Seniors Site

Aspirin has been a popular drug for us seniors for what seems like forever. It has been touted as a cure for our heart problems, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Aside from that, it’s cheap and it appears to be harmless enough to take without thinking of serious side effects the drug may bring. However, due to its popularity, the extent of as to how much aspirin can help seniors with their heart condition tends to get blurry and a bit exaggerated at times which health care providers find alarming enough to warn seniors against it.
Aspirin can help, yes, but for some seniors only—and you also need to consult with your doctor first before starting a daily aspirin therapy especially if you are under medication. Only consider taking aspirin on a daily basis if and when you belong to the high risk group, that is, for heart attack and stroke. If you are really certain aspirin would be very beneficial to your health, then go ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to take it. That’s the only time you can have a safe daily aspirin therapy.
In a nutshell, an aspirin can make your blood thinner thus helping it move smoothly and without a clot. Blood clot, as we know it, can clog arteries leading to heart attack and stroke especially if your arteries have already narrowed due to atherosclerosis. Seniors, do take note, aspirin can only help you IF you are already having problems with thickening blood—and absolutely, 100% confirmed this through tests–and never for normal, flowing blood as it can do more damage than good. Aspirin, when taken on a daily basis, by a normal, average person just paranoid enough to defy all odds, can bring about internal bleeding!
Your need for a daily aspirin therapy would solely depend on how high your risk of having heart attacks and stroke. Also, your blood should be monitored closely and regularly by your health care provider once you started on the therapy. Furthermore, seniors with certain health conditions are recommended against using aspirin as it can aggravate their condition. This includes those with asthma and peptic ulcers, among others.
Once you started on daily aspirin therapy, you should never, at any point during the therapy, stop, unless your doctor instructed you to do so. Sometimes, daily aspirin therapy has rebound effects which increase your risks more. Also, aspirin doses should only range from low dose to regular dose but never a strong dose! A low dose would mean a single baby aspirin, no more than 75mg.

If you are over 60, retired or almost retiring, you must have encountered an invitation to one of these so-called free lunch seminars—if not, prepare yourself as one of these days, you are bound to get one! While the concept is not new at all—it, being a free food and all, the lure of having to eat at somewhere upscale and classy makes a senior feel important and well, pressured. It was reported that almost ¾ of the senior population, at some point, already received an invitation to a free lunch seminar and almost half of these seniors gave in.  You must have thought seniors are getting wiser now when it comes to putting their retirement funds in order, unfortunately, financial experts warn seniors that 1 out of 4 free lunch seminars is actually a scam. Furthermore, out of 5, 3 of these investment plans don’t even fit your needs. With the success rate free lunch seminar is going, it will definitely put seniors to mad houses soon!
This is why organizations as well as government bodies aiming to protect seniors are now moving to counteract these free lunches without having to restrict seniors in attending authentic ones. By closely monitoring how free lunch seminars work, they were able to come up with a guideline on what to look for when subjected to a free lunch seminar. Here are some basic points you must take note of when attending one:
·    The speaker’s qualification. Not everyone is qualified to give investment advises to anyone, much less to a senior. They must be qualified to do that—and licensed too. If none is mentioned, don’t hesitate to ask since it is your money that’s at stake.
·    The speaker and the company’s contact info/details. This is the only way you can check them out prior to handing over your hard-earned money.
·    Other people mentioned during the seminar. Take note of other people mentioned such as the broker or financial adviser (if they are not the speaker) so you can do your background research on them too. Research is crucial, it will help you make a better decision on whether or not, trust these people.
·    How did they get your name? Did someone referred you or you just came up as a random invitee? As much as possible, stay away from random name picking. The activity itself is questionable enough to start with.
·    The number of questions they throw at you even if you have not decided yet. Be especially aware of the questions pertaining to your other investments such as bonds, stocks and mutual funds. They need not know these things.
·    The atmosphere they are creating while talking with you. Is there a feeling of pressure? Or perhaps confusing statements? Or even aggressiveness on the way they market their plans?
·    What benefits you’ll be able to gain when acquiring their offered plans. When it’s too good to be true then it’s time to get up and go.
·    Risks. Investment plans always come with one. If the speaker failed to discuss this one with a senior then you must proceed with caution when dealing with them.

