Seniors Site

This is probably the most horrible news one could ever receive but unfortunately, senior abuse is not at all uncommon and they really do happen—a lot. No matter where you choose to leave your senior, there will always be a chance of them getting abused without you knowing it. What’s most painful is that the trust that was once there is now broken. Not to mention the trauma your senior must have acquired during the whole ordeal. Indeed, an experience like this striking any family is something we all have to avoid at all cost.

But how would you know? In rare occasions, a senior may report these cases themselves to proper authorities but again, this is not always the case. Usually by the time an abuse case concerning a senior reaches the police, it’s way too late. Reasons for not reporting vary widely from one senior to another, the most common of which are the inability of the senior to do things on his own and poor judgment to matters concerning their own welfare. Some of them admitted to authorities that they were either ashamed or too frightened to call for help even if they already did recognize danger. Most reported cases of senior abuse came from concerned neighbors and close friends who are quick to identify these warning signs.

Regular contact with your senior is the most effective way to prevent abuse from happening. If other people are aware that you have been checking regularly, they will think twice before doing something bad. It will also be for your senior’s best to check up on their affairs once in a while especially their finances which apparently is the most vulnerable—and very targetable—area of their life right now. Here are some of the most common warning signs that you should be looking for when you suspect senior abuse:

·    Discrepancies in their financial affairs and assets. Unscrupulous people will try to “milk it” as long as they stay undetected. They will apply tactics and other methods of persuasion just to get their hands on the senior’s money.
·    Signs of malnutrition. When you notice they are dropping weight like crazy then it’s time to intervene. When a person loses weight, there’s always something wrong with the picture, either he is not getting enough food to nourish his body or he is not receiving proper medical care while the body takes in all the blow.
·    Physical injuries or telltale signs of physical abuse. Take note of bruises, cuts, welts and broken bones. While it is normal to acquire these things when doing everyday chores, they should be explainable.
·    If your senior is living with someone who abuses them, your senior is bound to exhibit a different kind of attitude whenever that person is around. Also, signs of emotional withdrawal is noted when a senior is subjected to abuse.

Imagine driving almost your entire lifetime, dodging every traffic ticket there is, knowing the road even if you drive blindfolded and virtually conducting your everyday tasks and jobs inside your car. As an evidence, one look inside your old, trusty car and one would know what kind of business you’re running nowadays. Above all these, the connection between you and your car have grown through the years and come to think of it, your relationship with your car even surpassed that of your first spouse! If you feel this way, then you’re certainly not alone for there are thousands of senior drivers unable to will themselves away from their cars and would rather drive even if the situation has become more dangerous for them to do so.

There have been several posts in this blog about safe driving for seniors but nothing beats a refresher course conducted by the experts. Due to many road incidents concerning senior drivers, and also the great concern expressed by their family and friends, organizations who look after the welfare of older adults are now moving to make the road a safer place for seniors nowadays. We all know how age-related physical changes can affect one’s driving skill, no matter the amount of years-experience they acquired. Not only are these seniors putting themselves in a very dangerous situation but also they pose a great threat to pedestrians, other drivers and the road in general. This is how important a refresher course is to driving seniors.

Various organizations such as AAA, and AARP offer materials, seminars and short courses to assist driving seniors and hopefully make them “fit for the road” once again. There are also online courses for those who are unable to physically make it to classes and workshops and it was said to be as helpful and accurate as the ones taught in classes. However, class instructors encourage seniors to participate in real classes since it provides interaction between the instructor and the student. Included in these classes are age-appropriate and defensive driving tips that are perfectly suitable for seniors. Also, instructors encourage seniors to accept their limitations early on to avoid difficult situations from happening.

Driving schools are now offering refresher courses that actually put seniors behind the wheel to show them how to properly drive and work with their limitations such as changing lanes or staying in appropriate speed lanes. Some programs go as far as evaluating the driver medically for easy-spotting of problems. Most organizations offer them for free while others can go as high as $20.

There’s a new trend in town and it is infecting seniors worldwide. They are fun and addicting and boy, they really take the blues away!

