Treemont Retirement Blog

Healthy Tips for Seniors: Mental Health Awareness

Just as physical health is important for one’s overall well being, mental health plays an important role as well. Often mental health is something that many do not like to talk about, and therefore will delay getting help.  It is estimated that 20% of people age 55 years or older experience some type of mental health concern. That is roughly 1 in 5 individuals over the age of 55. Addressing any potential mental health issues can improve your or your loved one’s quality of life.

Older adults are more likely to report physical symptoms rather then psychiatric symptoms, and will often seek care from their primary physician more often than from a psychiatrist/psychologist. Knowing risk factors that can play a role in mental health, can aid in identifying symptoms quicker and receiving the appropriate care.

by Jane Zimmerman, Treemont Resident

Handsome resident Charles Revilla is a coal miner’s son, born July 6, 1926 in Imboden, Virginia.  His father quit mining when he got married in Rose Hill, Va. and tried farming, but was not fond of the profession.  Nor was he happy with Ford’s Detroit industries he tried, so he returned to Imboden as a coal miner.   His father retired at 65 years old and had many stories to tell about mining, including a close call he had when a rock roof collapsed, killing his partner. 

Needless to say, Charles chose a different career path, with the aid of the U.S. Navy during WWII.  He was drafted, served from 1944-46 and had experience with atomic bomb testing at Bikini lagoon in the Pacific.  The great thing about serving in the Navy was his eligibility for college on the GI bill, although he worked for his father in the timber yard outside the coal mine immediately after leaving the service.

by Jane Zimmerman, Treemont Resident

Always pleasant, smiling and beaming with joy, Lois McCall glides through Treemont in her power chair on her way to the dining room, activities or to meet a friend.  She always acknowledges those who speak or simply offer her a smile.  After residing at Treemont for 10 years, she knows many people and has many friends through her volunteer work here.  Lois leads the Monday afternoon Bible Study class in the Green Room and began the “Meet Your Neighbor at Treemont” articles, which yours truly now writes due to Lois’ busy schedule.  Originally, she thought it would be a nice idea if residents knew each other, and how right she was!

Editors  note: Click here to view a story about Ms. McCall in the Houston Chronicle. Lois has also written about the Top 10 Reasons Residents Chose Treemont. 

We all have a story to tell, including Lois, who was born in Dallas, TX and raised by a single mom, who was a woman of strong faith.  Lois describes her as “big as a minute, strong as an ox and stubborn as an army mule.”  She was so certain that Lois should go to Baylor

We hope the community will support two events at Treemont this Friday, May 10^th and then on May 17^th. 

Treemont Retirement and Health Care, along with Senior Allegiance Home Health, is sponsoring its 1^st Annual “Drive & Drop” on Friday, May 10^th from 9:30am to 5:00pm to support AMVETS (American Veterans Organization). BE A HERO TO OUR HEROES by supporting AMVETS (American Veterans Organization).  Take the opportunity to do some Spring cleaning by donating children’s and adult clothing, bedding, house wares, small appliances, laptops and TV’s/Monitors. Put your donated goods in boxes or clear plastic bags and drop off in the back of Treemont Health Care Center at 2501 Westerland Drive, located in the Memorial / West chase neighborhood.  

Then join Treemont for a “" the following Friday, May 17^th from 3pm to 6pm with “appetizers on sticks.” The community is invited in appreciation for being a HERO to a HERO! Treemont’s Chef James Renshaw will be cooking up the scrumptious appetizers. Please join the festivities at Treemont. Music entertainment will be provided. Come join the fun! Questions? Call Treemont Admissions Director Kelli Walleck at 713-816-2033 or KelliW@TreemontHC.com or 713-783-6820.

by Jane Zimmerman, Treemont Resident

^{Always sweet and smiling is the platinum, curly haired Carmin Cleavenger. Outwardly, she is friendly and fun-loving, but her true spirit is helpful, patient and kind; her life story explains both sides.}

^{Carmin was an only child, born in Dallas, Texas on the day after Thanksgiving, December 1, 1933 (Thanksgiving’s date was changed during WWII).  She was 8 years old on Pearl Harbor Day December 7, 1941 and remembers WWII. Carmin still remembers the line, “day of Infamy.”  Her dad, who had been in WWI, signed-up for WWII, so Carmin swam in the officers’ family pool.}

^{But when Carmin was 6 years old, her friends teased her that one day she would someday become a teacher – mainly because she was already teaching them!  She attended and graduated from Incarnate Word High School and had 2 years of college at Incarnate Word College.  She then finished at Georgetown with a major in Christianity and minor in Philosophy.  She went back to the University of Houston}