Seniors Site

If you are an incessant smoker, you probably know when you’re feeling down and depressed. Depression in a smoker is usually characterized by doubled amount of cigarette sticks consumed in a day. For ages, our health care community has been trying to solve this very alarming mystery: does depression cause smoking or is it the other way around?.. These two, even if taken separately, indeed can cause major health problems, even trigger underlying ones especially in seniors whose body’s defenses are weaker.  The medical community believes that if they are able to pinpoint which of the two comes first, they will be able to decrease the number of casualties for both cases.
Even if a strong link has been established between the two, it doesn’t really prove that one existed as a direct result of the other. In fact, there are quite a number of people who tried smoking for the first time not because they were depressed–just go ask a teenager! The same way as people who began smoking don’t automatically fall into depression. According to a survey done to establish connection between the two, a person who smoke is most likely to reach for a cigarette stick when depressed because of the calming effect a stick has, and because the feeling of depression doesn’t usually go away that easily—and the calming effect of a cigarette stick is all but temporary—he or she will surely consume another stick, in an attempt to somehow alleviate the bad feeling. In a way, depression doubles your cigarette consumption but it was never proven to be the cause of smoking. At present , experts believe that the best treatment for a person who is addicted to smoking and at the same time, experiences depression is to undergo treatment for both, either specialized treatment or separate courses.
It is also wise for the senior to recognize the signs. There are two major points to remember, smoking is an addiction and depression is a disorder. The soonest you recognize these and actually accept your condition—enough to get you to a specialist, the earlier you are saving your life from potentially health risks brought about by smoking and depression.
Nicotine dependence is notably marked by your inability to stop smoking, even in situations you know you are not allowed to. When a senior attempts to stop, he or she will experience withdrawal symptoms like cigarette cravings, restlessness and irritability, dry cough and even flu-like symptoms. On the other hand, depression symptoms are mostly emotional which extends to physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms are severe sadness, feeling worthless and sometimes even guilt, and loss of interest while physical symptoms are fatigue, lack of energy, and sleeping difficulties.

It is extremely important for seniors to find the right doctor to care for them. I believe that when you reach a certain age, a senior is most likely to see his or her doctor more often than their own children! Also, it is important for the senior and their doctor to establish that connection—and of course, more importantly, trust—before they can work together in fighting diseases and illnesses.
I, for one, swear that finding the right doctor can be tough—even tougher than one may think! I have done it not only for myself but for my parents, children and even grandchildren! Finding the right doctor involves awareness, a little research and a lot of gut feel. In my many doctor-searching years, I already developed a plan which I find useful when the need be, but of course, it’s not at all fool-proof, sometimes I still fell into the hands of wrong ones no matter how careful I was in choosing them. Let me share them with you:
·    Referrals are a great start. This should be your starting point. Call friends and relatives who have personal experiences with these doctors. Try to limit calls to only those who are reliable enough to provide information such as a friend who underwent the same situation. If the potential doctor is to work with your physician, it is best to seek referral from your doctor himself so he will be comfortable working with this other doctor. Get a maximum of 3 doctors in your list for your “screening process”.
·    Do your research. Nowadays, most doctors can be found online, even their clinics, if they have one. Just by using local search engines like Google, you will be able to see their credentials, the work they do, services they offer and most of all, feedbacks and complaints from past clients, if there’s any. In your spare time, join online discussions so you get a better idea of how things work.
·    On your first visit, bring all your necessary docs, lab results, recommendations and whatnot. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as this is the only way you can get to know this new doctor. This is when your gut feel must be on its most effective. By now you must have an idea of what your condition is all about, express your concern directly to the doctor. If he is not interested in making you feel comfortable then it’s time to get up and leave.
·    Consider accessibility. This includes the proximity of the doctor’s location and how “reachable” he is if and when an emergency happens.
·    As much as possible, choose a doctor whose clinic is sort of “one-stop shop” where everything you need is there or at the very least, in close distance with the clinic.

