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Summer is here and many of us have animal companions who are more excited to get outside than we are! While there is nothing better than taking your dog for a hike or riding your horse in our beautiful mountains there are precautions to take and things to be aware of before venturing out in the sun. When enjoying time outside it is important to remember that dogs can quickly develop heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Dogs are more sensitive to high temperatures than humans largely because of their...
Missoula Aging Services announced that it will be hosting weekly Medication Review appointments in partnership with the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy. The hour-long appointments will be with both a UM Pharmacy student and a supervising licensed pharmacist and will be available Wednesday and Thursday afternoons beginning Wednesday, June 29 through Wednesday, Aug. 31. The appointments will be held at the Missoula Aging Services office located at 337 Stephens Avenue, Missoula. Kat...
Springtime brings new life to the world. Deer, elk and other wildlife species start having their young and are more actively feeding in urban areas. While it's easy to enjoy seeing newborn fawns and bear cubs, there is a level of care that should be taken when observing and living around these animals. If you come across a fawn or elk calf by itself, leave the area and keep pets and children away to maximize the chance that the parent will return. This will also minimize the stress to the...
From previous articles, we've become familiar with psychological complexes, however, each was introduced from a personal perspective. Now, let me introduce complexes from a group, collective or social perspective. Recall that complexes are essentially an accumulation of experiences related to a common theme, such as experiences with one's father. For social complexes the development is similar only now, the experiences are related to a social theme. When we consider the many common social...
Well, it's that time of year again to practice your right to vote. We have the freedom to choose those people who represent us in the US Congress, the Montana Legislature and in the courts. I am so grateful for our democracy, as imperfect as it is, it allows us to take part and share our voice. Don't be embarrassed if you don't know who to vote for, I'd recommend reading the Pathfinder for information, and most candidates have a website or Facebook page where you can find more information. I...
During the 2020 election, voters in House District 92 voted to legalize the sale of adult-use marijuana in Montana. Although the Libertarian in me supported legalization, I had not campaigned for or against the initiative, knowing that if approved, it would require legislation as the language in the initiative made it vulnerable to being overturned in court. During the 2021 Legislative session, I authored House Bill 701 (HB701). It passed with large bipartisan majorities and allowed for the...
Many of the programs and services provided by Missoula Aging Services (MAS) are made possible thanks to wonderful volunteers who are dedicated to giving back to the community. MAS has worked hard during the past two years to keep pace with the demand for services it provides to older adults in Missoula County. Due to this steady increase, MAS has identified a need to recruit a minimum of 32 volunteers to serve 96 new clients currently on a waiting list and is looking to the community for help....
Preparing for the gardening season invariably includes weed and water management. Useful tools, besides the hose and hoe, are mulches. Once vegetable plants have sprouted and are three to four inches tall, the use of a mulch can reduce weeding, keep the soil cool, reduce pathogens and help maintain even soil moisture and temperature. Mulching guru Ruth Stout suggested in her book “Gardening Without Work” that mulches will decompose into the soil and more must be added through the season. The mulch will add to soil organic matter and enrich the...
After recently adopting a stray Siamese kitty and having one irreversibly damaged eye of hers removed by a colleague, I have since shared several photos and stories of her ridiculous antics on social media. It has surprised me to read how many people have commented that they "know nothing about cats." Well... here goes! It is estimated that Felis catus domesticated themselves in the Middle East around 10,000 years ago. While humans had a hand in domesticating most species (wild chickens for...
The northern pike (Esox Lucius) is at the top of the food chain in many of Montana's rivers and lakes. This adaptable species was first observed in Lindsay Reservoir (Dawson County, Montana) in 1950, but has since expanded its range. This spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists started tagging pike in the Missoula area to help better understand their movements. The expansion and survival of northern pike is largely due to their voracious appetite-they'll eat anything that will fit in...
Maybe you've heard of the Long-term Care Ombudsman program, but maybe you're wondering what exactly they do, or more importantly how can they help ME? Regardless of age, if you or someone you know lives in long-term care, the answer is YES! We can help! We're here for you. Ombudsmen are advocates for people living in long-term care, as well as people who are receiving temporary care which requires a short-term stay. For example, maybe you are a person who has lived in a nursing home for many...
There are many people who cannot stop doing. They must do, do, do, all the time, at least that's what they believe. This doing, this continual activity, can be understood in several ways. So, let's take a look! By doing something all the time, a person can avoid other aspects of life that might need attention. The children might need attention; the house or apartment might need attention; a parent or family member might need attention. Being in continual motion or doing constant activity can be...
