and a great form of outdoor exercise. Though many studies re- garding the health effects of cycling have looked at the value of riding a bike to work, a scenario that does not apply to retirees, the results of such studies still offer insight into just how valuable it can be to ride a bike. For example, a 2020 study published in the journal The Lancet found that people who cycled to work were 24 percent less likely to die of heart disease and 11 percent less likely to develop cancer. Seniors, whether they are still working or retired, can incorporate cycling into their daily routines and enjoy all the fun and health benefits that riding a bike provides. 3. Hiking: Hiking is a bit more strenuous than walking, particularly when individuals choose to traverse steep and/or rocky terrain. WebMD notes that hiking after age 60 can help people reduce their risk of falls and fractures; lower their risk for a host of ailments, including coronary heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes; reduce blood pressure, even in adults who have already been diagnosed with hyperten- sion; and maintain healthy bones and joints. Hiking is not a one-size-fits-all activity, so seniors, espe- cially those who would characterize themselves as novice hikers, are urged to speak with their physi- cians prior to hiking trails that are not flat. Seniors can consider these three fun activi- ties and others as they answer the call of the great outdoors. Walking, cycling and hiking offer a great reason to get out of the house and reap the health-related benefits of spending time outside.