Seniors Site

Unfortunately, growing old means change of eating habits too since the body no longer possesses the flexibility and adaptability it once had. For one, due to everyday wear and tear, your digestive system must be having a difficult time now processing the food you eat. This would mean foregoing those sinfully delicious foods and beverages you’ve grown to love. To make matters worse, this seems to be not a choice for you to make. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to keep some of your unhealthy diet habits but most of it should really go if you want to keep living a healthy life longer than it should be.

Here are some basic food groups that you should be avoiding now, especially if lifestyle disease symptoms are beginning to show:

·    Fried Foods. Need to say more? We already know why this food group is bad for us without me having to say it. The term alone can bring shivers down our spine but you must admit, deepfrieds are good but they can be deadly. In fact, it is a major contributing factor of obesity among older people.
·    Artificial sweeteners. Granted, they are sweet and it brings no guilt whatsoever. No more bland foods for you now because of these mini-wonders but you also know these things are pure chemicals right? So chemically-laden that I almost believe it should belong to a drugstore rather than the supermarket. Aside from that, the very first artificial sweetener to ever hit the market was banned due to its addictive components so if you are doing it just for fun then I would suggest go find another object of amusement and prolong your life.
·    Grilled foods. Bbq parties are the greatest and honestly, It’s one gathering that I wouldn’t dare miss! Unfortunately, grilled foods are included in the “no-no” list as studies show that charred foods develop carcinogens which will then be transferred to your body upon consumption.
·    Processed foods. Although they originated from natural products, they went through “processing” which closely resembles dousing the supposedly natural product with God-only-knows-what chemicals to make it last longer. If I will go look for unprocessed food, there are two words I am most likely to avoid: expiry date. It if has one, then it must be “processed”.
·    Premade foods/frozen food trays or what we fondly called as TV dinners. These babies are absolute fun! You just stick them inside the microwave and viola! Instant meal that is filling and not to mention, addictive regardless of their form and semblance but you know it still falls under the “processed’ category right? If you would like to go for premade, opt to prepare your own during weekends or whenever you are free then just freeze it.

Centuries back, Celiac disease was known to exclusively plague kids until the later years of 1990’s when it was found out to be an inborn disease which many of us were said to have, only we were vaguely aware of it. Babies are known to be sensitive to many things, or we tend to be very observant around them thus early signs of the disease are detected at once. We believed Celiac disease to be something that can be outgrown, only to be corrected by medical researchers claiming otherwise. Now, Celiac disease is established as an auto-immune disorder that is both inborn and lifelong.

This medical development gave birth to what is now known as gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diet is a must for all Celiac disease sufferers and for those with gluten allergies. Dermatitis herpetiformis is known to have a very strong link to the aforementioned disease and is suspected of being Celiac disease’s complication. Since the lifestyle has diet written all over it, diet gurus are quick to pick up, evangelizing gluten to be a bad protein that harms the body.

Celiac disease tends to be harder to spot than most illnesses since its symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe. Because of this, health care providers now consider Celiac disease when checking a patient. What bothers these health care providers is the staggering number of seniors whom they suspect of having the disease. When left untreated, it can trigger, or even lead to, most fatal diseases such as gastric cancer, liver cancer, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease. Upon consumption of gluten, the most typical symptoms of Celiac disease are weight loss, anemia and diarrhea. A gluten-free diet is known to alleviate symptoms and help improve the sufferer’s health tremendously.

At early stages, Celiac disease is not at all fatal but its complications prove to be one. It triggers underlying diseases making it manifest prematurely and when they do, they are often unmanageable. When left undetected—and untreated—it can cause the sufferer great deal of pain later in life. Studies have shown Celiac disease to be hereditary so when your grandson’s pediatrician diagnosed him to have one, it is better to have yourself checked too by your own doctor. Working with your doctor proves to be the best thing you can do to keep the disease in check.

Aging brings inevitable problems to a person. A senior may experience more health problems than his or her aging neighbor while the neighbor may have been going through a lot emotionally nowadays. A senior can be bothered by health problems or mental problems—or worst, both. Unfortunately, it really happens even if we take certain precautionary measures to avoid them. It seems that as we age, these problems will come up no matter what. Of course, the number of problems that will occur can vary widely, depending on how good you managed to skip or delay them during your lifetime. This also includes your genes since hereditary factors play a very significant role in one’s aging.

