Maximum Living April-May 2011

Local churchesLocal churchesOpen ArmsOpen Arms

Easy, inexpensiveEasy, inexpensiverecipes for cleanersrecipes for cleaners

How caregiversHow caregiverscan get helpcan get help

Husband’s pillowHusband’s pillowa pain in the necka pain in the neck

FIND OUT MOREABOUT COVER ARTISTANN CASHNER.INSIDE: PAGE 2.

April/May 2011FREE

Richmond photog-rapher Ann Cashnerloves capturing thecolor of nature.“I believe that I amnot the true artist, Godis,” she says. “He cre-ates the beauty of theworld for us to see; Ijust capture His cre-ation in a photographfor others to see.”On the back of allher framed photos andphoto cards she hasprinted this saying:“Have you not seenHim in the things Hehas made?”“I am continuallysurprised and in awe ofthe beauty that God haschosen to create in ourworld — just for us. Hedidn’t have to. It mighthave been easier forHim to create a worldin black and white.”

LIVINGMaximum April/May 2011

A WELLNESS & SPIRITUALITY MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

ON THECOVER

ABOUT THE ARTIST:ANN CASHNER

Cashner agrees with asong by the Rich Mullins,the famous late Christiansongwriter from WayneCounty, praising God forcreating the color green.“What could be morebeautiful then a springday in Indiana with greengrass, blue skies, whitepuffy clouds, red bud andmagnolia trees in bloom,deep purple crocus andbright yellow daffodils,all bathed in sunlight?That’s art!” Cashner says.She enjoys taking drivesaround Wayne Countylooking for beautifulwildlife, but she’s alsotaken her camera to Italy,Australia and Alaska.She says those interest-ed in photography don’thave to travel far to getgreat art. “Look aroundand see the beauty inyour own yard, in your

kids,” she said.Take lots of picturesand use your eye to sortout which ones are best,she says.Cashner grew up withan artistic perspective.Her dad, Ed Loar, was thearts supervisor for Rich-mond schools and she re-members having art sup-plies at home and goingto the art museum. Hersister is a painter, olderbrother is a woodworkerand younger brother is aShakespearean actor.Cashner’s enthusiasmfor photography begangrowing in 1997 when theschool where she taught,Garrison Elementary,was celebrating its 25thanniversary. She shareda photo of the school’scabin she had taken andheard many people say,“You really have an eye

for photography.”Some of Cashner’s earlyphotos gaining attentionwere taken on the wayto work or on field tripswith her classroom. She’shad about 10 picturesin Country Magazineand a couple in Birds inBloom. She also gainedconfidence after win-ning ribbons on eight of13 photos she entered ina local contest about 10years ago. Cashner hasalso won honors at theRichmond Art Museum’sannual exhibition featur-ing local artists.Her art is on display at

Knollenberg Art Center,807 E. Main St., Rich-mond. Hours are 11 a.m.-5p.m. Thursdays throughSaturdays. New artistsare sought for the gallery.Call (765) 935-4547 formore information.

2 | Maximum Living April/May 2011

On thecover, aswallowtailbutterflylands on aflower. Atleft, tulipsoffer color.Ann Cash-ner hastaken digi-tal photosfor severalyears andsees detailson thecomputerscreenshe mightnot havenoticed onsmall prints.

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EDITORIAL: For comments about editorial content or suggestions for the next issue,contactMillicentMartin at (765) 973-4468.

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in this issue• Local churches Open Arms in new ways 4

•5 benefits of taking a vacation 8

•Child’s question leads to reflection 9

•What habits should be purged? 11

•6 quick tips for health 14

•Lighten up classic guacamole 15

•How can you make clean more green? 16

•Caregivers need help, too 19

• Events calendar 22

• Husband’s pillow is a pain in the neck 23

SHARE YOUR ADVICEIf you’d like to contribute quick tips or thoughts onhealth,

spirituality, savingmoney, caregiving or other topics of interest to localwomen, please send them in care ofMillicentMartin, MaximumLiving,1175N. A St., Richmond, IN 47374or [email protected] be considered for publication in future issues.

April/May 2011 Maximum Living | 3

Sharlene George has heard a lot of sad stories.Finding help and restoring hope are her specialities at Open Arms Minis-try.Open Arms, a clearinghouse for aid requests and also a referral and assis-tance agency, was conceived more than three years ago when several church-es began considering a single point of contact for residents in need.When the economy hit bottom in 2008, most Richmond churches wereoverwhelmed with calls for assistance, said pastoral minister Joshua Brownof West Richmond Friends and Open Arms corresponding secretary.The needs — a place to live, disconnected utilities with $2,000 bills— were beyond the ability of individual congregations to meet, said FatherRick Kautz of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Participating churches now referassistance requests to Open Arms, whose board was officially formed twoyears ago.“Since 2008, we’ve seen an increase in people in need and in the numbersof situational poor. Those are people who never needed help before but havebeen laid off, had medical bills and retirees whose incomes have been re-duced,” Kautz said.

