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| THE COLONY NEWS | DECEMBER 2023 | 21 Health & More TECH TALK Wednesday, Dec. 13, 9 to 10 am. Need help with e Colony Box Office? Do you have questions about your cellphone or tablet? Come to the Meeting Room the second Wednesday of each month and we will help you. ere is no cost to attend and no need to RSVP. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP ursday, Dec. 14, 10 am in the Lounge. Presented by Kristi Necochea, this group educates and supports those who are caring for a loved one with any ailment. We meet the second ursday of each month. HEARING AID CHECK ursday, Dec. 21, 9 to 10:30 am. is free service is provided by Johnson & Johnson every third ursday of the month in the Clubhouse Game Room. RESTORATIVE YOGA WITH MELISSA - MIND & BODY Tuesdays, 8:30 am; ursdays, 7 pm in the Annex. First class is $15 and may be used toward membership. Membership is $80 per month and includes two classes per week. Drop-ins are $15 per session. Ten memberships per month minimum to retain instructor. Beginners welcome The Colony is now offering multi-day tours and cruises, which include airfare, transfers and pick up from The Colony parking lot. Below is a partial list of excursions available. Please see Kara in the Activities Office for a full itinerary and information or visit www.friendlyexcursions.com. MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS Dec. 17-19: Hearst Castle at Christmas Time Dec. 29 – Jan. 2, 2024: San Francisco New Year's Celebration Jan. 18 - 21: Lake Havasu Balloon Festival Feb. 6-11: Count Down to Mardi Gras! May 14-21: Best of Florida: Key West, Miami and Orlando Aug. 18 - 22: Grand Sierras Sept. 4-13: Great Smoky Mountains, Nashville & Kentucky Oct. 16-31: Greek Isles, Italy & France Benjamin Franklin, the famous American Statesman is pictured on the $100 bill and so it only seems fitting that he is also remembered for the famous saying: "... in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." No one looks forward to receiving their tax bill or paying it for that matter, but pay it you must. Failure to pay the taxman on time will result in a hey penalty and if you refuse to pay, you could ultimately lose your home. We are a nation of procrastinators and according to the IRS, 32 percent of all Americans waited until the last minute to file their taxes last year. Given the similarity between how people feel about death and taxes, it should not surprise you to hear that 63 percent of American adults have not yet completed an advanced medical directive. Failing to deal with your taxes will cost you money; but failure to address end of life planning will likely cause both you and your loved ones unnecessary pain and heartache, not to mention possible financial consequences. I want to encourage you to take control of your end of life journey by taking the first step and having a "courageous conversation" about the difficult issues surrounding end of life care. is year's theme for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is "Courageous Conversations" and was recognized in November. e goal of this project is to encourage conversations with your doctor and loved ones about issues related to end of life. ese conversations are a necessary first step toward developing a comprehensive advanced medical directive where you let your doctor and family know what types of care you want and what types of care you do not want. I strongly encourage you to make it your goal to complete an advanced medical directive. is document informs your family and physician about your wishes and provide valuable direction should you become disabled or incapacitated. Your advanced medical directive should also include a health care power of attorney form, which is a document where you identify the person you would want to direct your care should you be unable to do so. Completing an advanced healthcare directive is not as difficult as you may think; but it begins with taking the first step and having a "courageous conversation." Reprinted with permission Taking Control Through Courageous Conversations By Leslee B. Cochrane, MD, Executive Medical Director – Hospice of the Valleys, 951-200-7800