According to a survey conducted to a group of people aging 65 and beyond, problems of old age come in two forms. One is emotionally and two is physically. Experts believe that these two are actually intertwined, which means, if one area is suffering, the other might also be taking the same blow. Here are some examples of emotional problems senior must have encountered once or twice during old age:

·    Insecurity. Lack of security in seniors could come from their current financial status or the sudden loss of upper hand within the family.
·    Critical judgment. Most seniors tend to be hypercritical especially towards the younger generation. Seniors cannot be blamed though, after all they have been through.
·    A nagging feeling that somehow you’ve failed. When we’re done criticizing others, we now turn to ourselves.
·    Stopped setting goals. When faced with the reality that the end might come nearer than expected, we see no use for long-term goals and instead we get stuck in the past.
·    Culture shock. Seniors often find themselves quite disturbed with what has been happening around them thus the feeling of being alienated from their surroundings.
·    Knowing all the answers and yet no one bothered to ask. Feeling useless is often a discomforting feeling for seniors.

Aside from these troubling emotional problems for seniors, there are marked physical changes that they need to contend with. Of course, as we age, so does our bodies. Like machines, every part has an expiry date. This is when your body parts start to show signs of wear and tear. Some of the most common health problems for seniors are:

·    Hypertension.
·    Eye and Ear problems.
·    Heart problems.
·    Impaired mental capacity.
·    Your reproductive organs.
·    Hormonal problems.
·    Digestive system.
·    Sleeping patterns.

Like stated earlier, most problems of old age are related to one another. It is best to find the connection between each of them to know the root cause of your problem. This way, it will be easier to find the perfect solution to help you overcome the problem.

Single and alone? Nah. Seniors today can be single but definitely not alone come holiday season and there’s no reason to be lonely as well. Gone are the days when seniors mourn to death after a loved-one has gone. Of course, they will not be forgotten but it seems, seniors nowadays are more ready to move on and not dwell longer than one should. Thanks to healthier lives and positive outlook, being single later in life is not anymore considered as unique, in fact, some seniors who encountered a bad marriage in their midlife prefer to stay single until the day they die. Not for fear of having yet another bad partner but just because they have learned to live happily on their own.

There are many ways to enjoy the holiday season even without having to feel like a third wheel to your married friends or ending up as a nanny to your grandkids. Here are some few suggestions that you might want to try:

·    If your vacationing kids are not inviting you for an out-of-town trip this holiday season, then leave them be. Plan your own trip with your single friends and see how fun it can be! There are many tourist destinations that you can check out today at very affordable rates.
·    Most travel packages come with itinerary. These are fun activities to know better the destination you are in. Usually, they are conducted in groups of mix and matched people which can also be a great way to meet new acquaintances. What better way to enjoy your vacation than meeting new friends along the way right? Just think of the possibilities!
·    If going out-of-town is not an option for you right now, then you might want to look into other fun activities around your area. You can also take advantage of this special time to rejuvenate yourself by going to relaxation therapy sessions or just doing the things you love to do. If, for some reason, being alone scares you, you might want to visit an orphanage and share your blessings there.
·    Being a senior need not be boring. Visit exotic cities and get ready to be captured by its very essence. A city that is full of life never fails to amuse even the loneliest heart.
·    You have every right to celebrate even if you are a single senior. Bear in mind that you are not alone as more and more seniors are moving in to singletown looking for friendship. Also, happiness is a choice. It is your decision to stay happy or not so use it well.

Imagine a life without an eyesight, or perhaps one day you’ll wake up and discover a world that is much lesser in color and not as bright as it once was. As we grow older, our vision is expected to undergo some changes. While there are few others who made it to their golden years with as little as few prescription eyeglasses, almost half of the senior population is not as lucky–bound to completely lose their eyesight anytime soon. Unfortunately, this is all because they have failed to take care of their eyes.