LocalchurchesOpen Armsin new ways

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

By Pam Tharp

Organization becomes single contactpoint for residents in need, takes awayburden for each church to verify requests

Sharlene George, director of Open Arms Ministry, stands in her office on the campusof Richmond State Hospital. Photo by Joshua Smith


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The old, disjointed aid system also frustrated thosewho needed help, Brown said.“There were people who would literally work theirway through the phone book, calling all the churcheslooking for help and not finding it,” Brown said. “Itwas tremendously frustrating for people with needswho were turned down.”Open Arms’ clients undergo an intake interview andmust provide picture identification and a Social Secu-rity number, George said.A budgeting class is also part of the intake process,she said. Once their need for help is verified, Georgematches their problem with agencies who can help,she said.“We work with township trustees, Community Ac-tion for heating help and the Salvation Army,” Georgesaid. “The churches also collaborate with funds forproblems that don’t fall into other assistance pro-grams. We don’t do food because there are 14 pantriesin town.”Open Arms Ministry has access to a furniture ware-house to aid victims of fires or domestic abuse, peoplewho are starting over, George said.Richmond resident Lois Martin has her own “twomen and a truck” program to gather and distributefurniture, George said.“One of our greatest services is we give peoplea chance to be heard,” George said. “Someone is

Upcoming fundraiserOpen Arms Ministry will host a

fundraiser in May featuring a Span-ish theme, a Mexican menu, a silentauction and live entertainment. Theministry hopes to raise $3,000.The event will be from 5-8 p.m.

on Saturday, May 7, at Lingle Hall inReid Hospital. The meal will be ca-tered by Reid.“Friends of the Groom,” a Chris-

tian drama group from TerracePark, Ohio, will perform.Donations of items or services

for the silent auction are being ac-cepted.Seating is limited to 150 people.

Tickets are $30 each and availablefrom the 12 sponsoring churches or bycalling Father Rick Kautz at St. Paul’sEpiscopal Church, (765) 962-6988.


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How to contact Open ArmsThe office is located in Building 415

at Richmond State Hospital, Grove

Road and North West Second Street,

Richmond.

Office hours: Monday and Wednes-

day from 9 a.m. to noon

Phone: (765) 962-9100

Email: [email protected]

listening to their story.”Open Arms, now located in Building 415 at Rich-mond State Hospital, is open Mondays throughThursdays, and sees clients on Mondays andWednesdays. It receives an average of 150 phonecalls a month and has about 10 walk-in clients aweek, George said.Clients can only be helped financially once everysix months, but they’re welcome to come by foradvice and support. George is the only paid staffperson, and is assisted by John Bryant, who worksthrough the National Able Program, and unpaid in-terns from Bethany School of Religion.The verification process has shown the over-whelming majority of requests are legitimate,Brown said.“Churches live in dread of being defrauded.Open Arms has done a great deal to stop thefraud,” Brown said. “Only about one of seven re-quests is somebody trying to game the system. Sixof the seven really need help.”Pastors say the collaborative ministry has alsobeen good for the Richmond Christian community.“It pulls together churches who often don’t worktogether. We have liberal churches and evangelicalchurches,” Brown said.“It makes us stronger together. It’s good for thekingdom of God and the city of Richmond,” Kautzsaid.OAM will offer three classes this summer toprovide practical advice for those living in reducedcircumstances. Participants will share their strate-gies to help one another, George said.A cooking class, “Shoestring,” will work on low-cost meal planning so as one client said, “We don’thave to eat the shoestring.”“Lifeline” will throw out ideas for ways to stayafloat when there’s too much month left at the endof the money.

“Hope” will try to provide that commodity topeople who mostly have never needed any help be-fore and are angry at their situation, George said.“Eighty percent of the people we see are newlypoor or working poor who never needed help be-fore,” George said. “They are very angry to see noway out. To live with hope, to be content and happyand not grasping for how to get back to where theywere is important for them.”Like the clients they help, funding is often un-certain at Open Arms Ministry, which has relied onsupporting and affiliate churches and other non-profit group donations.The ministry is now a federally-recognized non-profit, which makes donations tax deductible andallows it to apply for other grants, George said.George admits she once worried whether she’dfind the funds to help all the people who walkedthrough her door, but she’s learned what many inhelping ministries have found: Help always comes.“The whole thing is an act of faith. I really don’tstew about it anymore,” George said. “We don’tevangelize the people we help, but at the end we al-ways ask if they’d like us to pray with them. So far,only one said ‘no.’”

Pam Tharp of Liberty writes for Maximum Living.

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Today’s families are very busy — too busy to takea vacation, some might believe. Add to that financialloss and living in uncertain economic times, and manyfamilies feel as though they simply can’t take a break.However, routines and rituals, like vacations, areimportant to the health and well-being of families.It’s healthy to take a break from thedaily demands of juggling work andhome.We should consider the benefits ofplay and family time together and per-haps redefine what vacation means.Here are five facts about the ben-efits of taking a break or vacation.

Vitamin D is freeVitamin D is essential for maintaining healthybones and keeping the immune systems and nervoussystem functioning normally. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin made by the body, in the skin, fromexposure to sunlight. While this essential nutrientis available as a supplement, spending some timeoutdoors each day (as little as five to 15 minutes) canprovide needed benefits. The best part: the sun isfree! Further, preliminary research suggests VitaminD can help prevent various forms of cancer, includingbreast, prostate and colon.

Play is not just for kidsTaking time to play has powerful benefits for chil-dren and adults. Play has been said to be the singlemost significant factor in determining our successand happiness. Play is just as important as sleep! Playinvolves anticipation, surprise and pleasure. Adultswho play can enjoy freedom from time, rules and re-sponsibilities, bringing balance to their busy lives.

Relationships are enrichedSpending time together enriches a marriage, whichstrengthens the family foundation. Through tradi-tions and rituals, such as vacations, any relationshipcan be enriched. Vacations and other traditions makememories and are the glue that binds us. Vacationscan provide an opportunity to talk with one another,learn new skills or discover new interests.

Children feel love, support and safetyChildren who witness their parents and grand-

parents having fun, laughing and enjoying life learnvaluable lessons about life. Spending time togetheras a family provides children with feelings of love,support and safety, which are key components forthriving in today’s uncertainties.

Vacation time shrinks stressVacations help shrink stress and anxiety while alsoboosting the mental and physical health of the entirefamily. We need a brain break, a detour from dead-lines and a timeout from technology! It takes effort tounplug from the ever-spinning world around us, butone’s mind, body and spirit will be renewed by re-plugging into the joys of quality time with family andfriends. Isn’t it time for you to take a break?