If you are a senior who finds so much time in your hands with too little things to do, it’s about time to try your hand at blogging and see how far it can get you. It can be a great past time, hobby or even an income generating activity to fill up those vacant times you seem to have nowadays. Soon you’ll find yourself deeply engaged to blogging that it will be quite impossible to pry you away from that computer! The good news is, now you’ll have more reasons to blog since experts say it might even be good for your aging brain.

For those who got interested in blogging, let’s cover the basics first. Blogging is when you write for a blog and get your entries published realtime. Its functionality is very much similar to a website, only made simpler for normal people like you and me. For beginners who would like to test the waters first, you can sign up for free in blog platforms such as Wordpress and Blogger. After a little while, you can opt to buy your space and register it for more flexibility. It’s simple enough to learn and baby steps will work out just fine as most blog owners did when starting out. Typically, a blogger would write about their interests since they are the easiest to work on. Some notable blogs maintained by seniors are about cooking, fishing, barbequing and other hobby-related stuff. There are also senior blogs which chronicle their lives including its pain and joy as it happens. Interaction is highly encouraged in senior blogs.

With that said, we now move on to the benefits of blogging to seniors aside from the interaction and social aspects of it. Studies show that blogging has been the best alternative for traditional mind sports like chess and crossword puzzles. It helps an aging mind to stay sharp and focused. Furthermore, blogging requires constant researching to come up with quality articles to post, this in return makes seniors keep up with current events. Blogs provide a great way to connect and meet people who happen to be interested with the very same things you do too. Most of all, blogs allow you to share valuable life lessons through writing and posting. In a way, earning you recognition and fame for a job well done.

You’re in your midlife, she’s in her senior years, now you are having a hard time connecting to her. Does this scenario sound familiar? Probably yes, since it is a very common communication problem between a senior parent and her adult offspring.

Experts say the problem stems from the fast-paced life we seem to be leading now. Due to the demands of an average adult life, it is easy to leave your family behind, especially if they are already slowing down and are not able to keep up with the pace anymore. Even with the advances in technology today which enable us to connect with each other even if we’re miles away, it seems that it’s never enough to establish a good connection with an aging parent. Counselors recommend children of aging parents to build a good foundation, relationship-wise, early on so communication problems would be avoided later in life.

Light exchanges are highly encouraged between a parent and a child. This way you’ll be able to get to know each other more in a way that a child could determine what tone of voice to use and what words work for the parent. If you are sensitive enough, you eliminate the possibility of miscommunication. On the other hand, imposing to your parent is never good at any age and let me tell you, this is a trap most adult with aging parent fall into unconsciously. When you care about the person, you don’t impose.

It is important to share yourself too. How else can you earn trust if you cannot trust someone too? It need not be anything painful but hobbies and routines you’ve grown to love can also be shared with your aging parent to establish a common ground—a crucial part of an effective communication. Moreover, if you aim to improve your relationship which is by the way the most important step in communicating with seniors, it has to start somewhere. Shared hobby can be your easiest point of entrance. If you are unable to establish this kind of mutual relationship and time is pressing tremendously on your side, then get someone close to your senior parent whom he or she trusts with his life to act as a mediator. It will also help you if you can remember to be his child first before a life planner even if you’re the one supporting him financially right now.

When approaching a senior, never be the bearer of bad news all the time otherwise your senior will turn defensive everytime you come near. There are many things under the sun that you can discuss with your parent other than committing her to an adult care facility or submitting her to yet another lab test or even her declining health. These topics are all but depressing. Make it a habit to try cheering them up everyday.

Looking for the perfect gift to give to your loved-ones? Are you tired of hunting for the perfect gift and has been contemplating with the one you have right now? Why not try gift baskets?

Gift baskets have everything you need in a gift. It is practical, useful and one hundred percent personalized for the person in mind. Gift baskets are sure to delight a recipient of any age but most especially elderly loved ones.