Although I don’t drive much nowadays, I still find car expenses, sometimes, a little too high for me, specifically gas. Aside from that, I find riding the public transportation a little more convenient for me especially when I am alone since I don’t have to worry about where to park and if I am on the wrong driving lane again. Of course, I would like to thank my good genes and all those years of faithfully drinking my milk loaded with calcium as it enabled me to jump back and forth from one bus to another. I heard not all aging people can do it even those within my age range so I am glad I have these fairly strong bones in me!
Driving your own car has its own pros and cons. It provides security and, at the same time, privacy to do your own thing while driving which is really important for us seniors. However, if you use your car all the time and without any plausible excuse to do so, it can also kill your wallet and rock your budget off balance! On the other hand, there are those who don’t really have much choice but to bring their cars everytime they go out. If you inadvertently fall into this category, your only way out is to drive wisely.
Yes, the way you drive and use your car affects the amount of gas your car consumes. This only means that when seniors know how to drive wisely, it can actually save them money on gas. Here are some basic tips on how to drive wisely and save on gas money:
·    Maintain a constant speed. Seniors should avoid sudden braking or even unnecessary speeding. Stepping on the accelerator in a rapid fashion will also upset your car’s constant speed thus making your car guzzle more than what it normal should.
·    Go lightweight. While it is recommended that you car pool when going out, remove unnecessary weight when driving around such as the oh-so-heavy toolbox that’s been sitting, unopened for years inside your trunk. I am not implying that you don’t carry your toolbox as it is very important, just that you have to do without the things that are not so important and keep it at a minimum. You see, when you carry an excess load, it makes it harder for your car to move without giving it a little boost in acceleration.
·    Turn off engine if you need to stop for longer periods of time. A car in idle also consumes gas, more in fact, than when it is actually moving.
·    Use AC only when necessary. AC requires added gas consumption.
·    Keep a full tank if gas stations are mostly out of the way, if not then go for only the amount you need to lessen the car’s load.
·    Always use the right grade of motor oil for your car. You can ask your dealer about it or go search the internet for the correct specs when changing oil.

Somewhere between stress and aging, we know that there’s bound to be a connection. For years, researchers have been looking for this missing link as it’s indeed certain that there is one. I, personally, feel triple old when I am under stress or if my body is subjected to a lot of stress. On the contrary, the minute I step out of a spa after a rejuvenating message, I feel 5 to 10 years lighter than my real age, and you wouldn’t believe the compliments I get for it in, let say, 2 days max!
So yes, there is a connection. This is also why yoga and other meditation techniques became popular, not only amongst seniors but also to the younger adults who are attempting to somehow delay the signs of aging while still early. Furthermore, stress is a known factor in triggering many underlying and life threatening disease such as skin diseases, heart attack, and even cancer.  Stress, in a nutshell, affects your whole being, physically, mentally and emotionally. Not only that, it also alters your immune system making your body vulnerable to other diseases and infections. That is how deadly stress can be, however, many people have failed to consider it when treating their bodily problems.
In relation to aging, stress was found out to be a contributing factor in accelerating the aging process in a human body. In fact, the medical community was able to really pinpoint a basis of this claim so it’s safe to say that it is no longer a myth anymore. Our cells, which are a direct participant on how our body ages, undergo certain changes when subjected to stress, whether it is physical, mental or emotional stress. Normally, our cells break and divide as we age, up to a point where it can no longer divide itself and just die. When your cells start dying and at the same time, your body produces lesser new cells to replace the dying cells, that’s when the signs of aging show. When subjected to stress, cells break and divide in a much faster pace. Unfortunately, your body, when under stress, is in no capacity to keep up with the much faster breaking and dying activities of your cells resulting to, of course what else? Aging. Read full report here:  Telomeres and Stress.
Aside from that, the study was able to uncover yet another link connecting aging and stress but this time, age-related diseases. Please do note that this study includes caregiver participants which I think deserve to be warned as well.