Staycation is definitely over! Just one look outside and you’ll see why! It’s such a wonderful day to be wasted staying at home and cleaning your pantry, go ahead.. go out and have fun—with or without money!
In actuality, you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy the outdoors—don’t even have to scratch your whole month paycheck for a vacation! Here are some tips on how to travel cheap this spring:
·    Traveling by air? No problem, surf the internet—or have someone do it for you if you are not too familiar with it—and there you’ll find awesome travel deals and packages for spring offered by travel agencies. Do some serious shopping first before picking the best because there are loads and loads out there to choose from!
·    Ditch your travel guide books and get to know the locals more. This way you’ll get first-hand info where the cheap-but-best finds in their area. For safety reasons though, do your little research before you go just to familiarize yourself of their neighborhood or what areas you must to avoid.
·    Bring your own snacks and drinks especially if you’re travelling by road. These things tend to be crazy expensive arriving at your destination and I really don’t know why..
·    Hunt down local grocery stores and supermarkets upon arrival. This would be your greatest source of nourishment for days to come. When you do, stock up on your necessities such as bottled water, chips, convenience food and whatnot.
·    Inspect the place you’re occupying. As much as possible, go for the ones with kitchens—at the very least, an electric kettle where you can boil your own water and fridge to keep your stock fresh.
·    If your allowance is really killing you, limit yourself to one-dine-out meal per day. It could be lunch or dinner, depending on your preferences. Other meals you enjoy inside your room.
·    Visit family and friends. Boy they’d be glad to see you! Which in your end means, free board and lodging for a couple of days. Isn’t that sweet?
·    Consider exchange rates. If you are traveling outside of your country, make sure you are familiar with their exchange rates, or at least how much things cost converted to your currency. This way you can plan your budget ahead.
·    Choose destinations that are not too popular with tourists during spring breaks. The world is made of vast lands, I’m sure there are many hidden treasures out there, you just have to find them.
·    Bring some friends. This way you can share travel expenses with them and at the same time, have lots of fun during the trip.

The spotlight may be on women but men sure do have them too! Male menopause or andropause—as called within medical community—is a phase in a man’s life when his testosterone levels gradually decrease resulting to symptoms similar to that of a woman’s menopause. However, unlike that of a woman’s, male menopause occurs at a very gradual pace. Due to this, male menopause can go undetected for years. Also, decrease in testosterone level varies from one male to another which means some men may experience them early in their lives while other may not have them at all.
Andropause has its own set of symptoms. Again, symptoms vary from one male to another—in fact, some older males with low testosterone levels haven’t had symptoms at all. Here are known symptoms of andropause:
·    Changes in your sexual drive. A man undergoing andropause may experience reduced sexual drive and encounter erection problems during the act itself. Then there’s the issue of infertility.
·    Insomnia and other sleeping disorders. Are you having a hard time falling asleep? Or perhaps waking several times during the night for no apparent reason.
·    Physical changes. Muscle mass are beginning to shrink, lesser energy throughout the day, and hair loss. Most hated of them all, notice how easy it is now to grow fats, no matter how hard you diet.
·    Mood swings. Depression, confusion, lack of motivation and self-confidence.
Please take note that these symptoms are also the exact same things you may experience when aging. Also, other illnesses and diseases may cause one or two of these symptoms too like hair loss and mood swings–even your medications can do that! With that said, you need to consider these things first before concluding you’re having an andropause. Also, a man can never be certain if he is indeed having one up until he gets himself tested for it.
If you feel you’re having an andropause, the best option for you is to consult your healthcare provider to assess your situation and arrive to the best possible treatment for you. Do know that like menopause, there are treatments available for andropause too. A strong support system can help you tremendously so seek them whenever possible. This can be your closest friend who is also undergoing the same things or perhaps your partner, so she’ll know what’s going on with you. Andropause is a lot to handle, never try to conquer it alone. Get as much help as possible and be honest with what you feel, especially with your doctor.