Susan Gillpatrick, M.Ed., LPC, CTS, is a crisis management specialistfor Centerstone, which has programs in Richmond. She may be reached [email protected]. Centerstone, a not-for-profit providerof community-based behavioral health care, provides a range of pro-grams and services for children, adolescents, adults, seniors and familiesliving with mental health or addiction disorders.

Take time for vacation:5 facts about breaks’ benefits

COLUMNBY SUSANGILLPATRICK


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Are youold?

COLUMNBY JUDYMARTIN-URBAN

Little boy’squestionsprompt

thoughtsabout

eternal life

“Are you old?” I looked down into theeyes of an adorable, little African-Ameri-can boy who had come into my clinic.My job that day was substitute nurse inan elementary school. He was there for hismedication.His eyes were taking me in like a histor-ic relic — perhaps similar to the dinosaurin his mind. I chuckled inwardly.“Well, yes, I am old.” Perhaps he hasn’tseen too many white women with grayhair. His next question took me by further


surprise.“Are you going todie?” His big eyeslooked so sincere.“Yes, I am going todie someday. Not todayI don’t think. But some-day we all grow old anddie. You will too.”“Can I touch your skin?”“Yes, you may. May Itouch yours?”We placed our handson top of one another,skin colors sharplycontrasting. I believehe especially wanted totouch the elevated veinsin my hand. They werecertainly different thanhis. We both smiled. Hehad nice white teeth andan even nicer smile.The next instant hewas bouncing around theroom telling me how hewas going to be on theColts team someday andwith that he continued tobounce out of the clinic.A few minutes later, ateacher walked throughthe clinic. She said, “Youwere the talk of the caf-eteria!”“The little boy?”“Yes. Your age andyour hair must havebeen an oddity to him.”She laughed too.

+++I must say that littleencounter stayed withme for a long time. Ilaughed again and againat the exchange andshared it often. I hopewe each gained some-thing, but his pertinentquestions lingered.Yes, little boy, I amold, but I’m not ancientas I might seem to you.I can remember at 11years old thinking my

33-year-old neighborwas old! Age doesn’tnecessarily bring wis-dom, but I like to thinkI’ve acquired some fromall these years. We’regiven three score and10 years (Psalms 90:10),if we’re fortunate, andmaybe more, if we’reeven more fortunate. Solet us make a mark andtake a stand on PlanetEarth. My mark will bedifferent than yours, butlet’s both commit to amark and a stand.Yes, little boy, I amgoing to die. In God’stime. Each of us is onebreath away from resur-rection. Man is destinedto die once and afterthat the judgment (He-brews 9:27). But, littleboy, my spirit and yourspirit will never die. Ourbodies only change formafter death. I’m lookingforward to the secondinstallment of my eter-nal life.Yes, little boy, you maytouch my hand. Please,oh please, take hold andnever let go. Just as ittakes a village to raisea child, it takes a com-munity of love to see usthrough this world.The season of Eas-ter and celebration ofMother’s Day provide usopportunity to talk withour children about life,death and growing old.

Judy Martin-Urbanof Muncie writes Chris-tian fiction and inspi-rational non-fiction.She can be reached [email protected] judeurbanski.blogstream.com.

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What habitsshould bepurged?

It’s easier to believein new possibilitiesduring springtime

As I write this, it’s the first day of spring.Spring always has seemed to me a better timefor resolutions than New Year’s. Or maybe it’s thatspring seems a better time to start a new year thanJanuary does.What kind of change happens in January?But March, now, and April — here is change!New things growing.Dormant things coming back to life. Peopleemerging from behind closed doors.The other day my neighbors set up their basket-ball goal and I heard the thump of ball on pavementwell into the evening.Fabulous.The warm air caresses our skin. The smell of dirttickles our noses.Don’t worry for now about allergies or whetherthe lawnmower will last another summer or evenabout spring cleaning.Stop for a moment and let the spring clean yoursoul.What really matters?What needs airing out?What requires polishing or a little repair?What could be passed along to someone else?What simply should be tossed into the trash?I’m not talking about stuff. I’m talking about hab-its. About ways of thinking and speaking and doing.I didn’t grow up in a church tradition that fo-cused much attention on Lent. Of course, welearned the stories of Jesus’ final days in SundaySchool. But I don’t remember any talk about givingthings up for the season.

COLUMNBY LOUISERONALD

I know someone who gives up beer for Lent.Year after year. I suppose the impulse stems froma desire to break the habit of drinking too muchbeer. As soon as Lent is over, though, this personpicks up a bottle to celebrate. Next time Lent rollsaround, the habit is strong as ever.Nothing necessarily wrong with that, I guess. Infact, I suppose it’s fairly typical.We make resolutions for New Year’s or Lent, de-termined to tackle our toughest habits. But — sim-ply because they are our toughest habits — theywill sneak back into our lives the moment we stopbeing diligent.So can we ever really change?I think so. I hope so. I have to believe so.And somehow, in spring it’s easier to believe.New life. Resurrection. Possibilities beyond theimagination.And forgiveness.Don’t forget to put forgiveness in your cleaningkit when you get ready to open the doors to yoursoul.It’s the spiritual equivalent of baking soda — pureand simple and works on everything.It just might be the key to real change.

Louise Ronald of Richmond is a copy editor for thePalladium-Item.



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Making smallchanges like thesecan have a bigimpact on yourwell-being.6

quicktips

Source: Pat Murrah, community benefit coordinatorfor Reid Hospital & Health Care Services

Fruits and veggies for your skinResearchers in Australia studied the diets of 70-year-

olds. They found those who followed a diet consisting ofmainly fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturatedfats had noticeably smoother skin than those who ate afat-and sugar-laden diet. It is thought the antioxidantsin these foods help protect the skin from environmentalstress and damage.

