Skilled Nursing Facilities Skilled Nursing Facilities (like Marshall Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center), also called nursing homes, provide a wide range of health and personal care services. Their services focus on medical care and typically include skilled nursing care, 24-hour supervision, meals and snacks, and assistance with everyday activities. Rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, are also available. Some people stay at a nursing home for a short time after being in the hospital due to an accident, illness, or surgery. Upon receiving inpatient therapy services and routine nursing care, they recover and return home. However, the majority of Skilled Nursing Facility residents live there permanently because they have ongoing physical or mental conditions that require constant care and supervision. If you need to go to a Skilled Nursing Facility after a hospital stay, the hospital Social Services or Case Management staff can help you find one that will provide the kind of care that's best for you. If you are currently at home and seeking placement in a Skilled Nursing Facility for yourself or a loved one, ask your primary care physician for their recommendations. It is always a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor making it known to them that you are considering long-term placement and care in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Once you know what choices you have, it's a good idea to: Consider. What is important to you—nursing care, meals, physical therapy, a religious/ethnic/cultural connection, hospice care, or special memory care / secure units for dementia patients? Do you want a place close to family and friends so they can easily visit? Ask. Talk with friends, relatives, social workers, and religious groups to find out what places they suggest. Check with healthcare providers about which nursing homes they feel provide good care. Call. Get in touch with each place on your list. Ask questions about how many people live there and what it costs. Find out about waiting lists. Visit. Make plans to meet with the admissions and nursing director. (At Marshall Manor, you can come by any time Monday thru Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm without an appointment to take a tour of the facility or talk with someone in the admissions office about your specific care needs and questions.) Talk. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Write them down prior to making a phone call or visiting a facility. Be sure to bring them with you so you won’t forget what you want to inquire about. Write down the answers! Understand. Once you select a nursing home, carefully read the contract. Ask questions about anything you don't understand. Ask to see the latest survey results or current inspection report and certification of any nursing home you are considering. SOURCE: https://www.nia.nih.gov/ #LongTermCare

"Just think about what you want to say…and then say it!” The quote above is one of the earliest in my memory from my dad. He used to tell my brother, sister, and me this all the time while we were growing up in North East Birmingham. If there is anything etched in my memory from my childhood, it would have to be the sights and sounds we encountered while hanging out with my dad in his downstairs office on Friday evenings. We could stay up late (10:00pm was late) because there was no school the next day. Plus, the thought of mom’s blueberry pancakes and sizzling bacon being the fragrance in the house we would wake up to the following morning only made the evening a gleeful anticipation of what Saturday would bring. Those Friday nights were rich! I can see their value more now than I ever could have hoped to then. More often than not we would be ambushed by a small microphone being shoved in our face while dad asked us what we thought about a variety of subjects. Of course, as six and seven-year-old kids, we would fumble and fidget while trying to produce a response to his inquiry. Knowing that our words were being “chronicled forever” on dad’s fancy new cassette recorder didn’t help the process. But I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. Dad taught us to verbalize what we felt about certain things. When we were older, we didn’t shy away from a microphone being put in front of us. I remember the feeling – which I cannot put in words – of knowing that my dad actually cared about what we thought. He wanted to hear what we had to say and this would be the reality even up to his final days here. I will always cherish my dad asking me questions – not because he didn’t have an answer – but simply because he wanted to know my answer. I absolutely love that about him. Whether we know it or not, there are those in our lives who care about what we think about things. What "things?" EVERYTHING! Recently, my daughter and son-in-law encouraged me to start blogging. They even went to the trouble to set up my blog on blogspot.com. Trust me, I do not draw the masses! Only a few people read it but it is a way I can journal my thoughts and also archive or chronicle them so that they will be there for my daughter and my grandchildren (when they exist) for years to come. A journal is one of the best means for leaving our loved ones something of ourselves. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is our heart; that part of us that is inspired and seeks to inspire. Journaling not only gives something to family and friends but is a catalyst for our own mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. We all know that the journey of growth is an arduous, life-long task, and different for every person. Most of the time, we don’t even have control over exactly what is needed to cultivate our lives. Still, when we take the time to share our experience, wisdom, advice, and even our opinions then we can perpetually create teachable moments. All these gifts only act to maximize the preservation of what we hope to teach and pass along to those who are closest to us. So say it loud! Keep a journal of sorts, whether it’s an audio journal (don’t have to use cassettes like my dad did in the 70’s…they actually have digital Mp3 recorders now), blog, or diary. Make a habit of putting into words what you are praying about or scripting through the things you are learning. Be honest about what troubles you. By placing these experiences into a journal, you are not only passing them on but giving them time to really become a part of your thought process. Give your words a chance to soak in and journal through the times you are angry, hurt, happy, and confused. Your time in reflection and writing will go a long way to inspire, encourage, and affirm others for years to come. #SayITLoud

Today is Falls Prevention Day! It marks the beginning of National Falls Prevention Week. One would suppose that their home is the safest place on earth but the majority of falls take place in the home. The odds of falling each year after age 65 are about one in three. You're more likely to fall as you get older because of physical changes, medical circumstances, and the actual effects of the medications you take for treatment of your medical conditions. It is true that a fall can change everything drastically and quickly. However, you don’t have to let the fear of falling rule your life! You can take relatively easy and proactive steps as a response to falls prevention. Often, these steps alleviate the overall potential for fall incidents in your home. Of course, we can always do things to make our environment safer, but there are no perfect environments! That’s why the best thing we can do towards falls prevention is to be aware of trip hazards that are always around us. Keep alert whenever you’re walking and even as you stand or sit. Knowing that a fall can happen at any time is not a cause for fear or anxiety but a basic reality for everyone. Here are some basic falls prevention measures: 1. Begin your fall prevention plan by making an appointment with your doctor. You and your doctor can take a comprehensive look at your environment, your health, and your medications to identify situations when you're vulnerable to falls. 2. Keep moving! Don’t avoid exercise just because you're afraid it will more likely cause a fall. Ask your doctor! He or she may recommend carefully monitored exercise programs or give you a referral to a physical therapist who can devise a custom exercise program aimed at improving your balance, muscle strength, and gait. 3. Wear sensible shoes. High heels, floppy slippers, and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble, and fall. To avoid dizziness, use a long shoehorn that helps you slip your shoes on without bending over. 4. Ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist that can help you devise ways to prevent falls in your home. Some solutions are easily installed and relatively inexpensive. Others may require professional help and more of an investment. If you plan on staying in your home, an investment in safety and fall prevention now may make that possible. 5. Finally, just a quick glance around the house for trip hazards goes a long way in falls prevention. Throw rugs, poor lighting, misplaced furniture or other hindrances to the natural flow of movement, even things hanging from the ceiling cause falls and can also be easily removed, remedied, or replaced. You might even consider asking friends and family to advise you on these matters because they are looking with fresh and unbiased eyes at your environment. Take their advice! #HealthyAging

Therapeutic activities are essential for seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to help them maintain a sense of self worth and dignity. Therapists often work with others within the facility to develop a comprehensive plan of care that suits the needs of each resident. According to the 2010-11 edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” certain activities can help recover basic motor skills, cognitive abilities, and confidence as well as reduce anxiety and depression. One of the goals of the therapist within a skilled nursing facility is to help their patients become as independent as possible and maintain quality of life. Daily Living: For senior patients to maintain dignity and confidence, they need to continue or relearn as many of their daily activities as possible. This includes bathing, brushing their teeth, grooming, cooking, and