Basically, a gift basket is composed of variety of items most suitable for the recipient. To make it more personalized, you must know a little something about the person you are about to give gift to. On the other hand, if in doubt then opt to go for pre-made ones available in most specialty stores such as gourmet food shops and gift shops. You can also choose to work around a theme or a holiday, whichever is most applicable at the moment. Here are some gift basket ideas made specifically for seniors:

·    Food baskets. This is, by far, the most recommended for seniors instead of giving them something that they won’t ever need. Food baskets encourage seniors to eat healthy–granted that the items you include in your gift baskets are indeed healthy. Your food baskets could be fresh fruits, teas, pastas, and even chocolates. Just make sure that it won’t harm their health.
·    Organic bath gift baskets. Not that seniors don’t take a bath but most of the time, they tend to use those that are most convenient or readily available for them at the moment. By sending them a basket full of organic bath products, it will save them time and effort in buying these products for themselves. Organic bath products are great for seniors’ skin because theirs are prone to dryness and irritation.
·    Spa gift baskets. Seniors need to relax too. With a spa basket, it’s like giving them the ticket to do so. Think Zen when gathering up products for your Spa basket. Include products such as bath salts, body oils and body scrubs.
·    Gardener’s gift basket. Most seniors make gardening their hobby because it is fun and very rewarding. If you are planning to give your favorite senior a gardener’s basket, you must first know their “gardening level” and what kind of garden he maintains (herb, flower or fruit) so your items will fit them perfectly.
·    Treasured memories gift baskets. This can be a scrapbooking basket which includes basic and elaborate scrapbooking materials or a stack of photos and a beautiful album to hold all of it. If this is a grandma, don’t forget to send the kids too so they can work on it together.

To get your gift baskets together, here’s a step-by-step how-to:

·    Determine what kind of gift basket you are going to give then decide on its theme.
·    Find a suitable “basket” to hold your items. It can be a large bowl for food and pasta baskets or a pretty bag if it’s a spa gift basket.
·    Find a suitable filler to make it more attractive. It can be a crinkled color paper or paper shreds.
·    Get two major “highlights” and a couple of smaller ones for your gift basket. Smaller ones are placed in front while bigger items should be at the back so everything is seen at once.
·    Wrap it up with a translucent wrap and tie it with a ribbon. Gift baskets can also go without a wrap so it’s your call whether you want it or not. Either way, gift baskets are a delight to receive.

Stress can strike at any age. In fact, it can strike at any time without the person even knowing it. It was even recorded that a person is most likely to suffer at least one period of depression brought about stress in his or her entire lifetime. Furthermore, stress can be in forms of physical and psychological, the later being the more sneaky and destructive of the two.

Many have survived stress fairly unscathed, unfortunately, seniors are only a small number of it. Experts say that stress and depression in younger people are easier to detect since the person involved is most likely to recognize the signs at once while older adults, due to many stressful events they face everyday tend to overlook these telltale signs and dismiss them as part of the situation at hand. Some of the known stressful events which seniors put up with everyday are chronic aches and pain, illnesses and diseases, loss of a loved-one and financial status of the person. Here are some tips for seniors to reduce stress today, although it won’t guarantee a hundred percent no stress, it can alleviate and prevent it even for a bit:

·    Exercise is good for your mental and physical health. Even if you are not going for a hot bod, regular exercise makes a person feel good inside and out because for one, it releases toxins from the body and two, it activates the happy hormones.
·    Planning ahead will help you tremendously. When you plan, you’re well-prepared when the anticipated incident happens. Also, it will help you spot those potential problems that could occur along the way.
·    Get enough rest and sleep. It’s okay if you are having a hard time sleeping, you don’t have to push yourself too hard to sleep but instead, rest and don’t think about it. Just rest. It will help you refresh the mind for better understanding of things.
·    One of the most telltale signs of stress is when you suddenly feel short of breath as if there’s someone sitting right on top of your chest. When this happens, it’s time to back down a bit, breath deep and release tension.
·    Sometimes, anticipating bad things to happen is not pessimism. When you anticipate, you must be able to use it for planning your actions instead of dwelling on it for too long. You anticipate, plan and move on. While you’re at it, come up with backup plans too.
·    Counting your blessings will help you find peace of mind amidst chaos. Always do this in times of need.
·    Never take on a job that is too demanding for your age. Aging has its own limitations. Even if you feel much younger than your real age, it doesn’t mean you must use them all up.
·    Do things that are important to you. These activities can make you happy so you should stick with them.