Pain relief without medicationsResearchers at Harbor UCLA

Medical Center found that just fourweeks of regular yoga sessionssignificantly reduced the frequencyand severity of chronic pain. Whilemore studies need to be conductedin this area, yoga might serve asa means of relief for sufferers ofchronic pain. Remember to alwayscheck with your health care pro-vider before starting an exerciseprogram.

Personalized clothing cautionThere is a risk involved in decorating your child’s or

grandchild’s T-shirt or sweatshirt with his or her name.Strangers can greet the child by name and appear to befriends. Be sure to teach children to treat strangers asstrangers even if they seem to know the child’s name.

Portion controlMeasuring portions is the most accurate way to con-

trol calories, but visualizing works in a pinch. Let the fol-lowing help you determine an accurate portion size:Deck of cards = 3 ounces cooked meat/fishTennis ball = 1/2 cupBaseball = 1 cup2 dominoes = 1 ounce cheeseCotton ball = 1 tablespoonCD case = 1 ounce bread

Think on your feetWhen you need to make a fast decision, be

sure to stand up. Research shows that decisionsare made 20 percent faster when standing. Theslowest decisions are made while lying down.It is thought that standing accelerates the heartrate, which stimulates the brain.Caution: A fast decision is not always the cor-

rect decision. Stand up to help your thought pro-cess, but don’t forget to weigh all options!

Walking safetyWalking outdoors is a great way to

enjoy the spring weather while gettingyour exercise at the same time. Take noteof the following safety rules to keep youroutdoor walks trouble-free and enjoyable.Always walk in the direction of on-

coming traffic and try to wear bright orreflective clothing. Drivers might notbe on the lookout for walkers, so makingyourself visible is crucial.Walk with a friend or training partner.

This not only increases your safety butprovides you with extra motivation andcompetition.Carry an ID and cell phone in case of

an emergency.Try to vary your routes and the time of

day that you walk. This will keep you saferand make your walks more interesting.Finally, leave the headphones and MP3

player at home. It’s important to be alertto your surroundings such as traffic, dogsor the sounds of other people around


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The Associated Press

Lighten up classic guacamolewith spring peas

The flesh of a ripe Hass avocado isso luxuriously buttery and creamy youknow from the first bite that it’s loadedwith fat.The great news is that it neverthe-less is good for you. The fat that’s in anavocado is mostly the healthier mono-unsaturated kind, similar to olive andnut oils. Avocados also contain loads ofhealthful nutrients and antioxidants. Andif all these nutritional bonuses weren’tenough, research has shown that addingavocado to a plain green salad helps yourbody absorb more of the nutrients fromthe other ingredients.Still, even good fats are high in calo-ries. So for this recipe we figured outa way to get all the benefits of avocadowhile cutting a bit of the fat.This bright green sweet pea and avo-cado guacamole is a spring-inspired ver-sion of the classic dip, and has a fresh,

Sweet pea and avocado guacamoleStart to finish: 10 minutesMakes about 2 1/2 cups (12 servings)2 cups frozen baby peas, thawed1 medium Hass avocado1 small red onion, finely chopped4-ounce can fire-roasted green chilies, drained1/4 cup lime juice2 garlic cloves, minced1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantroIn a food processor, combine the peas, avocado, onion, chil-

ies, lime juice, garlic, cumin and salt. Process until smooth,scraping down the sides of the processor bowl with a rubberspatula as needed. Add the cilantro and pulse until just blended.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number):

51 calories; 22 calories from fat (43 percent of total calories); 2 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g

trans fats);0 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 3 g fiber; 78 mg sodium.

crisp flavor that is brightened by plentyof fire-roasted chilies, lime juice andchopped fresh cilantro.The sweet baby peas lighten the gua-camole while adding impressive amountsof vitamins. Use this dip as you would atraditional guacamole.

Spring is here, whichmeans that spring clean-ing is on the to-do listof many people.But have you everstopped to think thatyour intense efforts atcleaning may have someeffects that are actuallyrather polluting?We strive for thecleanest countertops,bath tubs, sinks, floors,walls, carpet and floors.Some of those cleanersthat clean away the dirtand grime can leavebehind some rather dis-tasteful remnants.When cleaning yourhome and office, it iswise to choose clean-ers that are not quite sotoxic to your family’shealth and the environ-ment.Now, don’t get me

wrong, I also desirethe cleanest of clean.Lookingat a cleanbathroomreallygives onea senseof accom-plishmentknowingthat youhave everynook andcrannydisinfected. But the“clean” smell manytimes is the result ofchemicals that cancause adverse effects.When you use acleaning product, it hasthe potential to come incontact with your familyin many different ways.From the initial squirtor spray that distributes

the cleaner onto yourcloth or surface, clean-ers begin a journey thatdoes not end with thearea you are cleaning.There is residual lefton the surface that cantransfer to anything thattouches the surface, beit food on the counteror your skin in the bath-tub. The cleaner thengoes down the sink, tubor washing machine.Granted, smallamounts may seem neg-ligible, but imagine allthe “negligible” amountsfrom millions of house-holds hitting our waste-water treatment plants,groundwater, rivers andstreams. That becomesquite a significantamount of exposure.The same is trueof human exposure.

Imagine all the differ-ent chemicals you comeinto contact with eachday. If could easily limityour exposure in yourown home and officewhere you spend themajority of your time,you probably would.The key is using theappropriate cleanerfor the task. If you arecleaning up a simplespill, a chlorine bleachcleaner is probablyoverkill.Some of the house-hold products we buyfor general cleaninghave things in themthat are better left in achemical factory thanon our kitchen coun-ters where we preparefood or in our bathtubswhere we bathe ourchildren.