whatever else they did in their younger years. Even if the patient doesn’t regain 100 percent independence, the ability to do anything for themselves will add to their quality of life. Reality Orientation: Patients in the long-term care environment often lose touch with reality and the world around them. Therefore, a lot of activities are designed to remind the patient of the season, day of the week and time of day. Methods may include calendars stationed in frequently visited areas, clocks that are easy to read, seasonal and holiday decorations, and opportunities to stay abreast of current events. Exercise: A well-rounded program for senior patients includes a regular physical-fitness program. According to HelpGuide.org, exercise is good for staying strong and managing many of the symptoms of aging. The plan of care considers each patient’s physical condition. Ambulatory patients can walk, dance and do light calisthenics. Patients in wheelchairs can exercise by tossing beach balls, waving scarves and doing arm exercises. Cultural Activities: Cultural activities enhance the daily lives of residents by bringing back some of what they were interested in as younger people. Music therapy has been shown to soothe agitated patients. These activities include opportunities to play instruments, sing and listen to favorite songs for the best results. Other cultural activities may include art, crafts, pet therapy and variety shows. Seasonal activities such as fall carnivals, spring festivals and summer picnics and also religious services and celebrations help to round out the program. Source: LIVESTRONG.COM #LIVESTRONGCOM #LongTermCare #HealthyAging #OccupationalTherapy

As always, the most astounding stories are the ones that are true. We’ve all heard, “the truth is stranger than fiction.” But more than that, the truth is more amazing and incredible than fiction! The truth can even be more terrible than fiction. We realize this whenever we take the time to consider the bravery, sacrifice, and service of our veterans. In honor of all veterans, I want to dedicate this particular blog to the unbelievable story of one, Private Desmond Doss. His service and experience in WWII has recently come to life in the movie, Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson. PEOPLE.COM gives this account of Private Doss’ courage and sacrifice and the movie that tells the epic story of his heroism: Private Desmond Doss walked into the bloodiest battle of World War II’s Pacific theater with nothing to protect himself save for his Bible and his faith in God. A devout Seventh Day Adventist and conscientious objector, Doss had enlisted as a medic and refused to carry a rifle. The fighting took place on the hellish Maeda Escarpment in April 1945. The battlefield, located on top of a sheer 400-foot cliff, was fortified with a deadly network of Japanese machine gun nests and booby traps. The escarpment, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge for the treacherously steep cliff, was key to winning the battle of Okinawa. The mission was thought to be near-impossible, and when Doss’s battalion was ordered to retreat, the medic refused to leave his fallen comrades behind. Facing heavy machine gun and artillery fire, Doss repeatedly ran alone into the kill zone, carrying wounded soldiers to the edge of the cliff and singlehandedly lowering them down to safety. Each time he saved a man’s life, Doss prayed out loud, “Lord, please help me get one more.” By the end of the night he had rescued an estimated 75 men. (The always modest Doss reckoned he saved about 50, but his fellow soldiers gauged it closer to 100. They decided to split the difference.) Doss’s faith and courage were forged growing up in Lynchburg, Va., the middle child of William Doss, a carpenter and WWI veteran, and Bertha Doss, a homemaker. His father, played by Hugo Weaving in the movie, suffered from alcoholism and depression relating to the PTSD he suffered in the war. In the movie, a young Doss wrestles a gun out of his father’s hand during a fight between his parents. The scene draws on a real event in Doss’s life, in which a fight between his father and uncle made him swear off guns. Doss hoped that by joining the army as a medic, he could avoid carrying a weapon. He viewed himself not as a conscientious objector, but a conscientious cooperator, his fellow infantrymen and superiors did not see it that way. When he arrived for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., he quickly became an outcast from the rest of the recruits. His slight stature and shyness did not improve the situation, and many soldiers believed he would be a major liability in battle. As shown in the film, Doss was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and endured several attempts by his superiors to have him discharged from the military. President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor on October 12, 1945. He was the first conscientious objector to receive the honor. He spent the first five years after the war recovering from his injuries, and ultimately lost a lung to tuberculosis. His injuries prevented him from working full time, and he devoted the rest of his life to working with his church. Doss never lived to see his story on the big screen. He died in March, 2006 at his home in Piedmont, Alabama. He was buried at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While he spent much of his later life retelling the incredible events of that night, he was always reluctant to trust Hollywood with his story. Doss’s only child, Desmond Jr., says, “The reason he declined is that none of them adhered to his one requirement: that it be accurate. And I find it remarkable, the level of accuracy in adhering to the principal of the story in this movie.” http://people.com/movies/the-true-story-of-hacksaw-ridge-and-desmond-doss-the-medal-of-honor-winner-who-never-fired-a-shot/ #America #LoveOurVeterans #peoplecom

