Laughter is the Best Medicine! Laugh! It feels good and it helps those around us feel good, a little less stressed and a little less overwhelmed. Laughing is good for the body and the mind. How entertaining and comical it can be to watch dogs and cats chase their tails or play with each other or their favorite toy. Do you remember the last comedy you watched on TV or at the movies? Did you laugh so hard there were tears in your eyes? I love it when that happens because I really like to laugh. Finding something to laugh about every day helps us experience that day in a better way. Laughing and finding humor in a situation can help us see the positive things in that situation. How many times have we heard the phrase an apple a day keeps the doctor away? It means eating healthy will help keep us healthy. We hear and read about eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and exercise. What about laughing? Will laughing make us healthy or help keep us healthy? According to some psychologists, laughter can be very therapeutic and healing. Laughter can help reduce emotional pain, stress, anxiety and tension. What happens when these conditions are reduced or eliminated? Our bodies feel better, our brains feel better and our hearts feel better. Inside this issue: Client Spotlight 2 Provider Spotlight 2 Staff Spotlight 3 Eugene Picnic 3 Health Action Tip 4 Recipe 4 Helpful Info 5 Raffle 5 Psychologist William James says We don t laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh. Several studies have been done in the fields of cardiology and psychology on how laughter affects our physical and mental health. What do others have to say? Woody Allen: I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. Milton Berle: Laughter is an instant vacation! Arnold Glasow: Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects. Be healthy! Eat, sleep, exercise and laugh!
NEWSLETTER Client Spotlight Andy Perkins has been a client of Full Access since 2008. Andy lives in a home in Pleasant Hill out in the country and considers himself an outdoorsman. He splits his own firewood, loves to hunt, fish, camp, mine for gold and be in the mountains. Andy participated in the Sheriff s Search and Rescue department and did a short stint with the US Forest Service. Andy owns and drives a truck that he uses for work and to get around the community. Andy was working at an Army Surplus store in Glenwood but is now employed as a customer service representative at Tannerite Sports Outlet with support from a local vocational agency. Andy is an avid firearms enthusiast and is always happy to discuss shooting and all aspects of the sport. He is a loyal supporter of our veterans and the NRA (just check out the bumper stickers on his truck). Andy is likeable, a good friend and has a tough guy mentality. Andy s philosophy is Everyone should be prepared for the worst case scenario. In October, Andy is going to do some elk hunting above McKenzie Bridge ranger station. You can take one elk or deer per season. If you don t know what Andy looks like, you won t see many pictures of him. He s not a fan of photographs and doesn t like to have his taken. I guess I m a little paranoid, he said. Provider Spotlight Marilyn Goddard is the mother of one of our clients in Bend, and the provider for a few others. She has been a provider since 2008 when she was researching the options for her son. She was in a conversation with a PA, learning about what the providers do, and she declared That sounds like something I would be good at. Well, sign up. was the reply, and sign up she did. Marilyn is a passionate woman whose interests and focus begin with her family. She enjoys traveling and exploring Oregon with her husband, reading, golf, church involvement, and expressing her artistic side. She does not have enough time to do art as much as she would like and said it may have to wait till she retires. (If you know her, you just laughed out loud because she will never slow down enough to retire.) We wanted to highlight Marilyn because of her tireless work with the Central Oregon Self Advocates group. She is passionate about supporting the voices of people who are often not heard, or have a hard time communicating how they feel about things. She is proud of a recent grant they received and how they are working to educate the community about pedestrian safety. They have purchased a video camera and are working to have PSAs on the local radio and TV stations. She loves addressing issues that are close to the heart of the members. Marilyn is a great advocate, parent and friend to the community of Central Oregon. We are better off for having her energy and kindness here. PAGE 2
Staff Spotlight VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9 Judy Williams joined Full Access in April of this year when she accepted the position of Personal Agent for Lake County. Her background in social work began in high school, when at age 16, she went to work as crisis intake for individuals with mental health issues and developmental disabilities at the Mendocino County State Mental Hospital. She explored the archives downstairs and discovered that 50 years prior there were no mental health diagnoses in the records; all residents were referred to as criminally insane. After high school she went to work doing intakes for the California Welfare Department at the time they were transitioning from food boxes to food stamps. There were no computers yet, so everything was tracked on paper. She married and had a family, 3 boys and 1 girl, and for the next 15 years was self-employed. She converted an old motel to a Board and Care where she cared for 15 elderly residents. After an auto accident that left her with injuries requiring 3 years to fully recover, she worked part time as a bookkeeper for a grocery store. She moved to Klamath Falls and went to work at a group home for people with developmental disabilities She was impacted by the lives people had lived and became more motivated to help individuals live as productively and with as many choices as possible. She has worked for a variety of agencies as her husband s line of work has led them to many different locations. She finds great satisfaction when she can assist an individual in reaching his or her goals, whatever they may be. In her spare time she enjoys reading biographies and novels about people s lives. Horseback riding has always been a favorite passion and she spent many years riding with her children in the mountains of Northern California. Now, when not working, Judy enjoys communicating with many of her teenage grandchildren in the land of Techies. Eugene September 4th, 2:00 to 4:30 pm At Emerald Park 1400 Lake Drive, Eugene Call us by September 2nd to reserve your spot at the picnic. Ask for Cindy or Cathy at 541-284-5070 PAGE 3