A recent workshop at the Clear Creek Food Co-Op, 710 E. Main St., Richmond, teaches participants how to mix non-toxic cleaners. Belowright, Carol Hunter mixes a non-toxic all purpose cleaning solution. Photos by Steve Koger; Picture of Stephanie Hays-Mussoni by Greg Pyle


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How can you makeHow can you makeclean moreclean more green?green?

COLUMN BYSTEPHANIEHAYS-MUSSONI

Be sure to read the labels to ensure youknow what is in the cleaner and how to proper-ly use it. Many cleaners actually tell the user torinse off a surface even after you wipe it downto remove residue.Instead, use a less harsh cleaner such asvinegar and water or one of the “green” clean-ers you can buy off the shelf. Look for the EPA“Design for the Environment” label. This labelis given to products that have met the stringentcriteria of the EPA’s Standard for Safer CleaningProducts. These criteria have listed the leastharmful chemicals used in formulating effectivecleaning products that can be chosen by com-panies. Look for products bearing this label inmost stores.There certainly can be a time and a placefor the tougher cleaners, but occasional use ismuch better than everyday use.

Homemade cleansersHere are some simple recipes for homemadecleaners that are effective and can save you alot of money and reduce the amount of plasticpackaging you are consuming as well.Vinegar is a multi-purpose miracle cleaner!I have used it for many things and know that itworks.My favorite use of vinegar besides the basics

Here are the “Dirty Dozen”of cleaning supplies: fromwww.ecollo.com/post/2008/09AmmoniaFound in products such as

window cleaners and floorcleaners. Ammonia can be badfor you because it can irritatethe eyes and the respiratorytract.PerchloreothyleneFound in carpet cleaner

solutionsIt can be bad for you if you

ingest or inhale it and cancause dizziness, nausea or fa-tigue. The U.S. Center for Dis-ease Control and Preventionsay it may also cause kidneyand liver damage.Dry ChlorineFound in dish-washing de-

tergentIt can be bad for you be-

cause when it is activated bywater the fumes can causeproblems with breathing andeye irritation.Petroleum distillatesFound in furniture polish,

paint thinner and other sol-vents.It can be bad for you be-

cause it can cause chemicalpneumonia, interfere with lungfunctions, skin irritation andsensitivity to light.Hydrochloric acidFound in drain cleaner, toi-

let bowl cleanerIt can severely damage skin

and eyes. It is also highly cor-rosive.FormaldehydeFound in scouring clean-

ers, floor polishes, rug andupholstery cleaners, toilet bowlcleanersIt can be bad for you be-

cause it can cause watery eyes,burning eyes or throat and dif-ficulty breathing if exposed tohigh levels. Wheezing, cough-ing, skin rash and severe al-lergic reactions can also occur.It is also a suspected humancarcinogen.Sodium hypochloriteFound in bleach, mildew

stain removers, toilet cleaner,cleaning sprays, scouringpowderIt can be bad for you be-

cause it can burn skin andcause eye damage. It is also apotential human carcinogen.

Sodium hydroxideFound in drain cleaner, oven

cleaner; also known as lye orcaustic sodaIt can be bad for you be-

cause even low levels canirritate the skin and the eyes.Concentrated levels can causeserious burns to the eyes, skinand gastrointestinal tract.XyleneFound in solvents, varnishIt can depress the central

nervous system and causesymptoms including head-aches, dizziness, nausea andvomiting. Skin may becomered, irritated or burn after con-tact, and eyes may be irritated.An extremely high concentra-tion could lead to unconscious-ness, respiratory failure anddeath, though such extremeoccurrences are rare.PhenolFound in phenol-based dis-

infectant cleanerIt can be bad for you be-

cause it can be corrosive tothe skin and irritating to theeyes and mucous membranes.Extreme cases of oral exposurecan cause muscle weaknessand tremors, paralysis, convul-sions and respiratory arrest.Diethylene glycol mono-

butyl etherFound in toilet bowl cleaner,

oven cleanerIt is suspected to adversely

affect the cardiovascular sys-tem, kidneys, nervous systemand reproductive systems.2-butoxyethanolFound in stain remover,

multi- or all-purpose cleaner,glass cleaner, bathroom clean-er, oven cleanerIt may cause reproductive

problems, such as fertility is-sues and birth defects. Highlevels of exposure can alsocause headaches, nose and eyeirritation, vomiting and a me-tallic taste in the mouth.

A “Design for the Envi-ronment” label is given toproducts that have met thestringent criteria of the EPA’sStandard for Safer Clean-ing Products. These criteriahave listed the least harmfulchemicals used in formulatingeffective cleaning products thatcan be chosen by companies.

TheDirtyDozenofHouseholdCleaningChemicals


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of cleaning glass and mirrors is to soak faucet partsor shower heads in vinegar for one to three hours.All the lime and hard-water buildup is easily re-moved. You may either use a cloth or a toothbrushto really get it all out of there.Window cleaner— use 1 part vinegar and 2parts water. Visit www.vinegartips.com for more vinegarcleaning tips.Scouring cleanser — combine 1/4 cup bakingsoda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add justenough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick butcreamy texture.Furniture polish - pine1/4 cup of olive oil2 tablespoons lemon juice20 drops of pine essential oilThis is a scented oil designed for hydrating olddry wood. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and applywith a cleaning cloth.Furniture polish - lemon1/4 cup of lemon juice1 teaspoon of olive oil10 drops of essential lemon oilThis recipe is for cleaning wood. Mix all ingredi-ents in a bowl and apply with a cleaning cloth.BathroomMold1 part Hydrogen peroxide (3%)2 parts waterMix in a spray bottle. Spray on moldy areas andleave for at least 1 hour before rinsing.

Stephanie Hays-Mussoni is executive director of CopeEnvironmental Center in Centerville. To learn more,visit www.copeenvironmental.org or call (765) 855-3188.