April is Occupational Therapy Month! The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to ensure individual autonomy in regards to the routine activities of daily living. These are the things most of us take for granted, like bathing, dressing, eating and cooking. The Occupational Therapist’s main objective is to confirm functional independence for their patients while preserving their highest degree of dignity. As we age, it is important that we continue to maintain an adequate level of independence and our ability to perform activities of daily living on our own. Occupational therapy exercises for seniors focus on activities that allow you to maintain and even increase your range of motion and upper body strength. According to the British Association of Occupational Therapists and College of Occupational Therapists, specific activities focus on helping you overcome physical, mental or social problems as a result of disability or aging. As always, consult your primary care physician or occupational therapist before performing any exercise regimen. Here are some basic Occupational Therapy exercises: Relaxation Exercises: Occupational Therapists often receive referrals from doctors and other health care professionals to treat seniors suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. They may teach relaxation methods to help alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety related to certain physical and mental conditions. Specific relaxation methods may include guided visualization or deep breathing. Deep breathing exercises are easy to perform and can help to reduce stress and tension. To perform a deep breathing exercise, sit on a comfortable chair and close your eyes. Place your hand on your stomach and concentrate on your breath, trying to allow the thoughts to flow out of your mind. Take a deep inhale, pause, and then exhale slowly. Practice this method of breathing whenever you feel tense or anxious. Range-of-Motion Exercises: This is often helpful for seniors suffering from conditions such as arthritis or other forms of joint and muscle pain. There are various range-of-motion exercises that may help, depending on the origin of your symptoms. An easy seated exercise that you can perform to increase your range of motion in your legs is the leg extension. Sit in a chair with your hands by your sides and your feet flat on the floor. Slowly extend one leg out in front of you, hold for a few seconds, then repeat on the opposite leg. Memory Exercises: Memory issues tend to be a common problem for seniors. Occupational Therapists may use a variety of techniques and memory games to help improve your ability to remember certain things, such as your daily routine or how to perform certain activities. Read, do crossword puzzles or specific arts and crafts projects to help with memory issues. You can find many types of memory exercises online and in specific memory enhancement books for seniors. Source: LIVESTRONG.COM #OccupationalTherapy #LIVESTRONGCOM #HealthyAging

Exercise does not have to be a difficult or burdensome part of your day! The notion that good health can come in small tidbits is not really new. Research has found that adding just 30 minutes of walking per day is enough to prevent weight gain and encourage moderate weight loss. And if 30 minutes is still too big a bite…three brisk 10-minute walks per day are as effective as a daily 30 minute walk in decreasing risk factors for heart disease. Just the act of going from sedentary to moderately active gives you the greatest reduction in your risks. So, take time to be active even if it’s in small doses. Here are a few more quick tips to promote lasting fitness: 1. Do a squat every time you pick something up. Instead of bending over in the usual way, which stresses the lower back, bend your knees and squat. This forces you to use your leg muscles and will build strength. 2. Whenever you're standing in a line, lift one foot a half-inch off the ground. The extra stress on your opposite foot, ankle, calf and thigh, plus your buttocks, will help firm and tone muscles. Just switch feet every few minutes. 3. Work out without going to the gym! If exercise sounds like a dirty word to you, here's some good news: You can boost your heart health by incorporating any physical activity into your day. Every kind of cardiovascular activity counts – gardening, dancing, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Even housework can qualify as exercise as long as you're doing serious cleaning that slightly elevates your heart rate. So, remember, it’s never too late to begin exercising and, if you are already active, keep up the good work! We encourage you to talk to your doctor about the type and amount of exercise activity that is right for you and your health. #Fun2BFit