Whether you are upgrading or downgrading, seniors should know—and try to remember always—that when buying a car, brandnew or secondhand, you must practice good car-buying techniques all the time. This is because, owning a car should make your life comfortable and not have you miserably stuck with never ending payments for a car that only gives you a headache, more than anything! Here are our best 10 tips when buying a car:
1.    Never trust your emotions when out choosing a model for you. Buying a car is more technical than buying a house. Yes, it needs to be comfortable, like you can live there for the rest of your life. However, your car must be able to perform in a superb manner and would be able to deliver according to your needs and lifestyle whereas in a house, it doesn’t matter as long as you can fix it yourself. Compare as many models as you can and make a wise decision from there.
2.    Go for a test drive. If you know enough how cars should work, you can have the car go for a test drive, if not, have someone knowledgeable enough to take the ride with you, just to assess the cars current state. Be especially aware of the sounds it make and how it shifts from one gear to another.
3.    Don’t go for the cheapest in the market. Chances are, there is a catch somewhere and it might even cost you more in repairs or whatever the catch is. Instead, do your homework and know the real price range for such model. From there, negotiate your price according to the car’s worth. Be reasonable enough when haggling for a car.
4.    Review your options separately. It will do you good if you review and assess your buying power from different perspectives, that is, your monthly payment capabilities, trade-ins, financing, even leasing options. The most important thing is, you must be able to ascertain the price of the vehicle first before any negotiation starts.
5.    Deals are good but they often come with a catch. Knowing where a good deal starts and where it reasonably ends will help you make a better decision when buying a car.
6.    Choose your financing options well. This should be included on your first leg of research and must not wait until the day you visit your car dealer. Seniors should remember that most professional dealers only have what they stand to gain in mind and won’t even consider offering the best route for you.
7.    Consider the car model’s safety features. To know this, you should go directly to their website and look for their test reports. I believe some of the most popular car brands offer a full rundown of their models’ safety features.
8.    Grab extras—only if they are for free, otherwise, skip them altogether.
9.    For trade-ins, be knowledgeable enough to “sell” your car. This includes your car’s worth and the add-ons that come with your car.
10.    For used car, have a mechanic go over the car before actually buying it. While you’re at it, ask for an estimate for repairs and whatever it is they must do with the car to have it up and running in good condition.

Not because you reach a certain age, you stop fussing about the way you look–and this is with special notice to the working, female seniors. Yes, you especially! Even those who do not keep a daily job and just enjoying the luxury of doing the things that please you, or perhaps those who stay at home most of the day, hear ye! Now, more than ever, is the time to take it slow and focus more on your well-being which includes improving your self-esteem and as much as possible, fight the signs of aging, or at the very least, it give a good fight! Make your working days as fab as possible by doing these simple and handy tips:
·    Moisturize, moisturize! We all know that dryness comes with age and if you are not careful, your skin will definitely show it! When you go out shopping for your personal care products, always go for the ones with moisturizing effect. Load up on lotion, body crèmes, lip balm and hair care products. These should be your “regulars”.
·    Seniors who are not comfortable wearing makeup everyday can go for light, natural look. This should include the “basics” like lip gloss or lip tint, mascara and blusher and a little eye shadow. If you’re a little clueless about what colors fit your skin tone, visit your friendly neighborhood makeup counter for a free consultation. Won’t hurt too if you buy a couple of product from them.
·    Go easy on the eye liner. Dark, heavy eye liner can make you look older and definitely you don’t like that! Go for lighter colors, and apply just enough to make your eyes stand out without making you look old.
·    Protect your skin from further sun damage. You don’t need it, not back then and especially not now. Good news is, you don’t have to layer up anymore, there are beauty products with SPF in the market today such as tinted moisturizer with SPF.
·    Protect your hair too! Your crowning glory deserves some love and protection too. Wear a fashionable hat if you need to step out of the office or perhaps sport an umbrella to protect your hair and scalp from too much sun exposure.
·    Go easy on foundation and powder. These substances just make a home in nooks and crannies of your face a.k.a your wrinkles, sits there until you wash them off. How horrible can it get?
·    Use concealer on strategic areas, just make sure your concealer is a good brand to start with.
·    Ditch the pencil-thin eyebrows, instead go for natural but clean look. Better yet, get it done professionally.