According to eye experts, age is not the only contributing factor for failing eyesight. Age, although closely associated to eye problems, is only one of the many factors which results to an eye problem. For one, there is an existing hereditary factor which is present right after a person is conceived. Next is the lifestyle we chose to lead. Bottomline is, when you start to consider your eyes as a separate entity which needs to be taken care of, you increase your chances of delaying–if not preventing altogether–eye problems from happening. Here are some tips on how to minimize your risk early on:

·    Once you reach the age of 40, start visiting an eye doctor for regular checkups. Also, take note of any disease that you may have right now. Diabetes is a disease known to affect one’s eyesight. If you have one, you should take extra care of your eyes once you notice slight abnormalities and even before it.
·    Having a poor eyesight is an accident waiting to happen. A senior with an eye problem is prone to slips and falls increasing their chances of fractures. Failing eyesight cannot be stopped once it transpires, but some safety measures can be applied such as installing brighter lights all throughout the house.
·    Smoking can cause age-related macular degeneration.
·    The sun’s glare is also damaging for your eyes. Never look at it directly for whatever reason and protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses when you go out.
·    Have your daily dose of vitamins A, C and E. They are good for your eyes.  Examples of which are carrots, fruits and spinach.
·    Prevention is always better than cure—the same cannot be said enough for your eyes.
·    Eye injuries can occur anytime. Protect your eyes at all times especially when you come in contact with potential causes like spray cans and cleaning products.
·    Heed its call. When your eyes are tired, it will definitely let you know. Once it does, then its time to give it its much-deserved rest.
·    It is common for seniors to experience eyes that are either extremely dry or annoyingly wet. It happens when your tear glands are not working properly anymore. Eye drops can help you alleviate these symptoms and it must come with a prescription. Talk to your eye doctor about it.

As humans, we certainly do experience many kinds of pain all throughout our lifetimes and as much as God has given us the ability to feel pain, He too provides all the necessary tools for us to overcome it. It seems that pain is allowed to be felt for us to learn and see things from a different perspective. Pain’s never meant to damage our beings, they are just there to remind us that we are humans with feelings and limitations, otherwise, we will all be invincible.

Pain also teaches us life’s lessons. Physically when we feel pain, we remember it for as long as we live since pain usually comes with fear. We avoid it as much as possible upon learning how upsetting it can be. However, unexpected things happen even if we always step out of its way. One way or another, pain is bound to happen. Seniors know this all too well.

If younger adults are more concerned about their physical well-being, seniors on the other hand, guard their emotional beings with their lives since it is the most vulnerable at their age. Seniors are prone to extreme emotions but they are too “experienced”, enabling them to hide it successfully for longer periods of time. What seniors don’t know is, hiding pain is the unhealthiest act of them all and it can affect your overall health. It can cripple you too, making you unproductive and often distracted.

Pain is natural and it will come. What matters is how we handle ourselves amidst pain and our ability to bounce back alive and fairly unscathed. When met with physical pain, just go to a doctor and it will all go away. But with emotional pain, you only have yourself to turn to. Learn to be your own source of happiness and explore what satisfies your spirituality. These are the two things that will help you take emotional pain in stride. It is only normal to sulk and mourn, use this time to unburden yourself of the pain you are feeling right now, not nourishing it even further.

Don’t expect healing to come right after the mourning period. It takes time to heal, as with any other wound. Aside from that, mourning has its own course to run, that’s why you need to be patient and take everything one at a time. It’s a personal journey that nobody else can take but you. The sooner you recognize this, the better are your chances of getting over it soon.

There are things in life that you need to hold on to like hope, but when done for a lost cause, what’s there to hold on to? There are times you need to let go and move on, for your own good. Life will just go on and on, holding back will get you nowhere but where life had left you. Every episode of pain comes with renewal, look forward to one.

If at some point you feel there’s not enough will in you to use for moving on, talk to your healthcare provider and seek other ways to overcome pain. Pain only becomes more painful when it is duly entertained. There are some people who are more than willing to help us get over our loss, you just need to find them.