Monday, January 15th, was Martin Luther King Jr. or MLK Day here in America. A federal holiday, it is also a day for religious services, community outreach to the less fortunate, and taking a hard look back and hopefully forward on race relations in our country. The holiday is officially celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. However, this year’s celebration was especially unique because it actually fell on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 and served as a minister in the Baptist church. He is greater known as a civil rights activist who began making a significant impact on race relations in the mid-1950s and eventually became a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement at its height in the 1960s. It’s only fitting that MLK Day would evolve into a day of service. A day when all Americans are encouraged to volunteer to help their neighbor and give of themselves to abate suffering on every level. Being an inspired man himself, Martin Luther King Jr. is an inspiration to all of us. The passionate cadence of both his voice and his feet can still be heard, if we take the time remember. The truth is always relevant and timeless. No one loved America more than Martin Luther King Jr. You can hear it in every speech he ever gave as well as every sermon he ever preached. It is the purpose for every march he organized. His heart was one of love for his people and his country. His life was postured in such a way to see the country he loved be all it could be for everyone – no matter the color of their skin or what nationality they were. There is always talk of “The American Dream” and what it actually IS or means. Whatever our definition may be, I want to suggest that Martin Luther King Jr. gave us one great American Dream to live up to and live out. "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." It just so happened to be his own Dream! If, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," then we can believe that his was a dream not just for America, but for the entire world. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed on the balcony of a motel fifty years ago on April 4, 1968. Still, his message and legacy remain. Some things cannot be killed. In honor of his life and memory, I want to share a few of his most famous quotes with you. Articulated not too long ago with an unparalleled grace and boldness, I will certainly add no comment but simply let them fall as they will on your heart and mind here in 2018. Again, the truth is always relevant and timeless… "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. The time is always right to do what is right. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." #TimelessTruth #ATrueAmericanDream

My dad passed away from terminal cancer in January, 2015. Without a doubt, it was a very hard time for my brother, sister, and me. It was especially difficult for my mom, who cared for my dad from the moment he was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in his blood. The news came just after their 50th wedding anniversary and only two years into his retirement. He underwent treatment, but it was only sufficient enough to purchase him about a year of relatively good quality of life. It did nothing to abate the cancer that was catastrophic in nature from the start. Although the illness may have taken my dad’s health, it never took his spirit. In fact, throughout the entire disease process, all the ups and downs, dad never lost his love for life and the craving to live life to its fullest. Along with that spunk (that he maintained till the end) was his choices and the resolve to make sure that we as a family knew exactly what his wishes were regarding his care and treatment in the event that he could no longer make these desires known. In short, my dad’s confidence became our confidence. In those times when we were faced with deciding exactly what course to take, my dad had already filled in the blanks and the only thing left for us to do was carry it out. His advance directives were a true gift of assurance and peace because we could carry out his choices instead of our own. Advance Directives aren't just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it's important for all adults to have advance directives. These legal documents are also known as Health Care Directives, Living Wills, Advance Healthcare Directives, or Medical Directives. Advance Directives describe preferences regarding your medical wishes in the event you are incapacitated or cannot consent to your health care treatment. Keep in mind that a Living Will (which is a type of Advance Directive) is different from a Last Will and Testament. If you are unable to express your health care wishes in the future, then hospitals and/or family will reference your Living Will as a statement of your medical wishes. However, a Last Will and Testament is a document used to indicate how you would