Seniors Site

After your final handshake with bosses and coworkers of God-only-knows-how-many years, saying goodbye to your work table that had been your strength, hope and courage for all those trials, late-nights and tears, you are now entering a new phase in your life. It should be an exciting one, something to look forward to—and you are, at the beginning, at the very least!
Months later, when your business clothes are now hanging clean and nicely undisturbed inside your cabinet and every nook and cranny of your house has been feather-dusted, vacuumed and even soaped, and there’s nothing left for you to do but rearrange the furniture for the nth time, reality will sink in:  you need your career back!
Be it boredom, financial reasons or simply the need to stay productive, acquiring a second and even a third career would be the perfect choice for seniors. One good thing about career decisions later in life is that no other factor is to be considered but yourself. In other words, no pressure at all! You can choose whatever you want as long as you can endure it and it can make you happy.
To further encourage you with the idea of second careers, there are many–and I mean lots!—who already made the big switch, even those who are not in their retirement years yet. Some are successful business owners who just happen to be interested in some other things and now that they have already established a money-generating venture for their family to live comfortable by, they realize that it is, indeed, the right time to pursue their happiness—and did exactly.
If you are interested in having a second career later in life, just make sure that it is fulfilling—enough to make you look forward doing every waking hours. Certainly, you don’t want something that is similar to your pre-retirement job, instead choose something that is close to your heart. It can be a new business venture, or an organization intended to bear social impact, or an altogether different area of expertise which will require you to attend school again. Your second career is all up to you!
When pursuing a second career, it is important to not let your imagination run wild with you. Of course, there are things you need to consider before actually making a life-changing decision. For one, you need to be really certain of what you want out of it or is it worth exerting effort for. If not, then drop the idea at once. You also need a good support system. Why? Expect naysayers to mess your way to success especially at the beginning when everything is still shaky and uncertain. Also, keep your finances in check since you are most likely to be spending much while staying jobless for months.

There have been left and right lay-offs and job termination these days. Unfortunately, seniors are no stranger in this situation as survey would show if there’s one group who gets the first blow of axe, it would be the seniors’ group. There are many reasons why companies would rather see their seniors go than take advantage of their expertise, one of them is the higher fees the company has to pay when keeping one.
Add to that the fact that sometimes, no matter how hard a senior would try, it seems impossible to keep up with the times. Offices are now applying high-tech ways to better their services, save money and do without menial jobs—or employees who do these menial jobs, for that matter. Computers are now equipped with bookkeeping capabilities which eliminate the need to hire a whole bookkeeping department. You can even run a virtual office without having to hire people and get them in your office everyday. Due to these factors, more and more seniors are losing jobs every single day. For seniors who rely largely on their jobs as their means to live, it’s a disaster indeed.
Let’s be honest, being a senior with no job is no laughing matter. Everyone needs a job, with or without a nest egg. While the least desperate ones can still make a wise decision on how to make the most out of their current situation, the same cannot be expected especially for those who still have mouths to feed and bills to pay.
Take Ben for an example. He is 60+ in age and recently got terminated. At the age of 40, he started building his nest egg and now, it has grown nicely—adequate enough to provide for him and his wife Laura. Problem is, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer and is expected to undergo necessary treatments for it. To top it all off, his daughter, decidedly left her two minor children in Ben’s home to sort her life after a marital storm. Now, Ben, somewhat bothered with the unexpected job termination at the age of 60, turns to job hunting, an activity that is not too safe nowadays.
Be it a job found over the internet, classified ads and even those on TV, can be a scam and it can cost you a lot of money if you are not too careful. Remember, con artists prey on the desperate, so no matter how desperate you are in getting a job, you still need to keep your head clear and intact at all times. Think twice when offered a job which requires you to pay upfront fees of some sort. Also, never go for promises which seem to be too good to be true. Always do your research when applying for work or dealing with someone. It saves you time and effort knowing what you are about to plunge into.

I’m not really certain if it’s my forgetful nature that compelled me to keep a notebook in the first place but what I do know is that one has to be within reach AT ALL TIMES! According to my estimate, I am using 3-4 small notepads in a year, tucked neatly inside my handbag when I go out and right in front of me when I’m working. For me, a “doodle notebook” keeps me insane and it’s almost close to being a necessity. Without it, I’m really lost as to what I should do next or where I should be at a certain minute. Even with the advent of technology, where notepads are built right inside the computer and can easily be accessed at any time, I still need my doodle pad. There’s just something about it that puts my otherwise chaotic life in some semblance of organization. My doodle notebook, which for this post should be called as a journal, acts as my personal secretary and sometimes a calming force when things get tough. While environmentalists may disapprove of my doodling habit as I know they go for saving these ideas and thoughts in a computer instead, I assure them I make use of every inch of my journal and nothing goes to waste, not even a single inch!
A journal is a written record of your daily activities, best done before retiring for the night. It includes your thoughts as well as the emotions you felt during the day. For me, it’s more than that. My small journal includes the activities I am supposed to do the next day, the day after that and even the next month. I consult it every morning to see what needs to be done first and be able to organize my day. I jot down reminders there and assess notes at the end of the day. In other words, my journal knows it all, if only someone, aside from me of course, can decipher it! So here are my top reasons why keeping a journal is beneficial:
·    It clarifies the mind. There is something about writing down your thoughts. It just puts everything in clearer perspective.
·    Simplifies life. The mind can only take so much. At some point during the day, it will just shut down and won’t absorb anything anymore. When this happens, life would seem so complicated even if it really is not.
·    It’s a form of meditation. When you keep a journal, you are encouraged to always seek within yourself and in the process, get to know yourself better.
·    It allows wider perception of things. As you assess your feelings alone, you are allowing yourself to see a situation from different angles therefore understanding it in a different way.
·    A work diary can help you be more efficient in handling a project or job while a food journal can keep you right in track and not fall into temptation.

While the root cause of cancer remains unknown, due to its aggressive nature and its ability to take lives, experts in the field have been working round the clock to somehow find a cure, if not, a way to prevent breast cancer. Women are clearly rooting for them to succeed since statistics have shown that the rate of fatalities of the said disease just keep getting higher and higher every year, despite new methods and treatments available in the market today. What makes it scarier though is that breast cancer is no longer bound by age, it can strike at any age. It can be your mom, your daughter or your grand daughter.
Like I stated earlier, there is no telling if someday you will get breast cancer or worse, die from it. Good news is, studies have shown that there are certain lifestyle factors contributing to breast cancer. This statement is especially true for seniors whose hormones have gone haywire and those who lead a lifestyle that is prone to the disease. These findings may not save you from the disease but at the very least, it can lessen your chances of having one.
Just for a quick recap, there are many factors in your body which lead to breast cancer—two of them, apparently, you cannot control. Your age and genetic composition still remain as the most deciding factors of the said disease. If your doctor ever suspect of breast cancer, these are the two things he or she is most likely to inquire about. Other than these two, you have your lifestyle to blame.
It is also important to take note that if you are dead set in preventing breast cancer, start lifestyle changes as early as possible. Seniors can also encourage younger generations to start making a conscious effort in avoiding these health hazards. For me, breast cancer is only a matter of how much abuse your body can take. Some may have it earlier while others could experience the said disease later in life, just because they have reached their body’s “abuse limit”. On the other hand, lifestyle factors tend to trigger the said disease making it strike the body.
·    Stress. Psychological and emotional stress, specifically, can alter your immune system. Your body’s immune system, being your best defense against cancer, is largely weakened when a body undergoes stressful situations.   Stress hormones, when released in large amounts can certainly harm the body as it should never be a normal, daily occurrence.
·    Weight. Weight is always an issue as we get older. In terms of breast cancer, fat tissues raise estrogen levels. Estrogen, being a hormone closely associated with breast cancer, strives in our body’s fats—your breasts included.
·    Drink less alcohol. For reasons unknown, alcohol increases your chances of having the disease—and this is according to several studies and testings done by experts. And by drinking less alcohol means you should only engage in drinking sessions occasionally, if not none at all.

Alongside visual impairment comes hearing loss. I would like to think that it comes in package—like a bad, annoying gift you receive when you reach a certain age. Some say that it can be delayed or denied, I say, they are just plain lucky, they don’t get it earlier! I must admit, there are some aspects of aging which you can really delay. For me, as long as the problem can be solved by the eat right-exercise-healthy habits combo, then it’s all up to the owner of the body in question. However, there are age-related nuisances that really come no matter how hard we dodge them. It’s fate, no use hiding from it!
Hearing loss is far more than just hearing aids, assistive devices and support systems. Some of my senior friends who are already showing signs of gradual hearing loss can attest to this: somehow it manages to steal a piece of your identity away; a part of who you are and what you’ve become. Like our visual capabilities, we tend to take it for granted only to realize its true importance when it’s gone forever.
Hearing loss, depending on its level can be assisted—to some extent, even treatable. However, as I’ve observed, people who delay going to a specialist only aggravates their situation. A person with hearing problem but refuses to be treated—or assisted—can only worsen his situation. The problem with hearing loss is that without proper care—given that the hearing problem is already established—the problem tends to get severe at a faster rate than normal. Furthermore, people who experience hearing difficulties either deny their situation or are not bothered at all. Even statistics say that it’s really difficult to provide an exact number of sufferers as many opted not to report it at all therefore not receiving the proper care they need.
In actuality, it’s quite hard to really determine if you, indeed, have a hearing problem. Most of the time, people around you are the first ones to suspect, unfortunately, they may not talk about it openly as they wish not to offend you in anyway. Here are some signs that you might be experiencing hearing loss:
·    You cannot cope with two or more people talking at the same time. Everything seems to just blend into one unintelligible sound.
·    Demanding the person holding the TV’s remote control to turn the volume level up as you cannot hear what’s being said.
·    People throw you confused looks when you respond to a question.
·    Pesky little children suddenly making funny faces at you without you even knowing why.
·    Suddenly everyone speaks in hushed tones like they have a secret to tell.
·    Angry looks are thrown at you by passing drivers while driving on a major highway.

As much as possible, I go for natural remedies and methods for pain management. Take note of the words “as much as possible”, since there are situations which will really call for medical assistance whether we like it or not. We all know that as we age, we become more and more dependent on medications and other medical methods which most of the time, considered by the body as foreign—and we know what the word “foreign” means to our bodies right? In an effort to somehow lessen these undesirable side effects, I seek refuge from alternative and natural ways. They may be less convenient and would even require a little effort to make it work but at the very least, you don’t harm your body the way “foreign” objects are capable of doing.
Back pains are fairly normal to an aging body but it differs in intensity. Some may experience mild and manageable back pains while others can have sharp, stabbing back pains which can sometimes be crippling enough to put sufferer in bed for days. It is because, back pains are a result of many varying factors, such that, recommended treatments also vary depending on the root cause. With that said, it is important to note that before you try any natural and alternative remedies to ease pain, a senior should consult a doctor to know what triggers the attack. For mild cases, natural back pain remedies can work but for severe ones, alternative pain remedies should only be considered as an aid to your pain management program.
Here are some popular natural back pain remedies for seniors:
·    Go for natural formulas that help strengthen your bones, joints and most importantly, your ligaments or the connective tissues supporting your bones. When I say “natural”, it should mean herbal formulas and those naturally generated by the body under normal circumstances. Capsaicin creams, for one, are good for relieving arthritis-related pains. Capsaicin, by the way, is the active component of chili.
·     Acupuncture. It may be a little freaky to think of, especially if you’re new to the idea but this ancient technique sure does ease back pains and with regular treatments, it can even help you with other bodily problems.
·    Acupressure. For those with lifelong fear of needles, this may be the best solution for you. Acupressure is applying pressure to acupoints. The technique is also proven to alleviate back pains with regular sessions.
·    Get enough sunlight! Seniors who have vitamin D deficiencies usually suffer from persistent musculoskeletal pains—including back pain. Just don’t over-expose and stay away from the sun when it’s at its shiniest!
·    Do stretching exercises everyday, preferably in the morning to give you an extra boost! Better yet, do yoga exercises for an hour everyday to encourage activity within the body.
·    Therapies to help promote activity within the body. This can be very helpful for those who have limited range of motion thus preventing them to participate in any kind of physical activities. Hydrotherapy, chiropractic therapy and massage therapy are only a few to mention.

It seems like now people are given a lot of options but lack in much needed education. Yes, we’ve heard their marketing pitches, usually from people who would earn something in return if they’re able to get us on the bandwagon. What these people fail—or intentionally fail—to tell us is the downside of using these plastic cards. However, they tend to exaggerate its “greatness”, sometimes bordering to lies, which sadly, giving us ideas of exactly the wrong things.
Due to poor money management most people practice, and the encouragement credit cards bring to these people, debit cards came along. For a while, it seems to be the safest option since you don’t risk falling into debts. Almost instantly, it gained popularity similar to that of credit cards. Unfortunately, many have realized later that it also has it own pros and cons that a user must consider before getting one. It may even cost you way more than a credit card fiasco could ever bring you.
Personally,–and although I never really had a problem with money management—I think the safest way to spend money is using cash. All the time. My lifelong motto being, if I don’t have that kind of cash in hand, I don’t buy it, not even think about it. So far, it works for me and was able to age gracefully and debt-free. Something I find rare among my generation which is quite saddening for me. Don’t get me wrong, I have had my fair share of credit and debit cards and they all worked great for me. It’s just I often find myself using them just for the rewards or benefits they bring, particularly for my credit score.
Just recently, I have met a new addition to the plastic cards family, it’s called the charge card. I must admit, I don’t have much to go on when it comes to charge cards as I am still trying to get to know it. What I did understand is, charge cards are something like debit card-slash-credit card. It has the benefits of a credit card but at the same time, the control of a debit card. In my honest opinion, it goes a little something like this:  If you are making small payments for your daily living expenses, you reach for a debit card, like issuing a check. The amount you used a debit card for will automatically come out of your savings account in which the debit card is aligned. The danger of this is, you must ALWAYS be mindful of your saving account balance as you can be charged with overdraft fees. Like a check book, you need to balance it everytime you use it. On the other hand, you use charge cards if you need to pay for something that exceeds your daily spending allowance but certainly won’t cause you trouble come monthly due date. As of my understanding, a charge card is supposedly paid in full every month. Use your credit card only when in absolute necessity and you’re certain this purchase cannot be paid in full in a month. Security wise, I find credit cards as the most secure by far but like what I’ve said, I still need to get to know charge cards more.

As a senior myself, I would like to think that I’m a master of multitasking—or someone that is trained enough to fall for it! During my younger years when my brain could still process 101 tasks at a time, I had no qualms about it as I know I will remember each and everything I must do—and do them fast to make room for a little time for myself. I could easily slip from one task to another without even batting an eye. I even imagined it then as slipping from one uniform to another, or in some circumstances, wear both at the same time. Never had any problem with role reversing, on and off tasks, or even “emergency” tasks until one day I realized I could have done better if not for my habit of multitasking!
Digging deeper, I’ve found out that I actually could do without several “emergency” tasks during the day if I hadn’t multitasked.  But I did, so it’s only understandable to have “unfinished” tasks needing undivided attention now as I should have done them hours or days ago. Unfinished tasks are only half of the story. I also encountered half-baked ideas and jobs that would have been great if done earlier. Now they are just useless piece of information which I even forget what they’re for. I now realize that multitasking and task switching are just one of my many attempts on “super hero”-ness which is just plain impossible!
Trying to turn over a new leaf and hopefully break an old habit, I am now getting everything in my life in order and resist running around like a chicken without a head. One thing I must admit, as a multitasking addict, I experience withdrawal symptoms which include jitters when I try to concentrate on one task and would look eagerly forward for the next. I also get bored when I spend too much time on a task and would find myself dreaming what I would be doing now if I hadn’t given up multitasking. It is indeed a hard road to take but I will persevere.
But is it really possible for a person to do two tasks at a time but not sacrifice the quality of work? At least for me I know that ain’t possible. Whether it’s multitasking or task switching, can a normal, average brain cope with this? Is it really possible to jump from one task requiring attention to another which needs the same level of attention too?..  According to a study, our brains become inefficient when it does either of the two.  Furthermore, it was said that the brain needs some time to process the things you feed it. In fact, multitasking and task switching are considered by the brain as annoying disturbances. However, good news for chronic multitaskers, doing mental and physical tasks at the same time can never hurt you such as watching TV while folding shirts.  See full report here: Multitasking:  Brain Drain or Boost in Efficiency?