Contrary to popular notion, seniors do have sex lives too. Nowadays, many seniors are enjoying close, intimate encounters with their partners, never minding their sexual limitations—things that are beyond their control. The good news is, these sexual problems can be discussed with your healthcare providers and they can be helped—even treated—when assisted early on. An active sex life during your senior years can be achieved, especially if you’re all out in pursuing it. In fact, studies show that sexual satisfaction does not diminish with age but is rather hindered by age-related health conditions.

Certain physical changes come with the aging process. Your sexual functions, together with your reproductive system are the firsts to go. No matter how much you want to engage in sexual activities—since desire can still be felt—sometimes, the body may not react the same way as it used to be. Older women may feel their vaginas literally shrinking while men must have been experiencing erectile dysfunction every now and then. Lubrication is also a problem for senior women. Unfortunately, this condition can have a tremendous effect in sexual contacts women may have. Vaginal dryness can bring discomfort and sometimes pain, making it hard for the sufferer to enjoy sex. Sexual problems are mostly caused by age-related conditions such as:

·    Medication
·    Disabilities
·    Illnesses

Heart attack, being a condition that limits the use of excessive emotions, can make a person doubtful during sexual encounters for fear of triggering the condition or making the matter worse. Furthermore, women who underwent surgeries especially those within their genital areas are more careful when it comes to sex—to a point wherein they avoid doing it as much as possible. For one, a woman who recently underwent mastectomy is prone to feeling undesirable and less feminine. If the partner is not sensitive enough of the sufferer’s feelings, it may even leave an emotional dent in the relationship.

Aside from erectile dysfunction, one of the most common culprits that affects a man’s ability to have a healthy sex life is his medication. Some maintenance medications that are taken by older men are known to decrease sexual desire and worsen erectile dysfunction. Common drugs that are known to have this side effect are those prescribed for blood pressure, antidepressants, and even antihistamines.

For seniors who worry about their declining sexual activities, you should know that sex takes two aspects in a person. One aspect is emotional while the other half is physical. If one aspect is not up for it, chances are, it won’t work or in other words, it won’t be as satisfying as it should be. Nurture these two areas while you can and there will be no stopping you from having sex, even at any age.

When we get older, one of the most common questions that we may have is how to live longer and healthier. As seniors, we know that it is always proper nutrition and exercise so as soon as we recognize the signs of aging, we quickly jump into the “health wagon”, hoping that it’s not too late for us. What we don’t know is that prevention starts earlier than we ever expected and people who actually grow older than a hundred are living healthy since birth.

Knowing this for a fact should teach us not to expect too much especially if we start treating ourselves right a little too late. On the other hand, it’s better late than never right? Plus, healthy changes in your lifestyle can never hurt you.

According to a study conducted to a group of senior men, age is not the only factor that affects longevity. Among the top 5 affecting factors in one’s health, particularly that of an aging man, are:  smoking, diabetes, weight, blood pressure and exercise. These health factors increase the risk of dying early tremendously. This study also concluded that those who survived are living well despite any diseases they may have right now. This only shows that even if seniors are plagued with illnesses, their healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to stop but it has to be maintained all throughout.

Smoking is one of the best-known killers of all time and it becomes doubly harmful for seniors. Its direct effects are fatal enough but long term use has its own set of side-effects that can seriously impair a man. It can reduce bone density exposing you to fractures. Quitting the smoking habit can be your best choice, so far and quitting it early is definitely a plus. Read more about this study in this post:    5 Easy Steps to Living Long and Well.

It is also recommended by healthcare providers for seniors to maintain an adequate weight by eating healthy and exercising as much as possible. Along with aging comes the tendency of the digestive system to slow down making it harder for the body to remove toxins. To combat this condition, digestion-friendly foods should be introduced. Fiber should be included in a senior’s diet since it aids in healthy digestion and removal of waste. Hydration is also important in maintaining a healthy body.

Overall, keeping all aspects of your life active is your best weapon in maintaining a healthy, longer life. This involves physical, social, emotional and spiritual. Start early so the body can adjust well even before it shows signs of aging.

The Art of Mindfulness was introduced as one of the many concepts of early Buddhism that’s still put in practice today due to its effectivity to calm the mind. In this concept, one is taught how to be conscious and aware of what the body is currently doing. It involves sensations, feelings, emotions and functions. Mindfulness techniques can teach you how to stay focused on the “now” and simplify life as it is. In western psychology, these techniques are also applied to alleviate most mental and physical conditions.