like your assets divided or children cared for after your death. You cannot specify medical treatment preferences with a Last Will and Testament. Without an advance directive, the burden of making your medical decisions falls on your family members. A personal advance directive gives you control of your medical wishes and saves your family from making tough treatment choices on your behalf. Also, appointing a Medical Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy allows you to discuss your treatment wishes with someone you trust prior to any unforeseen medical circumstance so they can make health care decisions in your best interest. Keep in mind that health care providers will only be allowed to carry out certain procedures according to your state's laws. Here are some of the main treatment choices specific to advance directives: Life Support - any life-sustaining procedures done to a patient to restore function to an organ through medical intervention. Common forms of life support include CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), defibrillators, assisted breathing, dialysis, and artificially administered food and water. Comfort Care - healthcare professionals will use any means possible to relieve your pain, including administering medication or creating a comfortable environment for you to rest. Quality of Life - refers to what you may want in extreme health situations and what constitutes a quality life for you. There are a host of other directions that you can make known through advance directives that bring clarity to both you and your loved ones. The good news is: forms make it simple! You can find a number of advance directive forms online which can be downloaded and personally filled out in the privacy of your own home. These forms are not difficult, they are just extremely detailed. Talk to your attorney or a local elder law attorney today to find out the specific requirements in Alabama for creating your own personal advance directives. Or you can come by our facility any time and we’ll be glad to sit down with you and explain the simple, yet thorough process. Give your loved ones the advanced gift of your directions. Trust me, your confidence will be their confidence as well as a source of peace and assurance! #AdvanceDirectives

This blog is dedicated to the true meaning of Christmas. I wanted to share the story of Barrington Bunny by Martin Bell. It's from a book of short stories entitled, The Way of the Wolf, and was written back in 1968. Always loved and cherished since I first read it back in the late 1980's, I have shared it with countless people over the years. It still brings tears to my eyes but has always had a unique effect on my heart. I hope it resonates with you as well! Barrington Bunny Once upon a time in a large forest there lived a very furry bunny. He had one lop ear, a tiny black nose, and unusually shiny eyes. His name was Barrington. Barrington was not really a very handsome bunny. He was brown and speckled and his ears didn’t stand up right. But he could hop, and he was, as I have said, very furry. In a way, winter is fun for bunnies. After all, it gives them an opportunity to hop in the snow and then turn around to see where they have hopped. So, in a way, winter was fun for Barrington. But in another way winter made Barrington sad. For, you see, winter marked the time when all of the animal families got together in their cozy homes to celebrate Christmas. He could hop, and he was very furry. But as far as Barrington knew, he was the only bunny in the forest. Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. Barrington made tracks in the fresh snow. Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. Then he cocked his head and looked back at the wonderful designs he had made. “Bunnies,” he thought to himself,“can hop. And they are very warm, too, because of how furry they are.” (But Barrington didn’t really know whether or not this was true of all bunnies, since he had never met another bunny.) When it got too dark to see the tracks he was making, Barrington made up his mind to go home. On his way, however, he passed a large oak tree. High in the branches there was a great deal of excited chattering going on. Barrington looked up. It was the squirrel family! What a marvelous time they seemed to be having. “Hello, up there,” called Barrington. “Hello, down there,” came the reply. “Having a Christmas party?” asked Barrington. “Oh, yes!” answered the squirrels. “It’s Christmas Eve. Everybody is having a Christmas party!” “May I come to your party?” said Barrington softly. “Are you a squirrel?” ”No.” “What are you, then?” ”A bunny.” ”A bunny?” ”Yes.” ”Well, how can you come to the party if you’re a bunny? Bunnies can’t climb trees.” “That’s true,” said Barrington thoughtfully. “But I can hop and I’m very furry and warm.” “We’re sorry,” called the squirrels. “We don’t know anything about hopping and being furry, but we do know that in order to come to our house you have to be able to climb trees.” “Oh, well,” said Barrington. “Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas,” chattered the squirrels. And the unfortunate bunny hopped off toward his tiny house. It was beginning to snow when Barrington reached the river. Near the riverbank was a wonderfully constructed house of sticks and mud. Inside there was singing. “It’s the beavers,” thought Barrington. “Maybe they will let me come to their party.” And so he knocked on the door. "Who’s out there?” called a voice. “Barrington Bunny,” he replied. There was a long pause and then a shiny beaver head broke the water. “Hello, Barrington,” said the beaver. “May I come to your Christmas party?” asked Barrington. The beaver thought for a while and then he said, “I suppose so. Do you know how to swim?” ”No,” said Barrington, “but I can hop and I am very furry and warm.” ”Sorry,” said the beaver. “I don’t know anything about hopping and being furry, but I do know that in order to come to our house you have to be able to swim.”