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wellness


Caregivers need help too

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter states,“There are four kinds of people in this world:those who have been caregivers, those who cur-rently are caregivers, those who will be caregiv-ers, and those who will need caregivers.”At some point, everyone will be affected by

caregiving issues. In Indiana. there are around600,000 family caregivers providing about 529million hours of caregiving per year. Caregiv-ing is usually for the elderly, but it also includesgrandparents raising grandchildren.In today’s society this role is often attained

with little time for preparation. Fortunately,there are several resources that are available tohelp. Unfortunately, many are floundering be-cause they are not aware of these resources.The value of unpaid care is stunning, but it

comes with high, often hidden costs. The im-pacts on health of family caregivers, even thoseinitially in good health, can be enormous.Informal caregivers are at risk for many differ-ent physical and mental health challenges, suchas stress, exhaustion, depression and chronicconditions such as heart disease.I’d like to point caregivers to some tips andtidbits that can help to ease their load in theirrole as well as some ideas that can make things alittle easier. These are so important because asstatistics show, the care receiver often outlaststhe caregiver simply because of the stress andstrain of this role and caregivers not understand-ing the importance of taking care of themselves.It is not selfish to take time for and to takemeasures to care for yourself! Know the commu-nity resources, know your limits, know when youneed a break and know that you need to take care

of you first to be able to care for another!

Take Responsibility for Your Own Care1. Identify Personal Barriers — often at-

titudes and beliefs form personal barriers thatstand in the way of caring for yourself. Not tak-ing care of yourself may be a lifelong pattern.Breaking old patterns and overcoming obstaclesis not an easy proposition, but can be done. Thefirst step is identifying what is in your way.• Do you feel you have to prove that you areworthy of the care recipient’s affection?• Do you think you are being selfish to putyour needs first?• Is it frightening to think of your own needs?What is the fear about?• Do you have trouble asking for what youneed? Do you feel inadequate if you ask forhelp? Why?2. Remove misconceptions that increase stressand get in the way of good self-care. Here aresome of the most commonly expressed:• I am responsible for my parent’s health.• If I don’t do it, on one else will.• If I do it right, I will get the love, affection,attention and respect I deserve.“I never do anything right,” or “There’s noway I could find the time to exercise” are exam-ples of negative self-talk, another possible bar-rier that can cause unnecessary anxiety. Instead,try positive statements: “I’m good at giving Johna bath.” “I can exercise for 15 minutes a day.”Ask yourself what might be getting in the wayof and keeping you from taking care of yourself.Once you’ve started to identify any personal bar-riers to good self-care, you can begin to changeyour behavior one step at a time.

By Georgia Wagner

Tools for Positive Self-CareReduce Your Personal Stress: How we perceiveand respond to an event is a significant factor inhow we adjust and cope with it. The stress youfeel is not only the result of your caregiving situa-tion but also the result of your perception of it —whether you see the glass as half-full or half-empty.It is important to remember that you are not alonein your experiences.Your level of stress is influenced by many fac-

tors, including the following:•Whether your caregiving is voluntary. If youfeel you had no choice in taking on the responsi-bilities, it is likely that you will experience greaterstrain, distress, and resentment.• Yours and the care recipient’s relationship.Sometimes people care for another hoping to heala relationship. If that doesn’t happen, you may feelregret and discouragement.• Your coping abilities. Past stress coping tech-niques predicts how you will cope now. Identifyyour current coping strengths and build on them.• The caregiving situation. Some caregiving situ-ations are more stressful than others. For example,caring for a person with dementia or Alzheimer’sis often more stressful than those with a physicallimitation.• Is there a good support system in place?

Asking For and Accepting HelpWhen people have asked if they can be of help toyou, how often have you replied, “Thank you, butI’m fine”?Many caregivers don’t know how to marshal thegoodwill of others and are reluctant to ask for help.You may not wish to “burden” others or admit thatyou can’t handle everything yourself.Be prepared with a mental list of ways that oth-ers could help you. For example, someone couldtake the person you care for on a 15-minute walk acouple of times a week. Your neighbor could pickup a few things for you at the grocery store. A rela-tive could fill out some insurance papers. Whenyou break down the jobs into very simple tasks, itis easier for people to help. And they do want tohelp. It is up to you to tell them how.Help can come from community resources, fam-ily, friends and professionals. Ask them. Don’t waituntil you are overwhelmed and exhausted or yourhealth fails. Reaching out for help when you need itis a sign of personal strength not a weakness.Suggestions on how to ask for help:• Consider the person’s special abilities and in-terests. If you know a friend enjoys cooking butdislikes driving, your chances of getting help im-

prove if you ask for help with meal preparation.• Resist asking the same person repeatedly. Doyou keep asking the same person because she hastrouble saying no?• Pick the best time to make a request. A personwho is tired and stressed might not be available tohelp out. Wait for a better time.• Prepare a list of things that need doing. The listmight include errands or a visit with your loved one.Let the “helper” choose what she would like to do.•Be prepared for hesitation or refusal. It can beupsetting for the caregiver when a person is unableor unwilling to help. But in the long run, it woulddo more harm to the relationship if the personhelps only because he doesn’t want to upset you.To the person who seems hesitant, simply say,“Why don’t you think about it?” Try not to takeit personally when a request is turned down. Theperson is turning down the task, not you. Try not tolet a refusal prevent you from asking for help again.The person who refused today might be happy tohelp at another time.• Avoid weakening your request. “It’s only athought, but would you consider staying withGrandma while I went to church?” This requestsounds like it’s not very important to you. Use “I”statements to make specific requests: “I would liketo go to church on Sunday. Would you stay withGrandma from 9 a.m. until noon?”