Migraine strikes at any age, in fact there are people who swear they were born with it and have been battling with migraine attacks for as long as they can remember. However, in a senior’s case, doctors are more careful—apprehensive, even–in treating migraines since there are factors which need to be considered first such as medications and illnesses the senior may have at the moment. Furthermore, healthcare providers believe that treatments available for migraine sufferers tend to cause more discomfort for seniors, hence doing them more harm than good. That alone compels doctors not to treat seniors with migraine problems. Here are some of Migraine’s myths and facts to help you understand the said condition:
MYTH #1:  Migraine is a psychological condition.
FACT#1:  Migraine is an all-together different condition than the one you are most likely to have when you are suffering from depression or other psychological condition. It is a serious physical condition categorized as neurological disorder which can be triggered by varying factors.

MYTH #2:  Migraine is an imaginary disorder brought about by the person who imagined it.
FACT #2:  Migraine is really a medical disorder and can be treated. Go ask your doctors about it.

MYTH #3:  Since migraine attacks are often without warnings, your doctor cannot do something about it.
FACT #3:  Yes, migraines are without cure but it can be controlled. Most migraine attacks have their own triggering factors, if you actually know them, you can avoid them hence lessening your chances of having one.

MYTH #4:  Migraine personality—that is, your personality brings about migraine.
FACT #4:  Although many studies suggest that your personality causes migraine, there is no scientific basis backing it up. Not even your lifestyle can be blamed for migraine attacks.

MYTH #5:  Migraine attacks are signs that there’s something terribly wrong with your brain.
FACT #5:  A brain tumor can indeed cause headaches but migraine won’t. As said earlier, migraine is an all-together different condition and should be treated as same. This is also the reason why doctors are most likely to have a suspected migraine sufferer undergo certain lab tests first to eliminate other possible causes of headaches before they can conclude that you indeed have one.

MYTH #6:  Allergies cause migraine attacks.
FACT #6:  Migraine and allergy are closely associated with each other, yes, but they are two different conditions. Although they share some similarities in terms of pain experienced by their sufferers, there are marked characteristics between the two.

MYTH #7:  Migraine attacks are only bad headaches. Nothing to worry about.
FACT #7:  Migraine is a condition, headache is a symptom. Seniors should know that headaches go away the minute the underlying cause of it is remedied. However, migraine cases require specific treatment and medications to solve it.

Much to my dismay, handling finances is not as easy as it once was, especially now that there are many factors we need to consider such as income versus expenditure. Then there’s the issue of credit score which you need to really be careful about. Once, I found my 30-ish daughter sitting on the floor with papers scattered around her, laptop glowing with such fierceness and two half empty coffee cups on each side. You would think she’s just there engrossed with work since she’s a writer by profession, however, she was not. It was just that time of the month when finances should be balanced or else, your accountant will haunt you like a ghost of Christmas past all throughout your waking hours!
Then there’s my elderly neighbor which I caught one, fine day handing over her checkbook to her gardener. She and I, we’re very close so I ran to her doorstep at once and asked if she’s having trouble over something or what, since the gardener in question was then fairly new. She said she’s having trouble writing checks so I just volunteered to do it and apologized to the gardener just so not to offend him.  After that, we had a little chat and she confided that making checks confuses her so she ended up making the “other” person write the check for her and she would just read it after. I told her that it is not very ideal and not to mention, not safe, for her to do that. I also advised her to seek help from her trusted family member at once.
These two situations may vary but I tell you, there’s a similarity here. They both need help, whether they accept it or not. Here are some tips on how to get your finances in order:
·    Choose a trusted helper. This must be the hardest part of all but the most important one to make. Your best bet would be one of your children since your hard-earned money will all go to them eventually. However, you must pick the one who is able to manage his or her finances well. No need to burden a child with managing disabilities with your own troubles right? If no adequate child is present, choose a relative, friend or even your personal lawyer.
·    Talk it out, with that person of course! After choosing the best person to help you out with your finances, have a heart-to-heart talk with that person and express your concerns about this transition. Know your help’s limitations, if they have any. Also, it’s okay to start slow by designating them little tasks at first, if it makes you comfortable.
·    Be as transparent as you can with your help. They should know your financial standing so they can help you make decisions from that point on. This should include bills to pay, insurances you have, credit score, taxes, wills, and just about anything that will affect your financial standing.
·    Trust is the word. You don’t go babbling about your finances with someone you barely trust and it would be as equally hard to work your finances out with someone if you don’t know how to trust a person.
·    If the thought of having someone control your finances, you can have him or her work with your personal lawyer. This way you are guaranteed with extra security and indeed, peace of mind.

