 Special days will always be marked on the calendar: New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Labor Day. Americans have many ways of celebrating all of the holidays, but a few have fallen by the wayside.
While Memorial Day is still considered the beginning of the camping and boating season, it once was celebrated in more sacred ways. Established after the Civil War as a way to remember fallen soldiers of that conflict, communities would come together to deck all of the veterans' graves with the beautiful flowers of early summer. There were even picnics in the cemeteries. Arbor Day is another nearly-forgotten holiday. It was established clear back in 1872, and because of a later proclamation by President Teddy Roosevelt, aimed at children, it became popular for school groups or Scouts to plant trees at the end of April. Maybe you were part of a group who did this as a child. On the first of May, May Day was often celebrated with handmade baskets filled with spring flowers, like violets, cornflowers and roses. The children who made and filled the baskets would creep silently to the front doors of their neighbors, hang a basket on the door, ring the bell and run away! Knowing that the gift was a secret added to the giver's pleasure. Birthday celebrations have come a long way, and maybe not all for the better. In the 1940s, a child might get a special cake, made by a relative, not a bakery, and after blowing out the candles, could also get playful (and non-painful) "spankings." A five-year-old could get "spanked" five times and then "one to grow on." How was your birthday celebrated when you were little? Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com
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 It might sound peculiar, but if you're lonely, you're not alone. Many people of all ages experience periods of feeling isolated, friendless, or even depressingly lonely. The years of the Covid-19 pandemic have forced many people to be isolated more often. Used to eating with a group, attending an exercise class, traveling with others, during these times people have needed to stay home and stay solitary. Aging also contributes to feelings of loneliness. Hearing loss or a decline in vision can make it much harder to visit with people, even when a person is able to join in group activities.
Can anything be done about being lonely? 1.Look hard for new acquaintances. If you can't get to the exercise room or religious service, talk to the person in the apartment next door, even if you've never really met. Look for someone who is eating alone and ask if you can join them. Invite an old friend over, someone you haven't seen for a long time. 2.Strengthen existing relationships. Families and friends sometimes fall out, or life just gets so busy that they can't get together as often as they used to. Send a note to that cousin, reminiscing about shared experiences. Phone the daughter-in-law from whom you've been estranged. An old friend might become a new friend, too. 3.Keep busy. Being alone doesn't mean you have to sit and feel sad. Volunteer if there is an opportunity, even for a one-time event. Check on your neighbors. Stir up those no-bake cookies and take them to someone who's recovering from a fall. Offer to play games with your great-nephew for an hour after school. 4.Adopt a pet. Not only will Spot provide companionship, you'll find that people who might be too shy to speak otherwise, will reach out to your pet, and then to you. What do you have to lose? Maybe your loneliness. Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com It seems that so many of the people who once entertained or informed us have passed away, along with the "good old days." But there are some wonderful celebrities who are not only still living, but who are living actively. The actress Eva Marie Saint, who was born in 1924, continues to keep busy. Best-remembered for playing opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront in 1954, she has won many awards, including one from the Academy. But even in her eighties she was appearing in movies and television, and recently she campaigned for Californians to stop texting while driving. In 2018, she was a presenter at the Academy Awards. And she still looks beautiful! Jimmy Carter, the former President of the United States, was also born in 1924. Since he left office, he has been continually involved in political and charitable projects, including Habitat for Humanity. He can still swing a hammer, and in 2002 he received a Nobel Peace Prize. Bob Barker, the former host of "The Price is Right" television game show, is 98 years old. He believes in physical exercise and healthy eating, and he actively supports humane treatment of animals. June Lockhart is another celebrity in her 90s. She achieved excellence in theater, movies and television, and is probably best remembered for playing mothers in the TV series, "Lassie" (1954) and "Lost in Space" (1965). But even in her nineties, she has acted in television and movies. These people, and others, like Norman Lear and Henry Kissinger, have never retired, but continue to be useful and interested in life well into their ninth decades. Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com According to The National Institute on Aging, more than one in three people age 65 years old older falls each year. Studies show that if a person falls once, they are even more likely to fall again. Taking a tumble is not just ungraceful or embarrassing, it can result in broken bones, head injuries, hospital stays or permanent disability. Falls are not inevitable, even with aging. Here are some ways to minimize the likelihood of falling.
Being independent is everyone's goal, and one way to keep this a reality is to avoid falls. Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com Life can hand us some amazing things, good and bad. Often, we feel that we're not in control of our own destiny, that others are making all the decisions for us. But one way we can decide something for ourselves is to improve our level of happiness. What are some ways to make yourself happier?
If you are feeling seriously sad, for no obvious reason, do consult a medical professional. "Just cheer up" is no help for clinical depression. But for the little ups and downs of daily life, we can do a lot to improve our happiness. Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com Whether you live in a senior living facility, a studio apartment, or your own home, there are ways you can turn the space into something that reflects your personality and makes you happy. Small spaces can be a challenge, especially if you are used to a larger home, but a little creativity goes a long way.
Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator, Residence 600 600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401 785-822-1300 residentservices.600@gmail.com Beneficial Services When You Choose Residence 600 | Best Senior Living Community in Salina!5/12/2022  These days, the talk is all about Facebook and other social media options. Looking at these sites can give news about the world, show pictures of a nephew's new baby, share a chuckle, or update information on someone's latest surgery. How did we learn things before Facebook?
The Newspaper. Even in the 1860s, American newspapers had social columns, reporting on visits, trips and parties. Correspondents from small communities might send a weekly letter into the city newspaper, with descriptions of someone's new baby or wedding party. Sometimes there were juicy details, too! The Round Robin. In past times, when people still wrote letters, put a stamp on them and dropped them into a mailbox, a family or group of friends might start a round-robin letter. The first writer would tell her news and send it to the next person, who would add what was happening in his life, and send it on to another one. In this way, a larger group could be informed of all the news. At the end of the line, the last person sent it back to the first, and the communicating started all over again. The Coffee Klatch or the Water Cooler. People in the past who worked at home (primarily women) had their coffee groups, and workers might gather around the water cooler during a break, all sharing news of their lives or work gossip. The Party Line. Starting in 1878, subscribers to telephone service could save money by sharing the line with other households. (During the world wars, all lines were "party lines.") By quietly listening on their home phone, people could eavesdrop on other conversations and learn things they might not otherwise be privy to. Times and technology change. People communicate in new and amazing ways in each generation, but, however it happens, the news gets around. Charlene Frazier Community Coordinator residentservices.600@gmail.com www.residence600.com 600 E. Elm Salina KS 67401 (785) 822-1300 |
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