Talking to the PhysicianIn addition to taking on the household chores,

shopping, transportation and personal care, 37percent of caregivers also administer medications,injections and medical treatment to the person forwhom they care. Some 77 percent of those care-givers report the need to ask for advice about themedications and medical treatments. The personthey usually turn to is their physician.

Caring for the Caregiver workshopA community resource that is provided

by Purdue University Extension Servicein Wayne County is the annual Caring forthe Caregiver workshop. The 11th annualworkshop is April 21 at the Lamplight Innat the Leland, 900 S. A St., Richmond, andincludes exhibits, health screenings, lunch,demonstrations and Jazzercise. Preregistra-tion for the workshop is $7 and free respitecare is available by advance reservation.Contact the Wayne County Extension of-

fice at (765) 973-9281 or [email protected] for more details.

wellness



wellness

But while caregivers will discuss their lovedone’s care with the physician, caregivers seldomtalk about their own health, which is equally impor-tant. Building a partnership with a physician thataddresses the health needs of the care recipient andthe caregiver is crucial.The responsibility of this partnership ideally isshared between you the caregiver, the physician,and other health care staff. However, it will oftenfall to you to be assertive, using good communica-tion skills, to ensure that everyone’s needs are met— including your own.• Prepare questions ahead of time. Make a list ofyour most important concerns and problems. Is-sues you might want to discuss with the physicianare changes in symptoms, medications or generalhealth of the care recipient, your own comfort inyour caregiving situation or specific help you needto provide care.• Enlist the help of the nurse. Many caregivingquestions relate more to nursing than to medicine.In particular, the nurse can answer questions aboutvarious tests and examinations, preparing for surgi-cal procedures, providing personal care and manag-ing medications at home.•Make sure your appointment meets your needs.For example, the first appointment in the morn-

ing or after lunch and the last appointment in theday are the best times to reduce your waiting timeor accommodate numerous questions. When youschedule your appointment, be sure you conveyclearly the reasons for your visit so that enoughtime is allowed.• Call ahead. Before the appointment, check tosee if the doctor is on schedule. Remind the re-ceptionist of special needs when you arrive at theoffice.• Take someone with you. A companion can askquestions you feel uncomfortable asking and canhelp you remember what the doctor and nurse said.• Use assertive communication and “I” mes-sages. Enlist the medical care team as partners incare. Present what you need, what your concernsare and how the doctor and/or nurse can help. Usespecific, clear “I” statements like the following: “Ineed to know more about the diagnosis; I will feelbetter prepared for the future if I know what’s instore for me.” Or “I am feeling run down. I’d like tomake an appointment for myself and my husbandnext week.”

Georgia Wagner is consumer and family sciencesExtension educator for Wayne County’s Purdue Uni-versity Extension Service.

calendar


EVENTSAPRIL MAY JUNE

HEALTH

• ALS Association IndianaMonthly Support Group, 6:30p.m.-8 p.m., May 9, First English Lutheran

Church, 2727 E. Main St., Richmond. On

the second Monday each month, a meet-

ing is offered for those diagnosed with

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), their family,

friends and caregivers. Information:

www.alsaindiana.org

• How Healthy is Indiana’sWater? A focus on how nutrients affectwater quality, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., May 10,

Minnetrista Cultural Center, Muncie, Ind.

Join the Indiana Wildlife Federation and

local experts for a free workshop. Get

the tools you need to help revive healthy

streams through sustainable landscaping

and conservation practices. This event is

open to everyone. Visit www.indianawild-

life.org for more details and to register.

• Wayne County Relay forLife, 9 a.m. May 21-May 22, WayneCounty Fairgrounds, 861 Salisbury Road

N., Richmond. Info: (765) 969-1086.

• Randolph County Relayfor Life, 7 p.m. June 10-7 a.m. June11, Union City Community High School,

Union City, Ind. Info: (765) 455-9905.

• Meet and Eat,3:30 p.m. Tues-days, MCL Restaurant & Bakery, 3801

National Road E., Richmond. Organized

by Widowed Persons Service. Info:

(765)983-7307.

FAITH

• Labyrinth Walk, 4:30 p.m.-6p.m., April 23, Cope Environmental Center,

4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville. Laby-

rinth walking is a way to journey inward,

center ourselves in spirit and bring that

consciousness back with us into our

everyday world. Dave Wunker will lead

this walk on CEC trails, reading scripture

and poetry along the way. Appropriate

for ages 12 and older.

ARTS

• Friday Night Gospel Sing, 7p.m., April 22 and April 29, Go Ministries,

International, 5125 U.S. 40, New Paris,

Ohio. The public is welcome.

• Live bluegrass gospelmusic, 6 -8 p.m. first Tuesday eachmonth, William G. Scott House (formerly

Knights of Columbus Hall), 204 N. 10th

St., Richmond. Hosted by Mae Wagers.

Performers for these free shows will be:

May 3, Victory Echo’s; June 7, George and

Rowena Walker; July 5, Gospel Mountain

Bluegrass. Info: (765) 935-3476.

• Soul to Sole, 7:30 p.m., May6, Goddard Auditorium, Carpenter Hall,

Earlham College, 801 National Road W.,

Richmond. Featuring Earlham’s Gospel

Revelations Choir and Dance Alloy. Free

admission; no tickets required.

• Live gospel musicconcerts, First Baptist Church ofRichmond, 1601 S. A St., Richmond. Doors

open at 5:30 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15. Performers are: May 12,

Legacy Five; July 28, Ball Brothers; Oct.

13, Dove Brothers; Nov. 17, Ivan Parker.

Tickets and info: (765) 962-3074, ext. 10.

• Dallas Brass, 8 p.m., May 21,Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380

Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Featur-

ing a full complement of brass and per-

cussion. Adults, $28, students $20. Info:

(765) 973-3350 or www.civichall.com

• “Twentieth Century,“ 7:30p.m. May 13-14, 2 p.m. May 15, 7:30 p.m.