Popularly known as alternative treatments, practitioners now refused to be called as such, instead they would rather call their practices as complementary therapies to go with regular, medical-based cancer treatments. Patients who were able to receive both types of treatment swore than they indeed feel better now and are glad they gave it a shot!
Of course, we are not new to the horrors of undergoing cancer treatments. We heard them, even encountered one, at some point of our lives. The first time I personally saw a close friend having a bout, hours after her chemotherapy, I stood frozen—not really knowing what to do. It was such a confusing moment for me as I would like to reach out to her and help her but at the same time, my mind just kept on refusing these things are happening right in front of me. I fear for my friend, I fear for my own life—I fear cancer in general.
This is why I try to keep up with cancer related news, especially its milestones and cure. I hope someday I would be able to write an article announcing its cure or at the very least, an exact, 100%, pinpointed cause of cancer so we can prevent it once and for all, and not just second-guess it.
While the medical community is busy developing the strongest weapon for fighting cancer, complementary treatment practitioners are working hard keeping the person with cancer strong and surviving. Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy are known to destroy not only the cancer cells living inside a person’s body but the body in general. That is why it is very important for the person to be able to cope with the onslaught of the treatment, emotionally and physically. Here are some complementary treatments approved and recommended by health care providers for cancer treatment program:
·    Acupuncture. Acupuncture is known to alleviate or relieve side effects of standard cancer treatments making it more bearable for patients. For chemotherapy, acupuncture has proven to be an effective solution to combat nausea and vomiting—some of chemotherapy’s well-known side effects.
·    Meditation. Meditation helps tremendously in calming your mind and body, before during and after standard treatments. It may not directly help you physically but it handles the emotional part of it perfectly.
·    Yoga. Yet another reason why senior should engage in Yoga! While Yoga does not cure your cancer, it improves the patient’s quality of life—something that is really, really important when undergoing treatments.
·    Hypnosis. Hypnosis is actually used for chronic pain sufferers. Hypnotized patients experience reduced degree of pain and discomfort, allowing them to move freely without any additional medication required.
·    Massage. It releases tension, stress and fatigue which the body acquires during treatments plus it promotes relaxation. However, not all massage techniques work for cancer patients so you need to seek one from a professional.

As the competition in workforce grow stiffer by the minute, more and more seniors are leaning toward entrepreneurship as their means of income before and during retirement years. It’s quite understandable though, as starting/maintaining your own business gives you more control and if you’re really, really good at it, stability—things that you cannot be certain when employed to a company. However, starting a small business can be complicated, and can even give you a headache, if not given enough attention.
As the business owner, you must familiarize yourself in all areas of your work.  Of course, as your business expands, you will need people to work with you hence you will provide training for them and allow them some room to grow on their own. What’s important though is that you know how to handle these things yourself if worse comes to worst, just so you don’t have to rely your business entirely to somebody else.
It is also important to choose a business that will enable you to grow as a person. Add to this the fact that it should be able to retain your interest for a long, long time. I have known businesses which are doomed from the very beginning just because their owners have chosen these areas based on spur-of-the-moment decisions and half-baked ideas. I would like to think that starting a business, whether small or big must be considered as a commitment, like a life-changing event, something you can live with for years and years to come.
Secondly, your business should be able to make you money. The amount you make should be enough to compensate your hard work. If not, then drop the idea and leave it to somebody else. Guide to save your sanity: it’s business if you make money out of it, it’s passion if it only gives you self satisfaction at the end of the day. The beauty of it is, you can actually combine the two and greatly benefit from it!
Business plans are important, so as business timelines. Don’t include expansion plans yet, just your simple startup plan would do just fine. As much as possible, do without complicated work at this point. Focus on getting your business up and running then see from there what else needs to be done. This way, you avoid cluttering your life with unnecessary mess. While you’re at it, consider your financing options: would you be needing financial assistance or perhaps loans? If so, how are you planning to pay for these services?
Consider the ownership structure of your business. Are you getting a partner or perhaps start a corporation-type of business. These things affect your business tax, by the way, so you really need to sort these things out ahead of time. Also, take some time to check and register your business name as this will protect you from copycats and scammers. Check with your local agencies for filing of licenses, permits and also insurances. Most importantly, get a good accounting/bookkeeping service to help you keep your books straight.

We seniors spend a lot of time saving for our retirement and hopefully be able to leave a “handsome-enough” amount for our beloved ones to share when we are gone. Unfortunately, naming your beneficiaries might be the most overlooked part of your estate planning as we usually tend to forget assessing who gets what and what goes to whom.
Naming your beneficiaries is more than just appointing the “lucky one”. In fact, appointing the wrong person or people is more like risking your after life plans—plans not being carried out at all, or as planned. Remember, this will be a time when you can no longer have a say on what’s going on so might as well plan everything well while you still can.
The first step to a perfect beneficiary appointment starts with the senior assessing his or her choices of beneficiaries—and by beneficiaries, I mean, more than one, just in case your first choice encountered a problem. Here are the things you need to consider when choosing the best beneficiary for your insurance policies, pension plans and IRAs:
·    List down family members you would like to leave your estate to, if and when something happens to you. Be particularly aware of their age as it is very important. A minor will need a trustee or guardian before benefits are transferred to them.
·    The beneficiary’s capability of managing assets. Like mentioned above, a minor cannot be trusted fully with your assets so they need a trustee. In some cases, even a full grown adult is not capable of handling assets. A senior can determine this by gauging the way the beneficiary handles his own personal finances.
·    Inspect your plans and coverage. Sometimes, the company automatically appoints the nearest living relative or survivor as your primary beneficiary even if you prefer other appointee.
·    Keep a list of contingent beneficiaries. This list will serve as a reference if something happens to your primary beneficiary and he or she won’t be able to fill the spot. Just make sure this list comes attached with your will.
Your best bet when naming a beneficiary would be your spouse. This allows smoother, almost hassle-free transfer of benefits. Of course, second in line is your child, or children—if you have many. However, you need to update your plans and coverage once in a while, most especially after a divorce or remarrying another person as there will be conflict on your documents. Always consult your lawyer when making a decision, especially on matters like this. This way, your lawyer will be able to advise you on how to go through it legally.

Losing weight must be the hardest part in trying to look good and feel young. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get you there. Never had I imagined losing weight would be a struggle. Back then, you just have to watch your eating portions and do whatever you need to do in a day, plus squeeze in some time accompanying the kids down the park, and you’re on your way to losing those nasty looking flabs. Today, you even have to make sure you’re eating the right kinds of food as some are known to make you fat, especially my personal favorite, the Quarter Pounder. I say, these fattening foods have their own way of tricking us into eating them, why don’t we trick ourselves instead to losing weight? Also, I don’t know if America is conniving with these nasties as everything in this side of the world looks bigger nowadays! Bigger portions, bigger plates, bigger everything! Even a liquid diet won’t work in this day and age as everything liquid today is laden with calories in such horrific proportions!
It seems that the safest substance to consume is water—just the plain kind. Good news is, water is actually good for you and you most probably know that by now. It hydrates you and can even save your life especially during hot months that put us seniors in high risk of heat stroke. Also, loading up on pure water will definitely cut your eating portions since it gives a false feeling of being full. I bet you heard about the weight loss trick which involves drinking a glassful of water before every meal. I tell you, it’s effective. While you’re at it, try to drink water every now and then during the meal itself. Overtime, your body will adjust to smaller food portions which will eventually lead to an effective and long-lasting weight loss.
Problem with seniors losing weight is that they need to do it while maintaining a healthy diet. In other words, it is not any more healthy for seniors to engage in drastic weight loss program and as much as possible, they are encouraged to do it slowly as to give the body time to adjust with the changes. Here are some tricks seniors might find handy when trying to cut back on calories, but of course, you know you need to do some exercises to go with that, right?
·    Get a food partner. Your food partner must be someone who would gladly share a dish with you. Like stated earlier, portions nowadays are bigger hence the need to share them with someone so that you get only the right portion to eat.
·    Drink ice water! It sure is a treat during sunny days and it kicks up your metabolism a notch!
·    Eat slowly and chew your food properly. Seniors, help your digestion! Also, it takes 20 minutes before your brain tells you you’re already full, no matter how much you have eaten.
·    Do without diet sodas. Artificial sweeteners are bad for you. If you like something sweet, go for homemade fruit juices instead.
·    Get moving. I will not suggest biking as it may not be possible for all seniors but when you can, use those feet to get you from one destination to another.
·    Clean your fridge and pantry. Throw away those high-calorie temptations and replenish stock with healthier grabs.

One of the scariest things when approaching retirement is not knowing if you are indeed ready for it. Sometimes, even the most secured senior can have doubts months before the actual retirement day which is only understandable considering the very unpredictable nature of the economy today. Yes, apparently, the financial side of retiring plays a much larger role than one could ever imagine!
Financial stability is important. Without it, you can never fully retire. Recession, for one, was able to kill many “almost perfect” retirement plans. Some of my senior friends who are scheduled to retire, sadly, have to delay their plans and now foreseeing 5-10 more working years. These are responsible, hardworking people, mind you, and did a great job securing their retirement but as the economy has it, no one is ever secure these days.
..and there are those who are just plain paranoid about retiring. To tell you the truth, anyone can retire at any age. My nephew declared retirement at the age of 30 and have never regretted his decision. He just went on and left the rat race to those who are willing to do it, packed his bags and settled somewhere far, building his own farm from scratch. I envy him, for I don’t have a heart as brave as his but what I am trying to say is that with the right frame of mind, peaceful retirement is possible, with or without enough money on your pocket.
However, here are some signs to know if you’re ready for retirement:
·    Assess your nest egg. Calculate your supposedly daily or monthly allowance by subtracting your age to ninety (as this is the average life span of a healthy senior) then dividing your nest egg to the number of retired years. Don’t forget to set aside an ample amount to cover your health needs. This will determine if you still need to maintain a part time job during your retirement years.
·    You are finally debt free! As much as possible, never enter retirement while you still have debts to pay for. Your nest egg can never make it ‘til ninety if this is your case.
·    You are flexible enough to divert your allocated allowances to other important things. I know that retirement involves travel allowances but sometimes in a senior’s life, you may need to cut back on “leisurely” activities to make way for more important things like your health.
·    You know where your priorities lie. Your priority now should be yourself and your nest egg should be spent on your terms and needs, not anyone’s.
·    Your health coverage is fully functional.  There should be no problem when the time comes you need to use them.

If you’re managing a one-man business then you don’t have a problem with employees. Chances are, you are just starting out and don’t need help yet. But as your business grows, you’ll soon realize how important it is to get help, probably one or two to do the office and admin work while you’re off to expanding your business. Even if you’re employing virtual workers or in-house staff, it is important to keep them on their toes without you being rude or mean to them. Keeping them on their toes will help them focus and be efficient on what they do but it has to be just right. As their senior and their boss, you must give them enough freedom to do their own thing without losing track of what they do.
For me, I can say that it all comes down on how good the boss in managing his staff. I have had many bosses for me to know the attitude of the boss comes first in everything, especially in maintaining his staff. Your staff’s loyalty is something you cannot pay or demand, it must be earned by no one else but you. If you don’t trust yourself to be good enough for your staff to actually like you, get someone you can fully trust and let him run your staff. This way, you only have your staff manager to boss around.
Managing a team involves knowing how to keep your people inspired. Being a senior, you must have had managing experiences before. Apply the things you have learned from that experience and make it work to your advantage. Here are some simple tips to keep your staff as effective as they can be:
·    Give compliments when it’s due. Ever heard of the term “thankless job”? Coming from your employee, it means you are not giving enough compliments even if they already gave it their best. Also, this should be considered as a warning sign as it only means your staff is not happy working with you anymore.
·    Apologize when you’re wrong, instead of demanding your staff to make it right for you. They are also thinking humans, they would know if you’re the one who blundered a job off. Acknowledge your mistake and encourage your staff to think of ways to help the situation—or salvage what’s left of it.
·    Listen to your employees. It won’t hurt if you talk to them once in a while, initiating a talk that is non-business. It will help you know your staff more, gauging where their weaknesses and interests lie and be able to harness it for your business. It also improves interpersonal relationships.
·    Give and respect their own space. It will allow them some room to grow and flourish. Give them enough space to do their own thing and just be there to guide them. Learning things their own way gives them a sense of accomplishment you can never really give if you just force your way into them.
·    Make them feel important. Giving each of them their own time to shine will inspire them to do even better—even exceed your expectations.