In both 1993 and 1995, the Department of Geology at the University of Montana did a study called "Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of Carrying Capacity" for the Missoula County Commissioners. There were testing sites throughout the county, but the ones we are interested in are those in Seeley Lake. They monitored the area by the airport, downtown and Camp Paxson. AIRPORT: The earth materials are glacially derived unsorted sand and...
Going into the last Legislative session, the Republican majority delivered across the board. We implemented the first phase of our tax cuts to put money back in the pockets of workers and situate Montana's economy to better compete with our neighbors. This includes HB191 which was the first property tax relief for seniors living on a fixed income in 20 years (This was a constituent bill from Potomac!). This also included HB663 which uses revenue from adult-use marijuana taxes to fund our...
Missoula Aging Services (MAS) is pleased to announce they have filled the Rural Resource Specialist position in the MAS Seeley-Swan Resource Center. Kristin Mason, of Seeley Lake, will be taking over the duties previously held by Linda Howard. "The Agency would like to recognize the years of service and dedication provided by Linda. She was instrumental in providing education and guidance to the Seeley-Swan communities, and we are thankful for the difference she made during her time in that posi...
As the snow leaves and bare dirt is visible, gardeners are ready to dig in, literally. What we call the beginning of the growing season often starts with the garden cleaning up season. Gardeners are eager to rake up leftover plant material and mulches and see the bare dirt. Although the bare dirt does warm up faster than mulched ground, there are others to consider in our garden ecosystem. As the soil warms, the garden ecosystem begins to come alive. The Natural Resources Conservation Service...
After last year's Legislative session, and the FWP commission meeting this spring, hunters can expect to see some changes to the regulations this year. Consult the newest edition of the regulations each year, as they may change annually or add clarification for specific rules. The new license year began on March 1 so all anglers are now required to have their 2022 Fishing License. All regulations are available in print or at: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations. This spring, black bear hunters will be...
With the return of spring soon upon us, we will be spending more time outdoors with our animal companions. This is an excellent time to discuss Heartworms! Heartworms are actual worms that are a significant cause of infection and disease throughout our entire country. As dogs move around and with our lifestyles pushing further into wildlife territories we will continue to see Heartworm infections increase. Dogs, including coyotes, wolves and foxes, are the natural host for Heartworms...
The Importance of Proper Liquid Waste Disposal Why do we care about correct liquid wastewater effluent disposal? Here are a few reasons: • Environmental protection: Improper wastewater effluent disposal can hurt the surrounding environment. It can affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems and kill marine organisms. Or it can seep into the soil, kill plants, destroy natural habitats and cause biodiversity loss. • Human health protection: Inadequate wastewater effluent disposal can also make peo...
I plan to present dreams from time-to-time to help us understand the origin and meanings of dreams. All dreams originate in the human psyche (human psychology). There are two major types of dreams: personal and collective dreams. Personal dreams provide the dreamer with insights and meanings about their personal psychology. Collective dreams provide the dreamer with meanings and insights about a social situation. Yes, we can dream dreams that inform us about something other than ourselves! The...
Missoula Aging Services (MAS) announced that it will be participating in a special March for Meals celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, the federal legislation that helps to fund community-based programs like Meals on Wheels. Throughout the month of March, MAS will join the national Meals on Wheels network to raise awareness and rally support for this vital public-private partnership that has helped provide the seniors in Missoula County, includ...
Because it isn't good for our living environment. When a septic system fails, it causes untreated sewage to be released and transported to where it shouldn't be. This may cause sewage to come to the surface of the ground around the tank or the drainfield or to back up in pipes in the building. The sewage could also find its way into groundwater, surface water or marine water without us ever seeing it. The sewage carries pathogens and other dangerous contaminants. Exposure to these pathogens and...
Missoula Aging Services is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new service available to clients in the Seeley-Swan Valley. The Money Management Program is designed to aid older and at-risk adults who are finding difficulties in managing their personal financial affairs. Clients enrolled in the Money Management Program receive peace of mind in knowing essential bills are paid so their most important needs are met including shelter, food, clothing and healthcare. Undeposited checks or un...
What does dark matter have to do with psychology? Most likely not much but it does enable us to take a new approach to understanding the unconscious (our hidden psychology). Dark matter is everywhere in the universe and makes up a large percentage of physical matter but it cannot be seen. It is considered to be over six times more abundant than the matter we can see, but, again, it does not reflect light. Scientists discovered the existence of dark matter by its affects; that is, its gravitation...
Have you ever taken a moment to peek into your pet's mouth? Your veterinarian probably does when you bring them in for a Wellness Exam but pet parents should make this a regular part of caring for their pets, too. Chewing food is the principal function of a pet's teeth but they also aid in food gathering, playing and training young ones. They can also be formidable weapons in some species (if you have ever trained a ferret you are likely nodding your head!) Taking care of an animal's dentition...
