www.amberhouseseniorliving.com www.canaanhomecare.com www.cvalzheimers.org May/June 2025 www.DesertHealthNews.com Personalized in-home care solutions for all of life’s cognitive and mobility challenges ADLs: dressing • ambulation bathing • transferring toileting • grooming IADLs: meal prep • housekeeping errands • medication reminders transportation Dedicated concierge care manager and professional caregivers available 24/7 10% OFF first service 41-750 Rancho Las Palmas, Ste. N-1 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 CanaanHomeCare.com HCO# 334700239 760.423.8339 (760) 776-3100 l cvalzheimers.org 75105 Merle Dr., Suite 800, Palm Desert, CA 92211 Prepare for your future with free, comprehensive and conndential assessments and counseling. The ACV Screening center is here for those with a family history of or questions about cognitive impairment. Schedule your screening, today. Through the Generations The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 16 Our beginner’s mindset allows us to redefine care the way it was always meant to be. From in-home care to residential senior living at one of our two Amber Houses in South Palm Desert, AmberCare exceeds every expectation. AMBER HOUSE II Now accepting reservations ANNOUNCING AmberCare offers a distinctive level of boutique assisted living and in-home care, delivering highly personalized services that go beyond the ordinary. Living with Jennifer Di Francesco Wellness Google defines intention as something Intended (note capital I), an Aim or Plan, a GOAL. Living life with Intention means making conscious, purposeful choices that align with your values; it’s about being mindful of your actions and ensuring they contribute to a life that feels meaningful to you. Those living with Intention (capitalized) may not let life dictate their path; they are too busy living with shoulds, supposed tos, wishing, hoping, relenting to current trends, viewing life with an all-or-nothing, black-and-white lens, or as society dictates. Let’s consider intention with a small “i.” This intention could simply be intending to show up and be present, embracing the moment, taking baby steps and having a one-day-at-a-time attitude. Intention with a small i is recognizing that there are miracles happening all around us; all we need to do is look with our third eye and listen, not just hear. Intention with a small i can offer a more functional, adaptive and healthier life with subtleties that can show us the true definition of living with intention. A state of “beingness” instead of “doingness” is intrinsic within the nuances of intention. In a state of simply being, we can release ourselves from being held emotionally hostage by our mind. We can attain freedom knowing that we are not our thoughts. A soulful connection can ensue while the critical sabotaging self, the wounded inner child, the all-or-nothing thinking can be gently quieted. There is an understanding and acknowledgment that living in a state of small i intention can add more light to the world and dispel the darkness. In his bookLiving Each Day, Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, MD posits, “Creating light is the prototype of an unselfish act, because even if you create light for yourself, the light shines for others as well. And if you create light altruistically, it illuminates your own world as well.” Whether it’s performing daily random acts of kindness or giving charity, good deeds are not about the fulfillment of a plan or goal, they are the very essence of who we are. Intention with a small i welcomes intimacy (into me see). An unwritten permission slip exists to honor self-care, set emotionally healthy boundaries, communicate more effectively without impulsiveness and reactivity and listen with curiosity and interest. It is a more thoughtful, mindful place not just to survive, but live; a place of accountability and heartfelt amends when warranted. We can let go of shame and enter the realm of humility. We can also connect with our spiritual selves and find solace there. With greater self-awareness we can become knowledgeable teachers and pay it forward. In the stillness of the early morning, we are offered the opportunity to capitalize on living each moment fully without the need to capitalize our intention. The world and your own authenticity (your true light) await! Dr. Amy Austin is a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFC#41252) and doctor of clinical psychology in Rancho Mirage. She can be reached at (760) 774.0047. Lighten Up with Small “I” Intention By Amy Austin PSYD, LMFT On February 18, Gene Hackman passed in Santa Fe, New Mexico at 95 years of age. A legend of the movie screen for over four decades, this accomplished actor played roles embodying tough, strong, steady and warm characters. Thus, the circumstances of his death with wife Betsy Arakawa shook the country’s conscience. What lessons can be learned with this loss? The tragedy is a story of a couple who chose isolation. This tendency is prevalent in our own neighborhoods where many older citizens prefer independent living. It is also a tale of estrangement from family in a time where increased family separation is prevalent. This tragedy reflects on current societal trends, yet with awareness, we can create change from this loss. Stardom did not protect this couple from their final unexpected circumstance. The experience that may have improved this situation rests in noticing, connecting, community and outreach. As we now know, Arakawa passed from a rare syndrome called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman then passed from heart disease and Alzheimer’s after his caretaking wife. Both were found days after their deaths by a maintenance worker who grew concerned when he did not hear from them. After going to the house, he noticed their bodies through the window. Learning about this story invoked significant reflection in my own 91-year-old mother. A family discussion revealed a recent experience with a neighbor who noticed my mother had not picked up her newspaper one morning. The neighbor came to the door bringing the paper and concern for her welfare. This simple act was greatly appreciated. Finding ways to offer extra attention as a neighbor or family member can make a difference. Asking an elderly person in your community what safety backup plan they have, or if you can help, is another act of compassion that can have a significant impact. We live in a time of social isolation where the act of caring not only helps someone else, it can also help us. In a 1989 interview, Hackman shared that the pursuit of acting led him to become selfish due to stepping away from family for long periods. It was difficult to turn down opportunities, he said, in a quest to stay relevant. A nature that neglects family may potentially lead to estrangement. Our society quietly encourages us to look after ourselves first (“put on your oxygen mask first, before helping others”). As we navigate a purpose-driven life, learning balance for our own well-being while making meaning for others is paramount. Our world needs us to step outside our comfort zones and share our attention with others: making a difficult call to a loved one from whom we’ve become distant, checking on a stranger, being a concerned neighbor. Challenging our selfish quotient is a wonderful start. Poet William Wordsworth eloquently noted, “The best portion of a good man’s life are the little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness.” Jennifer Di Francesco is a wellness explorer and desert adventurist and can be reached at www.coachellabellaboho.com. Looking Out for Each Other
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