Is the word “cougar” new to you? Or are you still referring to the slender and agile cats roaming our mountains, always on the look out for a prey, gullible enough to fall into a cougar’s trap? Well, you must be living under a rock for quite sometime now since cougar dating must be the hottest, most liberating hype that hit the senior women’s generation!
The idea of “Older-women-dating-younger-studs” has been around for what seems like ages but apparently, the practice has reached greater heights with cougar dating. The name itself gave it a fiery spice, enough to encourage older women who are really into dating younger men to finally come out and not to be ashamed of their preferences anymore. Gone are the days when an older woman would think twice or even a hundred times before even entertaining romantic thoughts with a younger guy. With strings of successful “cougar” relationships to boast of, older women are now more confident and assured when it comes to their relationships.
For me, what really boosts cougar dating is the fact that most senior women have learned how to take care of themselves thus enabling them to age gracefully. Along with cosmetic advancements available for us to take advantage of, healthy lifestyle proves to be one of the most effective ways to look and feel younger than your age. Aside from that, older women have realized that once they reached a certain age, it should also be right time for them to start thinking about themselves and nothing else. Along with these realizations is recognizing the complexity of starting a new relationship with guys their age particularly the excess baggage they tend to bring along into the relationship. Younger guys, as we all know, don’t have these things. When they come into a relationship, they usually come alone, which is just perfect!
There are many factors why older women may fall for someone half their age. Most of the time, it’s the spontaneity the relationship brings. Somehow an older woman may feel the need to experience living the fast lane again and this, she can never get from an older guy who requires too much attention and care. Some consider it as their last hurrah in life. Others swear that it gives them vigor—a new leash in life—to break their monotonous, boring life.
Adding to these factors is the attraction it brings. For reasons unknown, younger guys may find themselves attracted to older women at some point of their lives, usually their “exploration” age when they have the highest respect for older women and would seek their wisdom and knowledge on how life works. On the other hand, older women may find themselves craving for something they have always wanted—a relationship with not much attached to it. Combine these two and you have the perfect recipe for a cougar relationship.

If you want to stay connected with people who matter most in your life, you need to keep up with the times. It may feel awkward at first threading unfamiliar territories, but believe me, once you get used to it, it’s hard not to get hooked on it! I remember the first time I experimented with social networking sites, it was with MySpace. My second was Facebook which I find extremely entertaining and maintained a healthy relationship with the site up to this day. From my first one, which I rarely use now by the way, up to my very recent—Twitter—I have had several in-betweens ranging from unknowns to almost famous. Yes, considering my age, I went overboard and a little social-network crazy!
During these years, I learned to speak the social networking language and I would be very delighted to extend this apparently “Lilliputian” knowledge but has grown important over the years especially to seniors who would like to join the ever growing social networking circle. Here are some basic social networking language you need to get you up and running:
·    Tweet. You only tweet in the microblogging service Twitter. To tweet means you put a message of about 140 characters in your Twitter account for your friends to see. It’s almost similar to shouting your thoughts to the world!
·    Post. You “post” anywhere. You post tweets in Twitter. You post entries on your blog. You post your status updates in Facebook. Post, for me, is a general term you can use for almost all your internet activities. Just like post-its, when you stick it to your social networking account, it stays there and everyone is free to read it.
·    Status. It’s what you are doing or thinking right now. You update your status according to what you feel you would like the world to know.
·    Network. This is your people. Your circle of friends. Those you have added and accepted as friends. They are free to see everything about you or at the very least, the things you have willingly shared through your account.
·    Profile. This is where your information lies. Your profile will show the progress you are making and the activities you engage in. This is also where you need to be very careful since your profile is visible to your friends and even to people you barely know.
·    Wall. Walls are popular around Facebook community. When you open an account with Facebook, you are automatically given your space to play with. This so-called space comes bundled with your profile page and of course, the ever popular wall. This is where your recent activities are charted and messages directed specifically to you are written.