The idea behind Mindfulness is being consciously present on what is happening to your body right now and be able to disconnect yourself from all bothering thoughts of the past, future and other tidbits hidden deep within your subconscious mind. These negative thoughts are considered as stress factors and should be eliminated when practicing mindfulness. It was believed that a clear, conscious mind can help you achieve goals better than having your stressors push you everytime. Also, mindfulness yields better results since a person is deemed productive when he is mindful. However, there are some techniques in mindfulness that contradict other productivity principles.

Before adapting mindfulness into your life, you must remember that it is a kind of meditation practiced by Buddhists for centuries now. It is meant to relax your mind and free yourself of stress. It is most recommended for seniors who cannot afford anymore stress in their lives and subjecting themselves into one can even be harmful for their health. Here are some basic mindfulness techniques you can do today:

·    Avoid automatic reactions. When we do everyday tasks, our bodies immediately recognize the task hence turns on an automatic reaction to finish the task. It involves every muscle fiber in our body directly following orders from an “auto-piloted” mind. Notice how you absent-mindedly do household chores and finish it without even thinking about it or do them while your mind is wandering off to the next task. Being mindful is focusing your mind on what you do now.
·    Avoid multi-tasking at all costs. It is impossible to be mindful if there’s a barrage of whatnots going through your head. Multi-tasking is never encouraged in mindfulness. It will only confuse the mind resulting to undesirable results.
·    Worrying about the future will do you no good. If you have prepared well for it, there’s no need to worry about what the future holds. Surrender everything to the higher beings and enjoy the present moment because if it passes, it won’t ever come back.
·    Your aging body has had enough of living the fast-paced life and slowing down will certainly make your soul happy. Don’t rush through tasks in attempt to do it all at once. Give your body a chance to relax and do things at its own comfortable pace.
·    Spend time with loved-ones. I mean, REALLY spend time with them by being consciously there, absorbing every minute of it. You’ll soon realize that there’s more fun in bonding with them and appreciating the beauty of it.
·    Give yourself a quiet, 5-minute “me” time. This way, you’ll be able to rest your whole being and just relax. In a way, you’re also preparing for the next task ahead.

Stress can occur anytime, anywhere and can be caused by numerous factors. In fact, stress is a very general term used if the body experiences tension and unnatural discomfort. It can be physically, emotionally and mentally or even a combination of two. But, going to work seems to be the most stressful of them all since the workplace involves ALL factors of stress.

Please be reminded that when a person reaches a certain age, the body is no longer pliable to external assaults such as stress. When stress is induced to an aging body, it will then respond differently by bringing out underlying diseases and illnesses. These conditions are considered as stress-triggered and usually don’t have any existing cure yet.

Stress in the workplace is hard to ignore. It’s always there and no matter how hard you try to leave it when it’s time to come home, it will just follow you like a shadow. The best thing to do is try to minimize the stress as much as possible. Remember that it is your health that’s at stake so you really need to do something before it gets the best of you.

TIME AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT

When at work, your mortal enemy would be time. Time can do a lot of things to a person. It can even drive you crazy if you let it be. Along with time management, you also need to learn how to manage your energy and make it last longer so you don’t have to come home tired and stressed. In energy management, you need to know when you feel productive during the day and take on jobs that are appropriate for your energy level. Take small breaks in between jobs so you don’t lose momentum without draining your body of much-needed energy. Forget multitasking, it’s not healthy for you.

THE ART OF PRIORITIZING

Prioritizing means knowing what should be done first. It involves creating a timeline for your projects which will clearly indicate what needs to be done in advance and what can be left out for later. It also involves knowing when is the right time to do some certain tasks. Timing is important, know when to attack.

ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE!

Things are done better and more efficient when they are properly organized. Organization also means knowing how to delegate tasks and be able to monitor the project’s progress. You don’t have to do everything by yourself because if you do, you’re only subjecting yourself in a lot of stress. Find the most suitable person for a certain task and let them do the work. This will give you enough space to think of other productive approaches for the project at hand.