Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: Why You Should Take Sleep Seriously

'A well spent day brings happy sleep' -- Leonardo da Vinci

  According to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, most adults need at least 8 hours of sleep per night in order to function at full capacity during the day. But research from the Centers for Disease Control shows that a third of U.S. adults get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. And a whopping 38 percent of adults surveyed reported falling asleep unintentionally during the day within the past month. The group surveyed by the CDC was mostly younger, working adults. Sleep deprivation affects seniors even more than it does younger adults. Untreated medical conditions and chronic aches and pains play a disruptive role in the senior sleep cycle. Other lifestyle factors such as use of electronics, smoking, alcohol and …

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5 Things: Reaching Out to Lexington's Veterans

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 16 in Lexington.

1. Reaching Out to Lexington's Veterans with Ryan Lennon: Youville Place's Exploartions of the Heart Series continues at 7 p.m. this evening, featuring Lexington Veterans Agent Ryan Lennon. A third-generation soldier who served as a paratrooper in Iraq, Lennon is leveraging that experience in his job, which entails reaching out to veterans of all ages. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, the only public meeting posted for today is the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission at 7 p.m. at Cary Hall. 3. Kids Eat Free at Qdoba! Every Tuesday after 2 p.m., Qdoba Mexican Grill in Lexington offers up to two free kids meals with the purchase an adult entree. 4. Like Us on Facebook: For even more information and engagement, like …

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5 Things: Town Meeting, Exercise for Successful Aging

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 8 in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting Reconvenes Tonight: At 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall. 2. Exercise for Successful Aging at Youville Place: At 2 p.m. this afternoon at Youville Place Assisted Living Residence, you can learn from Pat Agostino, physical therapist and co-owner of Peoplefit, how exercise can transform your body and mind. 3. Other Pubic Meetings: According to the town website, other public meetings posted for today include the School Committee at 6:30 p.m. at Cary Hall, the Board of Selectmen at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Appropriation Committee at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Lexington Council for the Arts at 7 p.m. at Cary Library and the Minuteman School Committee at 7 p.m. at Minuteman High. 4. Like Us on Facebook: …

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: How All Seniors Can Benefit from Volunteering

For seniors who are still active and independent, community service can help maintain social connections after retirement.

In an article posted here last May, we discussed the health benefits of volunteering. This April, in honor of National Volunteer Month, we take another look at ways that all seniors – even those with physical or cognitive impairment – can benefit from offering a helping hand to others.  For seniors who are still active and independent, community service can help maintain social connections after retirement. Studies have confirmed that volunteers over the age of 65 have healthier hearts and a lower mortality rate than non-volunteers in the same age range. Additionally, these volunteers suffer less from depression. The Corporation for National and Community Service found that seniors benefit more from volunteering than any other group. …

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Five Things: 'Women of Courage' and a Stylin' Survivors Fashion Show

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on March 28 in Lexington.

1. Stylin' Survivors Fashion Show Fundraiser: At 6 p.m. tonight at the Knights of Columbus in Lexington, local Pan Mass Challenge team Savanna's Smiles will host a fashion show fundraiser featuring cancer survivors as models. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Conservation Commission at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Office Building, the Board of Assessors at 8:30 a.m. at Cary Hall, the LABBB Collaborative at 9 a.m. at the LPS offices on Maple Street, the Hanscom Area Towns Committee at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord Town House and the Housing Partnership Board at 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall. 3. "Women of Courage" Lecture: At 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, Youville Place will host a lecture on "…

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Five Things: An Interesting Field and Garden Club Program and More

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on March 13 in Lexington.

1. Lexington Field & Garden Club's March Meeting & Program with William Cullina: The Lexington Field and Garden Club's march meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. this morning at the National Heritage Museum and the featured speaker will be William Cullina, executive director of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. His program, "Sugar, Sex, & Poison: Shocking Plant Secrets Caught on Camera," promises to be both entertaining and educational. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Capital Expenditures Committee at 8 a.m. at Cary Hall, the Lexington Housing Authority at 6 p.m. at One Countryside Village, the Energy Conservation Committee at 6 p.m. at the DPW Building, the…

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: How Seniors Benefit from Social Media

On Keeping in touch, and how seniors can benefit from the use of social media.

  Last year, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was chatting with a group of seniors in the conference room at the Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Queens. Well, strictly speaking, not everybody involved was “in” the conference room.  A few participants, peering in from a large screen, were able to join the conversation from their bedrooms and watch from their own computers as the mayor spoke.  “We all think that technology is just for the young people,” said Bloomberg at the time. “That’s not true. Seniors have a need and they look for ways to solve their problems, and technology in many cases is the answer.”   For those watching from their personal computers, the statement rang true. They were participating in the conversation …

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Five Things: The Rose Man Cometh, Youville and LexFUN! Get Multi-Generational

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Feb. 13 in Lexington.

1. Lexington Field & Garden Club Meeting & Program: The Rose Man: The Field and Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. this morning at the National Heritage Museum and its featured speaker will be Irwin Ehrenreich, owner of The Rose Man, a rose care service on Cape Cod. His presentation will focus on the basics of rose care throughout the year and will include a slide show of his own rose gardens as well as those of some of his clients. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Lexington Housing Authority at 6 p.m. at 1 Countryside Village, the Energy Conservation Committee at 6 p.m. at the DPW Building, the fifth Budget Summit at 7 p.m. at the DPW Building, the Town Celebrations …

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Notes from Youville: Seniors and Romance

As we live healthier, longer lives, we enjoy by extension healthier, longer love lives. And that means new trends in romance, like more unmarried seniors living together as couples and more seniors exploring online dating.

  Last fall, near the end of two performances at Youville House and Youville Place, professional storyteller Norah Dooley asked residents to recount their first kiss. At both performances, the room filled with giggles as people approached the microphone to share their memories. One resident recalled kissing his wife while under water. When Dooley remarked, “I’ve never done that. How is it?” the man simply replied, “You ought to try it!” Memory always seems to perk up when recalling the key moments from our earliest romances. But what if Dooley had also asked residents to recount their most recent kiss? Would the room have filled with as many giggles and stories? Just as we have distinct memories of our earliest feelings of affection, we …

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Five Things: Transportation Options for Seniors, Meetings and More

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Jan. 14 in Lexington.

1. Transportation Options for Seniors in Lexington: At 2 p.m. today at Youville Place and the Human Services Department staff are hosting an informative presentation describing the various types of transportation services available in Lexington for older adults. The new Lex-Connect taxi voucher program will be discussed and any and all transportation-related questions are welcome. RSVP: lisayarin@youvillehouse.org or call 781-761-1335. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Board of Selectmen at 7 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Lexington High School Council at 7 p.m. at the high school, the ad hoc Cary Memorial Building Program Committee at 7 p.m. at the Town Office …

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