……”Oh, well,” Barrington muttered, his eyes filling with tears. “I suppose that’s true-Merry Christmas.” ”Merry Christmas,” called the beaver. And he disappeared beneath the surface of the water. Even being as furry as he was, Barrington was beginning to get cold. And the snow was falling so hard that his tiny, bunny eyes could scarcely see what was ahead of him. He was almost home, however, when he heard the excited squeaking of field mice beneath the ground. “It’s a party,” thought Barrington. And suddenly he blurted out through his tears, “Hello, field mice. This is Barrington Bunny. May I come to your party?” But the wind was howling so loudly and Barrington was sobbing so much that no one heard him. When there was no response at all, Barrington just sat down in the snow and began to cry with all his might. “Bunnies,” he thought, “aren’t any good to anyone. What good is it to be furry and to be able to hop if you don’t have any family on Christmas Eve?” Barrington cried and cried. When he stopped crying he began to bite on his bunny’s foot, but he did not move from where he was sitting in the snow. Suddenly, Barrington was aware that he was not alone. He looked up and strained his shiny eyes to see who was there. To his surprise he saw a great silver wolf. The wolf was large and strong and his eyes flashed fire. He was the most beautiful animal Barrington had ever seen. For a long time the wolf didn’t say anything at all. He just stood there and looked at Barrington, with those terrible eyes. Then slowly and deliberately the wolf spoke. “Barrington,” he asked in a gentle voice, “why are you sitting in the snow?” “Because it’s Christmas Eve,” said Barrington, “and I don’t have any family, and bunnies aren’t good to anyone.” “Bunnies are, too, good,” said the wolf. “Bunnies can hop and they are very warm.” “What good is that?” Barrington sniffed. “It is very good indeed,” the wolf went on, “because it is a gift that bunnies are given, a free gift with no strings attached. And every gift that is given to anyone is given for a reason. Someday you will see why it is good to hop and be warm and furry.” “But it’s Christmas,” moaned Barrington, “and I’m all alone. I don’t have any family at all.” “Of course you do,” replied the great silver wolf. “All of the animals in the forest are your family.” And then the wolf disappeared. He simply wasn’t there. Barrington had only blinked his eyes, and when he looked- the wolf was gone. “All of the animals in the forest are my family,” thought Barrington. “It’s good to be a bunny. Bunnies can hop. That’s a gift.” And then he said it again. “A gift. A free gift.” On into the night Barrington worked. First he found the best stick that he could. (And that was difficult because of the snow.) Then hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. To beaver’s house. He left the stick just outside the door. With a note on it that read: “Here is a good stick for your house. It is a gift. A free gift. No strings attached. Signed, a member of your family.” “It is a good thing that I can hop,” he thought, “because the snow is very deep.” Then Barrington dug and dug. Soon he had gathered together enough dead leaves and grass to make the squirrels’ nest warmer. Hop. Hop. Hipppity-hop. He laid the grass and leaves just under the large oak tree and attached this message: “A gift. A free gift. From a member of your family.” It was late when Barrington finally started home. And what made things worse was that he knew a blizzard was beginning. Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. Soon poor Barrington was lost. The wind howled furiously, and it was very, very cold. “It certainly is cold,” he said out loud. “It’s a good thing I’m so furry. But if I don’t find my way home pretty soon even I might freeze!” Squeak. Squeak…..and then he saw it-a baby field mouse lost in the snow. And the little mouse was crying. “Hello, little mouse,” Barrington called. “Don’t cry. I’ll be right there.” Hippity-hop, and Barrington was beside the tiny mouse. “I’m lost,” sobbed the little fellow. “I’ll never find my way home, and I know I’m going to freeze.” “You won’t freeze,” said Barrington. “I’m a bunny and bunnies are very furry and warm. You stay right where you are and I’ll cover you up.” Barrington lay on top of the little mouse and hugged him tight. The tiny fellow felt himself surrounded by warm fur. He cried for a while but soon, snug and warm, he fell asleep. Barrington