One of the hardest parts of being a caregiver, whether you’re a close relative or just a hired one, is seeing your beloved senior succumb to their diseases and ultimately, death. It must be the slowest, most painful part of it, however, caregivers should be the last to give up as their loved-one is most likely be getting strength from them all the way to the final stages of their lives. This puts caregivers into a difficult and truly emotional position.
These are the times when caregivers should apply coping techniques to make them stronger than they truly are. While it is bad to fool yourself into believing everything will be alright, sometimes, caregivers need to do that and more just to be able to make it through the day. Here are some more coping tips for caregivers to try:
·    Talk with someone. Talking does wonders especially under stressful situations like this. You need this person to listen to you and offer advice if needed. He or she should be your sounding board, a person you trust.
·    Accept reality. Yes it’s hard but the earliest you accept it, the better you’ll cope with the situation. Also, knowing where you are right now and being certain of what’s in store for your senior will help you make a better decision in the future.
·    Respect your senior’s decisions. They may seem bizarre and unacceptable at times but if it’s what your senior wants then by all means, give it! Always acknowledge the fact that you and your senior can never have the same opinions in each and every issue that will come your way.
·    Acknowledge disappointments and allow mourning. Having to undergo continuous medications, treatments and whatnot can be frustrating at times, especially if they were done in vain. These things you need to accept and move on. Bear in mind that there are indeed things you cannot control.
·    Make new happy memories with your senior. It’s never too late to make one. Surprise him or her with an impromptu get together party with close friends and relatives, if your senior is up for it or perhaps visit a place where he or she is at their most peaceful.
·    Be more in-tune with yourself. By identifying your emotional reactions to different kinds of situation, you are better equipped in dealing with them.
·    Take time to smell the flowers. This will remind you that there is life outside of caregiving. For some, it may bring about feelings of guilt but it will help you hope for a brighter future than dwell on the fact that you are losing a loved-one.

When you talk about virtual offices, virtual assistants are never too far out of mind. In fact, it would be the next big thing you’ll ever do for your virtual office, especially as your business expands. Many seniors may frown with this idea as it is a fairly new way of conducting business and it requires certain level of techie “know-how”. However, hiring a virtual assistant has many, many benefits and it, like a virtual office would, can save you a lot in the long run!
Somewhere in this blog, I have discussed how out-of-work seniors can explore the many possibilities of freelance work, both online and offline. It includes virtual assistance which I find both flexible enough to handle and challenging enough to keep your aging brain in working order.  On the other hand, seniors need not to be on this side forever, as more and more retirees are starting out their small businesses and eventually will need services of an assistant.
I understand it can be doubtful at times as you will be working with someone remotely, and it is very possible to not meet your virtual assistant personally EVER. It can be scary especially scams infest the internet in overwhelming proportions but believe me, when you finally meet your match, you are most likely to tell yourself that the risk you have taken is all worth it.
FIND YOUR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
There are many online marketplaces today which house different kinds of virtual assistants from all over the world. If you are comfortable working with someone through emails, chats and calls only, then you can hire someone from faraway countries such as India and the Philippines. These countries usually charge lower than other foreign countries which can definitely save you a lot of money. However, you can also hire someone local for a much cheaper rate than having them go to the office everyday! What’s more important is that the hiring senior knows exactly what he wants from a virtual assistant prior to the scouting process. Best stick with reputable marketplaces when posting for a VA job.
HIRING YOUR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
After posting the job, you are sure to get bids. Depending on the job description you posted, you can receive at least 10 candidates up to a hundred within a minute. Now you can look at their profiles and assess if their skills are what you need. Their profiles are most likely to have their work history, time worked if the marketplace is an escrow service and feedbacks from their previous clients. These things will help you make the right decision in choosing a provider. Rates also vary depending on the extent of work and expertise the virtual assistant may have.  Like traditional office setup, you will have to set an appointment for interview so take note of the time differences. You, as the hiring party, should be able to set rules such as what you expect from your VA and what tasks are to be done.
LAST NOTES
Connection is very important as your virtual assistant will be working with you very closely. In fact, he or she may know way more about you and your business than your partner so make sure that both of you are on the same page. Give your VA a probation period of one to two weeks, and make sure she knows it. By that time, you’ll be able to determine if she’s good for you or if you need to go look for someone else all over again.