NEWSLETTER Health Action Tip We all know we need to watch what we eat and get some exercise to stay healthy, but there is more to it when it comes to our entire being. Below are a few ideas on staying emotionally healthy; part of heath24.com s 45 best health tips ever : Get what you give! Always giving and never taking? This is the short road to compassion fatigue. Give to yourself and receive from others, otherwise you ll get to a point where you have nothing left to give. And hey, if you can t receive from others, how can you expect them to receive from you? Mindful living. You've probably heard the old adage that life's too short to stuff a mushroom. But perhaps you should consider the opposite: that life's simply too short NOT to focus on the simple tasks. By slowing down and concentrating on basic things, you'll clear your mind of everything that worries you. Really concentrate on sensations and experiences again: observe the rough texture of a strawberry's skin as you touch it, and taste the sweet-sour juice as you bite into the fruit; when your partner strokes your hand, pay careful attention to the sensation on your skin and learn to really focus on simple tasks while doing them, whether it's watering plants or ironing your clothes. Laugh and cry. Having a good cry is reputed to be good for you. So is laughter, which has been shown to help heal bodies, as well as broken hearts. Studies in Japan indicate that laughter boosts the immune system and helps the body shake off allergic reactions. Strong people go for help. Ask for assistance. Gnashing your teeth in the dark will not get you extra brownie points. It is a sign of strength to ask for assistance and people will respect you for it. If there is a relationship problem, the one who refuses to go for help is usually the one with whom the problem lies to begin with. Recipe 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups flour Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 1 teaspoon baking soda I teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups regular oatmeal 1 cup raisins Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and add to creamed mixture; mix well. Stir in oatmeal and raisins. Mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Makes 4 dozen. Cool on wire rack and enjoy! PAGE 4
Protecting Our Vulnerabl e Citizens T hrough Gat ekeeping There is a program that helps at-risk seniors and persons with disabilities to live safely as well as be able to maintain their dignity and independence. It is called the Gatekeeper program. Gatekeepers are clerks, hairdressers, bank tellers, pharmacists, mail carriers, neighbors, and others. They can be the first line of defense against situations that are harmful but preventable. Gatekeepers are trained to recognize certain warning signals such as change in appearance or behavior, signs of confusion, and difficulty communicating. A gatekeeper can notice newspapers stacking up in the driveway, or mail not getting picked up. They can check in on a person to be sure they are OK and have resources available if necessary to get that person help. Most seniors and people with disabilities are healthy, active, and involved with their family and community. However, some are not so fortunate. If they become ill or unable to function independently, their needs can easily go unnoticed. Right now, there is a need to get more volunteer gatekeepers trained and available to help vulnerable adults living in communities around the state. Gatekeepers work in partnership with their local Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). When a trained gatekeeper notices a potential issue, they contact the ADRC. The ADRC then helps that senior or person with disabilities understand their options and connects them to programs and resources to help them get care and support. Training to become a gatekeeper is free and can be set up for local businesses and individuals by calling 1-855-ORE-ADRC. The Gatekeeper program can save lives and it does make a difference. It truly does take a village. Please spread the word about this great program. Raffle! Win a pair of Pedego Step-Thru Cruiser electric bikes! Kuat bike rack and bike locks are included as a bonus. Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25 and are available at our Bend and Eugene offices or on the Full Access web page: fullaccess.org VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9 Drawing will be held at the Full Access Open House on October 1st at 5:30 pm at our Bend office, 711 NE Butler Market Rd. You do not need to be present to win. All proceeds benefit the Beth Rixe Service Center, the home of Full Access in Bend, providing life changing support for adults with developmental disabilities in Central Oregon. PAGE 5 Bikes provided by: Let It Ride Electric Bicycles.
http://fullaccess.org Full Access 1240 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97401 Madras Prineville Bend Eugene Cottage Grove Return Service Requested Lakeview Lane County: 1240 Charnelton St Eugene, OR 97401 541-284-5070 Toll Free: 1-866-890-5743 SLeifeste@fullaccess.org 1450 Birch Ave Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-513-8548 VWellsHorner@fullaccess.org Deschutes County: 711 NE Butler Market Rd Bend, OR 97701 541-749-2158 Toll Free: 1-888-272-5065 HHSlechta@fullaccess.org Crook County: 417 N Main St Prineville, OR 97754 541-447-4485 SMoore@fullaccess.org Jefferson County: 212 SW 4th St, Ste 303 Madras, OR 97741 541-350-6675 SConroy@fullaccess.org Lake County: 100 N D St, Ste 8 Lakeview, OR 97630 541-417-0908 JWilliams@fullaccess.org LookMeInTheEye.org Happy Bir thday to!! Angel V Clark C Jason J Mark M Sally E Anita C Cody J Jenna O Matthew L Sara M Brenda D David F Jessica S Molly C Susan B Caleb W Derek S John G Natausha J Tina S Catherine C Dustin C Jonathon A Nicholas K Tony M Charity L Edward B Justin K Renee T Unico V Christina S Elizabeth K Kathleen I Robert R Vernon G Christopher F Houston H Layna S Ryan C And to anyone we may have missed!!