had only two thoughts that long, cold night. First he thought, “It’s good to be a bunny. Bunnies are very furry and warm.” And then, when he felt the heart of the tiny mouse beneath him beating regularly, he thought, “All of the animals in the forest are my family.” Next morning, the field mice found their little boy, asleep in the snow, warm and snug beneath the furry carcass of a dead bunny. Their relief and excitement was so great that they didn’t even think to question where the bunny had come from. And as for the beavers and the squirrels, they still wonder which member of their family left the little gifts for them that Christmas Eve. After the field mice had left, Barrington’s frozen body simply lay in the snow. There was no sound except that of the howling wind. And no one anywhere in the forest noticed the great silver wolf who came to stand beside that brown, lop-eared carcass. But the wolf did come. And he stood there. Without moving or saying a word. All Christmas Day. Until it was night. And then he disappeared into the forest. “The Way of the Wolf” Martin Bell (1968) #MerryChristmas #TheWAYoftheWOLF

According to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Academic Health System Research Group in New England, cultivating your relationships is among the top five tips for healthy aging. They state that 28% of older adults live alone and that living alone is the strongest risk factor for loneliness. As a result, their research has found that common life changes in older adulthood such as retirement, health issues, or the loss of a spouse may lead to social isolation. Part of healthy aging is to put forth an effort to cultivate your relationships. Posturing ourselves to grow in relationship with others is always a challenging task and will require a lot of things from us. Yet, it is a healthy investment of our time and our self which yields many rewards. For instance, wouldn’t it be a pleasant surprise to get mail from your grandchildren!? Well, if they are in their teenage years, they might be so busy with friends that they just can’t find the time. Surely you haven’t forgotten when you were a teenager! Send them a box of stationary with postage stamps already on the envelopes. Include your name and address on the envelopes if you want. This will encourage them to write you more often. Remember to tell them how much it means to you to receive notes from them! I’d bet they would enjoy receiving mail from YOU, too! If it is a chore for you to write long letters, then get some small note cards. There are many beautiful or funny ones to choose from. It really is much easier to stay in contact with friends by writing just a quick note to let them know you are thinking of them and maybe even inviting them to come for a visit! How long has it been since you phoned your friends? How wonderful it is to hear their voice, and for them to hear yours! You know, it takes just a minute to dial their number. You could even set up one day a week, every other week, once a month - to make your calls. There is no doubt that you will feel better after your conversation. Remember, if you’re calling long-distance on a land line, you might want to set a timer by the phone to avoid an expensive bill at the end of the month. Most cell phone plans offer free long-distance calling with unlimited minutes; others allow you to pre-purchase your minutes. Cultivating may mean simply maintaining. Maintain communication with your family and friends, especially after a significant loss or life change. Schedule regular times to meet with friends and family – over coffee, during a weekly shared meal, or around a common interest. Reach out to others who might be isolated or feel lonely. Rediscover a mission in your life! Knowing you can make a difference in your life by changing someone else's life is what healthy aging is all about! #HealthyAging

George Burns (who lived to be 100) used to say, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!" Yes, some individuals are blessed with good genes, and no matter how many unhealthy lifestyle habits they have, they're going to live a long life. But for the rest of us who might be concerned with quality of life, exercise is one of the main keys especially as we age. For many reasons, as we get older there is a tendency to feel under arrest when it comes to physical activity. Truth is, whatever your age, exercise can help. Muscle mass decreases as we age. Beginning in the fourth decade of life, adults lose 3%-5% of muscle mass per decade, and the decline increases to 1%-2% per year after age 50. Our muscles not only keep us strong and fit but they also burn calories which helps us maintain our weight. Muscle mass also contributes to overall balance and bone strength. Without it, we can lose our independence and our mobility. Is it ever too late to start? Research has proven it's not. The benefits of exercising are substantial to everyone no matter how old you may be. The good news is that muscle mass can increase at any age in response to exercise and you always have the right to remain active! We encourage you to talk to your doctor about the type and amount of exercise activity that is right for you and your health. #Fun2BFit