May 20-21, Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003

E. Main St., Richmond. Tickets: $15. The-

ater office: (765) 962-8011.

SENIORS

• Spring Fling pitch-in anddance, April 25, Richmond SeniorCommuniy Center, 1600 S. Second St.,

Richmond. 5:30 p.m. meal (bring a cov-

ered dish to share — drinks, table service

and meat are furnished). Cost is $5 per

person. Dance begins at 6:30 p.m.

• Preble County Senior Cen-ter Prom, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., April 30, TheGathering Place, 501 Nation Ave., Eaton,

Ohio. Music by 10-piece swing band

“One More Time” with music from the

1920s-1950s. Tickets are $5 and can be

purchased in advance or at the door.

Info: Sharon Smith, (937) 456-4947.

• Senior Day Celebration,9a.m.-2:30 p.m., May 13, Preble County

Senior Citizen Center, 800 E. St. Clair St.,

Eaton, Ohio. Free games, program, line

dancers, entertainment. Food available

for purchase.

FUNDRAISERS

• Friends of Morrisson-Reeves Library Book Sale, April27– 30, 80 N. Sixth St., Richmond. Hours:

10 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. April 27, 10 a.m.-6:30

p.m. April 28 (with new hour of shopping

for those with limited mobility, canes or

wheelchairs from 9 -10 a.m.); 10 a.m.-4:30

p.m. April 29 (half-price day); 10 a.m.-4:30

p.m. April 30, ($3 bag day). (765) 966-8291.

• Fiesta de Mayo, 5-8 p.m., May7, Reid Hospital & Health Care, 1100 Reid

Parkway, Richmond. Presented by Open

Arms Ministries, this fundraising dinner

and silent auction will be in Lingle Hall.

Special performance by Friends of the

Groom, a nationally acclaimed Christian

theater company. Advanced table seating

required. Tickets: $30 per person or a

table of 10 for $280. Also featured will

be raffle baskets plus a dinner. Info: Lois

Martin, (765) 962-2339.

• Jerry Lawrence MemorialGolf Tournament, June 25, HighlandLake Golf Course, 1972 Highland Road E.,

Richmond. Benefits Widowed Persons

Service and RHS’ Red Devil Pride. Info:

(765) 983-7307.

FITNESS

• Night Hikes, 8:30-10 p.m. April29, Hayes Regional Arboretum, 801Elks Road, Richmond; 8:30-10 p.m.May 13, Cope Environmental Center,4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville;8:30-10 p.m. June 24, HayesArboretum. $3 per person. Free forCEC or Arboretum members. Info:(765) 855-3188.

Find more events in the dailyPalladium-Item newspaper and inthe www.pal-item.com calendar.If your group would like to sub-mit an event to be consideredfor this calendar, please sendinformation to Millicent Martin [email protected] or 1175 N.A St., Richmond, IN 47374. Infor-mation should be submitted byMay 16 for the June/July issue.


Who knew you could cause turmoil in a marriage bysimply throwing your husband’s pillow in the trash?And here I thought I was doing the man a favor.The pillow was old, flat and had an indentation

the shape of his head that looked like a small moon crater.I had no idea he was attached to the pillow until I saw himsprinting down the street after the trash truck.The husband is easygoing about many things, which in partaccounts for the longevity of our marriage, but it turns out heis not easygoing about his pillow.I suppose this is not unusual. You see people in airportstoting little neck pillows under their arms and hauling full-size bed pillows strapped to their roller bags. I even recallseeing Peyton Manning going to spring training one year withhis pillow under his arm. Nobody likes to sleep crooked andthen try to work with a pain in the neck.The husband’s pillow was one of those cheap foam pillowsthat sometimes break into chunks. Not only did I throw itaway, I added insult to injury by buying him a new one.The new pillow turned out to be horrible. Awful. It waswhite and clean. And fluffy. It even smelled — fresh. Worst ofall, it held its shape and didn’t have a moon crater. The hus-band claimed the pillow was so new and nice and full that ithurt his neck. He also suspected that it wasn’t cheap.“I need a cheap pillow,” he said. “I sleep best on cheap pillows.”He might be the only consumer in America demanding in-ferior quality at low prices.I lured him to a department store and explained that heprobably needed one of those scientifically engineered pil-lows for a good night’s sleep. “There are pillows for sidesleepers, back sleepers, tummy sleepers, Good Sleep Pillows,Better Sleep Pillows and the You’ll Sleep So Long You’ll Prob-ably Lose Your Job Pillows. You have to know what you’rebuying or you can be sucked in by anything,” I said.As I prattled on about the difference between foam, feather,down and polyester, he wandered away to shop on his own.It was then that a Memory Foam pillow called my name.The Memory Foam pillow is anatomically, aeronautically,agriculturally engineered, and sells for $100. When a pillowcomes in a box and costs two Ulysses S. Grants, you have towonder if it might really change your life. Maybe a better pil-low really would make you a more productive person. Maybeyou’d wake up cheerful. Maybe it would straighten yourspine, whiten your teeth and help you sing on key.I was fast falling for the Memory Foam when the husbandreturned and announced he had found the most comfortablepillow in the entire store.It was an store brand foam pillow for $4.99. I could almostsee a dotted line where the crater would form. What’s more,the perfect pillow was part of a buy-one-get-one-free sale.What really killed me was seeing a man who instinctivelyknew what he liked, had a sixth sense for bargains anddoesn’t like to shop. Now that’s one to lose sleep over.Lori Borgman is a columnist, author and speaker. Contact her

at [email protected]

COLUMNBY LORI BORGMAN

Thehusband’s

pillowa pain

in the neck

Maximum Living April-May 2011

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