Maybe it comes from having folks that lived off the land, but I have always had affection for dirt. I remember making mud pies in the backyard of my L.A. home. I was three and there was just something about getting my hands dirty that felt good. In case you were wondering, yes, I did try a bite or two. Even the taste didn’t turn me off to playing in the dirt. It makes me now ponder how children seem to know that dirt is associated with food. My connection to dirt didn’t stop with that good L.A. mud. I found another connection to dirt in the backwoods of Oklahoma. It was where my daddy grew up. The air smells different in Oklahoma. There’s a sweetness to it along with a humidity you canno

The transition into a care home can be traumatizing for elders especially if they suffer from dementia. It’s important to visit them often because it is a well-known fact that residents whose family checks up on them regularly receive better care than others. It’s also important to engage your loved one in conversation. It keeps their mind working. It is more difficult with dementia patients who become frustrated at not remembering the recent past. I suggest talking to them about things they do remember. I use this theme with the elders I visit in an Elk Grove assisted living home. We do this in a group setting where the residents can learn more about each other and engage in socialization

If you died today, what would you leave behind? For most of us, the first thing we think about is the material items that would remain. But perhaps the most important thing you could leave is the story of your life – your Legacy Letter. Wisdom is hard won and if you’ve lived very long, you’ve learned many lessons that have made your life better. What’s more remarkable is that remembering, talking and writing about those experiences can make you healthier and happier. Numerous studies have been conducted over the past 30 years on how reminiscence therapy alleviates depression, promotes understanding and encourages socialization. Remembering is a brain exercise that nearly everyone can par

Carmichael, Ca. – There’s no doubt that moving can be a difficult event for anyone, but for a senior those difficulties escalate. A move for seniors usually involves downsizing which means deciding what to do with possessions that have accumulated over many years. Physically, most seniors are unable to do the actual lifting and moving. Many feel emotionally traumatized by having to leave the place they’ve called home for decades and that is often compounded by the fear of letting strangers handle their treasured household goods. The good news for seniors in the greater Sacramento region is found in a moving company designed just for them – The Eskaton Moving Connection. More than just a

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FOUND IN EXERCISE By Karen Everett Watson Roseville, Ca. – How do you prevent falls, build stronger bones, stay socially connected and lose weight? According to Lynell Ross, nutrition and wellness coordinator for the Village Center at Eskaton Roseville, the answer is . . . exercise. “Exercise is the fountain of youth,” said Ross. “If I could bottle it, I would be a millionaire.” Ross emphasized that exercise is the key to fall prevention which is the number one cause of fatal injuries to seniors. “If you have strong muscles you can catch yourself before you fall,” said Ross. “Exercise improves balance and creates flexibility. These are very important as we age.” Mill

California State Indian Museum presented the 32nd annual Gathering of Honored Elders. It is devoted to honoring the elders who keep the traditions, stories, languages, and cultures of Native California alive for the generations that follow them. Honoring the Elders through dance and song were: Aztec Dancers (Sacramento), Pomo Dancers, Miwok Dancers (Ione), Maidu Dancers (Auburn), Me-Wuk Dancers of Tuolumne, Huatanape (Shingle Springs), Grindstone Dancers (Elk Creek) Coastal Pomo Dancers (Talmadge).  They were very colorful and authenticate. Photos | Kati Garner