Director's Message
February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour?February can often feel like the darkest month of the year. It is not the time of the shortest day, but it is often cold and dreary with too much bad weather that keeps us confined to home. Those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder are clearly feeling the lack of light. It is a time when many feel isolated and lonely. Many people stay in when the weather could be treacherous, fearing (with reason) slipping and falling on poorly maintained sidewalks and parking lots, or auto accidents that can be threatening to one’s long-term independence. We can’t wait for warmer, sunnier weather.
During these dark months, it is important to get out when you can. Recent research shows that just 15 minutes in the sunlight will give you the Vitamin D you need. It also helps combat the feeling of being confined. Take the dog for a walk or make a date with a friend to walk around the block.
Fighting the instinct to just hibernate, PSRC is offering a full array of programs through the winter. We have truly become the adult community center for Princeton. Coming into the Suzanne Patterson Building is a great way to combat the feeling of isolation. During the months that Evergreen Forum classes are not meeting, we have space for other programs such as the opera videos and special lectures. Enroll now to take an Evergreen class in March! Bring a sandwich and share conversation before a class.
Do you have an hour a week that you could give to help someone else? Many of us know people who can’t easily get out of their homes, even in good weather. The PSRC HomeFriends Program matches adult volunteers with people who need a little help to maintain their independence. HomeFriends do grocery shopping, help with mail, share a passion for opera or science lectures, or other tasks that help a person who has mobility or vision problems, no longer drives or needs other assistance. Imagine how much it helps when you stop at the drug store to pick up a prescription because your friend no longer drives. Your hour-long visit over a cup of tea or the Scrabble board flies by and brings a breath of fresh air as you share news of families, talk about community issues or discuss the book you brought last week. Many of us do this for friends and family, but there are many people in the community who do not have family nearby, and other family caregivers who welcome your visit so they can do their own errand. The HomeFriends program is seeking new volunteers and people who would like a visitor. Please call Susan Friedman at 252-2362 to find out more.
I know that my in-laws could not have stayed in their home as long as they did without the support of neighbors, church, and paid caregivers as well as family. It was reassuring to know that there were eyes watching when we were not there. My mother-in-law lived for the visits and conversations. Many of you have followed my journey as a family caregiver. Both in-laws passed away in 2011, peacefully surrounded by family in my sister-in-law’s home. I learned a lot while traversing this road, much of which I have been able to pass along to other family caregivers and apply as my own parents need more attention. The family conflicts have been intense and painful. The siblings got together at the family home during the holidays for the first time without the parents and began the work of rebuilding relationships that have been strained. The challenges do not end with death, as they still have to make decisions about final resting place and find ways to co-own the cottage amicably. Meanwhile, my attention is pulled back to the other side of the sandwich generation: college applications are due this week!
Susan W. Hoskins, LCSW, Executive Director
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Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |