Seniors Site

Time and again, I post safety tips for seniors. It’s because I believe people my age are usually in dire risk in emergency situations like earthquakes and fire. Aside from that, due to limited range of motion, seniors were left behind most of the time. Although I really couldn’t blame their caregivers, considering basic human instinct to save themselves first kicking in, helpless seniors are often left to protect themselves and squeeze out of the situation in one piece! Unfortunately, only a few manage to actually do it.
Also, take note that seniors are often, masters of procrastination. Ask a group of seniors who amongst them has an emergency kit ready at home and I bet you, there will only be 1 out of 10! That’s the problem with seniors, if it’s too bad, we tend to just delay it, hoping that it will go away eventually. However, disasters, as we all know, strike at most inconvenient times—usually when we are not prepared for it—and now that different parts of the world experienced strong earthquakes with disastrous results, we should plan for it now more than ever!
Earthquake preparedness involves what a senior should do before an earthquake strikes. One of the first things you should check is how “prepared” your surroundings are, especially within places you are most likely to be found such as your office or your favorite spot in the house. Imagine yourself in case of an earthquake such as: where you should go or how to get there safely. Make sure nothing could fall on you like bookshelf or any heavy object. If these things cannot be avoided, secure them to the wall so they will not topple over. Prepare an emergency kit enough to last you three days. That’s enough time for your local government to reach and assist your with your basic needs. Your emergency kit should compose of medications, food and water, your personal needs such as canes and prescription glasses and flashlights.
During an earthquake, the only thing you should do is protect your head at all times. The rule of thumb is to dock, cover the head and hold on. The safest locations are doorframes and under a sturdy table or desk, if you can get under it without hurting yourself.  If it’s impossible to move at all, then stay where you are as it is possibly the safest as of the moment.
Right after the earthquake, stay calm and stay prepared, in case an aftershock occurs. Assess damage, if there’s any. Notify your neighbors that you are okay and if you plan to stay with them, leave a note to let people who are concerned about your safety know where you are at the moment.

This amuses me, as I am guilty as charged! Sometimes I use my apparent forgetfulness as an excuse when it’s really a case of procrastination and I must admit, most of whom I have caused trouble due to my love for excessive procrastinating did accept my excuse without an iota of doubt. Of course, at the back of my mind, I feel guilt and sometimes the nagging feeling to cram and still finish my tasks—which are now seriously delayed—as, sort of, damage control.
I would say, with years of experience and expertise, me and almost half of the senior population—okay maybe even more—are indeed masters of procrastination. Honed by practice, we developed this uncanny ability to procrastinate without detection. Due to this, seldom do you find someone accusing us of procrastinating, only a nod of soulful understanding with a little bit of pity thrown to this potentially Alzheimer’s disease-laden senior. These were the times when I didn’t really know whether to laugh, snicker or feel bad about it. Of course, who would want to be suspected of such terrible disease? Unfortunately, drastic times call for drastic measures.
Procrastination in seniors is way more than just simple laziness. Sometimes we procrastinate to convince ourselves that we still have that much time on our hands. We would like to believe that delaying things will make bad, bitter things go away. That, I find true when I need to submit myself to an annual medical checkups. As well as, when I need to put together an emergency kit in case a fire/natural calamity/disaster strikes. No matter how important they are, seniors try to put these tasks further back in their “to-do” list.
Speaking of lists, I find that when I write down all the things I need to do today or tomorrow or even the day after that, I stand reminded of the things I should be doing in a somewhat chronological order. To further enhance my organizational skills, I number each task according to priority. This way, if and when procrastination attacks, I can just reschedule for the next day and just do those things that are needed to be done today. I know, I am a chronic procrastinator and there’s nothing I can do about it! In some rare days when I feel I can do so much, I try to do non-priority things in advance.
Expert says that procrastination can lead to stress and when you undergo stress management sessions, procrastination is one of those things that they will teach you to avoid. To some extent, I must admit, yes, but when you reach a certain age when no one is expecting you to move faster, procrastination becomes as normal as your sagging belly.

If there’s one group of people who gets classified in two contradicting characteristics, it must be the seniors’ group. Why? It is because we’re believed to be wise due to the countless life experiences we were able to gather through the years and yet, midlifers—particularly our kids–see us as gullible human beings. How on earth can a person be wise and gullible at the same time? Well apparently, or so others believe, seniors can be both.
I say, getting manipulated is not at all age-related, nor a phenomena that occurs only during the so-called golden age. Anyone can fall into someone else’s manipulative scheme if they are not too careful or they tend to easily trust what other people say. Aside from that, let’s consider the fact that most con artists pick on seniors as their prey just because these seniors are either too lonely and in obvious need of a companion or they have an amazing amount of money stashed somewhere—in some cases, both.
Sadly, there are other forms of manipulation which are not intended to snatch your pot of gold but rob your self respect. You may or may not recognize it at once but most of the time, you feel bad and really frustrated since it sort of “locked” you in a situation less desired. Manipulation occurs when someone have it their way and never bothering about you. It can be a boss who refuses to hear your opinions, instead, adamantly insists on doing things to his liking, or it can be a friend who always calls during ungodly hours just to have a chat with you, mostly to tell you her latest adventures.
What seniors should know is that, master manipulators actually size up their potential prey prior to moving in for the kill. In other words, they try to gauge the opposite person if they can be manipulated or not. With that said, you should be conscious enough of your actions and try to create an impression that you are not the type they are looking for. Here are the usual warning flags that you should avoid:
·    Being passive. You just let everything pass you by, even if they are annoying. You don’t acknowledge your true feelings just because you hate confrontations and are afraid that someone might get hurt.
·    Allowing others to control your life. You just go with the flow. You let someone else move you to places. You never decide for yourself.
·    Afraid of your own opinions. You get all nervous just by the thought of opening your mouth and having your say on important issues.
·    Fickle-minded. When you jump from one decision to another and then back again even without strong and apparent reason, it expresses your inability to make strong judgment.
·    Approval seeker. One strong sign of insecurity.
·    Not valuing one’s self. If you love yourself, you know that there are some people who are just not worth your time and effort.

If there’s one thing that surely boggles the mind, it’s the filing of income tax. Unfortunately, it’s mandatory for all adults who walk the streets and use public facilities. Lucky for those who’re able to hire a good accountant for they don’t have to worry about overlooking some things that may or may not benefit the filing senior. Since you’re paying these people good money, might as well have them looking through holes, nooks and crannies! But how about those seniors who only have themselves to rely on? Easy, just ask about tax counseling offered by organizations within your area.
As you can see, every country or state has their own set of rules when it comes to taxes, part of the reason why it’s quite hard to get clear tax guidelines over the internet. I know, because I tried so many times and I must admit, I grew crazy just by looking at them files. With that said, I’ll just speak in a general manner. If you think some of the things here apply to you then consult authorities within your area to know if they are indeed applicable under your laws.
Your filing status is one of the most important things in filing your income tax. This will be the first basis on how and what range your papers should be processed. As a rule of thumb, the status “single” is the costliest of all; “married” will be treated under combined income with your spouse’s  and the cheapest of all is the “head of household” wherein you are “single” but directly and financially in-charge of the whole household i.e caring for your elderly parents or sending your grandkids to school.
Gross income would be everything that has earned you in forms of money, property or even services. Because seniors’ income may come from many different sources and forms plus taking into consideration their age, they are usually given special treatment during process. On the other hand, gift and inheritance don’t qualify under gross income but are subjected under gift and estate taxes. Also, some supportive services are excluded in your gross income.
I believe life insurances are not subjected to tax as well as health insurances.
Furthermore, if you are paying for your loved-one’s education, you may qualify for some exemption so you better prepare necessary papers for it too. Compensations you may get from disabilities are generally not included in your gross income but there are certain types of compensation that may be subjected to tax.
Aside from tax deductions, you can also take advantage of tax credits to lower your taxes to be paid. If you are an elderly person, or disabled, you are qualified for special tax credit while caring for a disabled person will qualify the caregiver for a tax credit.
Bottom line is, don’t be afraid to include everything that completes your gross income then think of all those credit deductions you might be eligible for. Of course, don’t forget to consider your tax credit, if any.

Your fashion sense should not go as you age. Granted, it’s somewhat insane to wear the clothes you used to love 20 years back and seniors are encouraged to choose comfortable cuts in subdued colors but that doesn’t mean seniors are not allowed to look good and feel good in what they wear everyday!

Bear in mind that “fashion rules” for seniors are made with their health and comfortability in mind. We all know that sometimes being fashionable involves great stress and risks. For one, wearing outrageously high heels are not advisable for seniors since by this time, they couldn’t establish good balance anymore thus it can put seniors in great risk for injuries. No matter how healthy you are right now, being fashionable means knowing what looks great on you regardless of age. Fashion need not be painful; here are some easy fashion tips for elderly women:

·    Forget about fads. Usually they are made for younger people and somewhat unfit for seniors. Don’t seek counsel from magazines too especially if they are not for seniors. The best thing to do is browse through catalogs and online stores selling senior clothes. This way you’ll have an idea of what looks good and what probably won’t work for you.
·    Wear the clothes that compliment your lifestyle. If you are having trouble hand-washing your clothes then go for those you can machine-wash. Having trouble with zippers? Then go for Velcro.
·    Cardigans and sweaters are staples to a senior’s closet. Invest in them by purchasing only those durable ones since they can withstand everyday wear and tear. The greatest thing about this kind of clothing is that they know no age and they do come in cute designs too.
·    Go for comfortable shoes. For everyday shoes, go for flat ones. When you need to wear heels, opt to wear those low-heeled ones so you can still look good and stay safe at the same time.
·    Right accessories make an ensemble even brighter. Choose accessories that will compliment your style. Classic jewelries are the best choice for seniors since they can be paired with almost anything you have in your closet.
·    Lost when it comes to fashion? Take after senior celebrities. Choose your own fashion icon whom you can imitate. Just make sure that the one you have chosen is more or less your size and shape so that you won’t look awkward wearing her style.
·    Wear your self confidence. The clothes you wear don’t make you fashionable, it’s how you carry yourself. When you are comfortable with what you are wearing, you feel great. That alone will warrant great success in being fashionable at any age.

Of all the losses a senior must face in his or her lifetime, the hardest must be the death of a grandchild. The bond between a senior and a grandchild is known to surpass any definition there is in a dictionary. In fact, most seniors can attest to the fact that sometimes, it is easier to love a grandchild than to accept their own children’s fault and limitations. For a grandchild, grandparents are considered as heroes such that when they encountered any kind of discomfort, a grandparent can magically make it all go away. They are often considered as security blankets, ready to envelope them in times of need. That level of need makes it easier for seniors to extend their love, care and support for their grandchildren without expecting anything great in return.

Because of this ever-so-unique ties that bind a grandparent to the grandchild, dealing with the loss of the latter is both unbearable and confusing to the former. Some seniors who underwent a situation like this describes the experience as holding a double-edged sword cutting you both ways. You feel pain for the terrible loss but at the same time, you also see your own child needing your support now, more than ever. The situation calls for your strength so it is but normal for you to set aside your own feelings and mourn later. Also, losing a grandchild is a surreal experience which lends seniors a different perspective in life later on.

While mourning could be healthier for seniors when faced with death of a loved-one, these are the times when your innate nature as a parent kicks in. Most probably you will find yourself concentrating more to your own child’s needs and stepping in when the need arises. These are normal reactions and also, they are quite expected from a parent like you but you should also consider allowing yourself a little time to grieve. This way you can now share your strength to its fullest extent without feeling hurt, guilt and even remorse.

Dealing with death is never easy. As a parent, it is much easier to wish all the pain away. Sadly, it is something that is easier said than done. Seniors should remember that no matter how hard we pray for our children to get their normal lives back, it will take some time for the pain to subside–and still after that, life can never be the same again. Hopelessness may set in but rest assured that your presence during this time of need is much appreciated by the receiving end.

Your emotional stability is the most important tool you can use when salvaging a life that’s shattered by a child’s death. Learn to listen to your bereaved child and keep your emotions in check. Seek support when needed just so you will have an outlet for your own grievances too.

Remember those family trees with funny pictures you get to present in class when you were younger? If you happen to stumble upon one of yours or even your grandkid’s family tree project—if they even get to make those nowadays!—up in the attic today, you will know how good it feels just by looking at them and knowing where your roots are and how they have grown through the years.

Tracing your roots is a fun and fulfilling activity. It was even said that knowing where you came from is very essential to complete one’s being. It’s only then you can rest your troubled soul and be comfortable with your own person. Just take the case of an adopted child whose parents he never saw; just imagine the uneasiness his soul must have been going through all these years and I bet it won’t rest until he finds the only connection he has in this world—a connection only his biological parents can provide. Back then, tracing your roots can be a daunting task to take especially for seniors whose feet may be taken to different parts of the world in search of the missing link or a long-lost cousin. All thanks to the advent of technology, particularly that of the internet, genealogy is made easy and quite frankly, it’s amazing how people who are into genealogy help one another to find their roots the soonest possible time.

If this post got you interested with genealogy, you should know that there are about a hundred of genealogy sites in the web community today. This can make it a lot easier for you to start hunting down your relatives from way back when. The best way to start your adventure is to gather up everything you have—and might have—in your possession: pictures of family gatherings, documents, and even heirlooms. These are your clues in what seems to be a treasure hunt of your history. To make it more interesting, find a family member who is dead-set in finding his or her roots too to accompany you in this search. This makes a great bonding time for you and your kids also.

Interviews in forms of chitchats with relatives should also be performed when gathering clues. Your best candidate would be someone who was born several years before you, preferably a minimum of 10 years but when there’s none then anyone who’s nosy enough to know distant relatives unbeknownst to you would do fine. They don’t have to know specific dates or years as it may be a little hard to remember all that but names and locations can definitely help you so much. Jot down notes and go to your friendly neighborhood library where newspaper clippings are free for everyone to view. I hear these collections are now kept in slides for easy browsing. You can also consult your ever-dependable Google and just type in your keywords. Some areas still have a Family History Center, although it can be rare, but if yours happen to have one then you’re in luck!

Try to come up with important documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates, wills and just about anything that has a definite date you can look up to. This way you will have a clear point of reference, time-wise. When faced with a dead-end, it’s ok to feel disappointed but it also helps to bounce back and try other leads once more since this activity should be fun and must yield positive results for you.

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.

Planning for your retirement should not be all about the financial aspect of it. In fact, retirement is considered as one of life-changing events a man is expected to undergo at some point of their lives. If a senior is lucky and was able to retire earlier than expected, is in great health and not too old to have fun, he or she would be able to adjust and fit well enough to the retired life. Unfortunately, not all seniors are that lucky and like they say, seniors’ habit is the hardest to bend.

One aspect in a senior’s life that needs to be addressed when planning a retirement is the emotional aspect of it especially when living with a partner. Whether or not your partner is also undergoing this transition, it is highly recommended for the couple to sit down and talk about retirement before it actually happens since retired life is sure to affect both parties concerned. As a couple, issues must be discussed such as moving, lifestyle changes, vacations, expectations and such. Basically, it is necessary for retiring couples to consult one another before making a decision and never assume that your partner is totally okay with what you have in mind. Take for example this case:

Mimi is a sculptor. She sculpts not only for passion and fulfillment but for the good money it brings her. She managed to fulfill her duties as a wife and mother for years, at the same time do what she does best, sculpting. She observed her talent at its peak when everyone is out of the house and she’s left alone with her craft. She find silence as her best tool in sculpting. She has her own work room at the back of the house facing the river. Everything’s fine and working well until Rick decided to retire. Aside from having Rick around the house 24/7, he expects Mimi to accompany him on endless road trips now that the kids are all grown up and there’s no work to worry about. This “new” set-up definitely drives Mimi crazy and Rick is clueless why Mimi is acting strange nowadays. Sounds familiar?

The case of Mimi and Rick must be the poster child of “financially stable but emotionally unprepared for it” retirement. In Mimi’s part, she did not expect Rick to be a nuisance and had not seen it coming for if she did, she would have arranged an agreeable set-up for both of them. As you can see, sculpting is Mimi’s life and she’s nowhere near giving it up. From Rick’s point, due to many years of being work-bound, he quickly jumped into retirement plans without even consulting his wife. A major disaster indeed!

Like any other life changing event, retirement should be prepared ahead of time. It should be discussed well if you have a living partner, or any other household member for that matter, to avoid emotional stress when the big day comes. Retirement is meant to be fun, plan ahead so you avoid stress from happening.

Now that the tears have all dried up and you’re quite ready to move on, it’s somewhat normal to find the world overwhelming and a little exhaustive. Isolation can also be an issue to most seniors who find themselves suddenly single after years of being married or living with a partner. Although it may seem hard at first, the sooner a senior makes this crucial first step, the better are his or her chances of moving on with their lives.

Your family and friends are your best allies at the moment. They can guide you better in your attempts to return to the normal world since they know what you’ve been through. Seniors who lost a loved-one must know that they should take small, positive steps to familiarize themselves to their new lifestyle. Expect this to be a hard, frustrating road to take and it will take some time but with the right attitude and good support system, you’ll get there eventually.

One of the most common traps for seniors who find themselves suddenly single is rushing to find love even if they are not quite ready for it yet. Due to this, experts believe that a senior’s ability to good judgment is now impaired and almost always, it leads to impulsive decisions and more heartaches. It is highly recommended for suddenly single seniors to take his or her own sweet time stabilizing their lives first before looking for someone to love again. No matter how tempting it might be, loving someone has its own set of challenges to conquer and one problem can never be answered by another complication. Surround yourself with a good support system and heal your wounds first before setting for yet another challenge.

Find happiness in your single blessedness. Consider this as an opportunity to love yourself and no one else. This is the time to rediscover yourself, your abilities and your limitations as well. This opportunity can never be possible if you stay living with a partner your entire life. Loneliness is only a state of mind, and so is happiness. These two emotions are based on your mindset and mindset is something you can control. Don’t ever let your emotions get the best of you.

Grieving period has its own course to run, allow it and don’t rush things. Instead of looking for love, try to meet new friends and consider doing the things you want to accomplish prior to losing your partner. As much as possible, keep activities as single-minded as can be and avoid doing activities that will require you to have a partner. You don’t need to socialize if you don’t feel like it. Be with people you feel most comfortable with at the moment and wait for the right time to come when socializing feels normal again.