Remember that happiness is a choice and when you choose to be happy, you’ll keep stress at bay. It’s okay to feel lonely every once in a while but the sooner you move on, the better it is for your own health.

Different ages require different sets of devices that are age-specific to their needs. For seniors, it is usually geared towards their safety and ease of living. Even though most seniors have stayed active all throughout the years and experiencing no discomfort whatsoever in the way they are living their lives now, sadly those in a really advanced age do encounter difficulties in their everyday tasks. Here are some safety devices that can help alleviate some of these difficulties for seniors:

·    Although anti-slip mats are cheap, they can be very useful for seniors. In fact, they are a staple to any senior home and the most recommended too.
·    Big buttoned phones. Most seniors have trouble seeing little letters and numbers and phones can sometimes be too confusing for them to use. With big buttoned phones, whether it’s a mobile phone or a land-based one, it would be easier for seniors to call in case of emergency.
·    Emergency alert devices. I’ve seen some in forms of necklaces, bracelets and even a wearable USB. The USB device claims it can alert authorities when the senior encountered emergency at the same time be able to supply much needed medical information in case the senior is unconscious at the time of the emergency.
·    Universal remote control. A universal remote control can control most of the appliances in the house which means there’s no need to further complicate things by using multiple remote controls for every appliance you may have.
·    Land-based phone with speed dial keys and automatic dialing features. These are phones which memorize numbers when set. This proves to be of great help for seniors who are having trouble memorizing set of numbers.
·    Magnifying glass. It doesn’t need to be a garish-looking one, in fact, magnifying glasses that are available in the market today are quite fashionable and at the same time, very efficient.
·    Automatic medication/pill dispensers. There’s an automatic and a semi-automatic one which will depend on your needs. These dispensers come equipped with an alarm system so you won’t miss a single dose anymore.
·    Anti-scald device. Seniors usually are slow to react leading to cases of burns which are otherwise preventable. These devices automatically turn off the water if its temperature reaches a certain degree. They can be installed in the shower room and kitchen.
·    For mobility challenged individuals, mobility scooters are a great addition to your assisting devices. Well, they will get you far and they are very easy to use so why not?

Did you know that the single, most insistent reason why seniors would rather delay retirement than spend the last years of their lives enjoying it and making it worthwhile is that their retirement money is never enough to support them? This is indeed a sad one but very true for most working seniors. Consider them lucky since half of the senior population is out of work and they are now living on whatever is left for them to support themselves.

When we talk about bills, of course what bothers an elderly’s budget the most is his or her medical bills. It is a given fact, even if the government is trying to pave ways to make a senior’s life a little better, going through a pace when your body is not agreeing with you most of the time then you still need to get a doctor to inspect it on a regular basis is a very, very expensive price to pay, both emotionally and financially speaking. So to make ends meet, we save.

·    Try not to make anymore debts. In this day and age, it is much easier to borrow money than save for something but a senior doesn’t need this kind of pressure anymore so as much as you would want to, stay away from it.
·    Generic drugs vs branded ones. Medical bills are too much pain in the pocket hence the need to cut corners when we see fit. The problem with medical bills is that some areas of it cannot afford delays. By using health insurances and inquiring about generic drugs you can use instead of buying the expensive, branded ones can help you lessen the burden even for a bit.
·    Generally, generic ones come cheaper than branded products. It also applies to household necessities and even for personal needs. Whenever you can, opt to buy generic brands.
·    Shop when it’s discount season. Most department stores hold seasonal sales that you can take advantage of.
·    Try shopping online. If you’re familiar with online store, you’ll see that most products and services offered over the internet is way cheaper than those you can find in department stores. Just practice safety shopping when online to avoid getting scammed.
·    Basic necessities usually come at discounted price for seniors such as telephone bills and water services. Inquire about them.
·    There’s nothing wrong with using discount coupons. They can save you a lot of money so why not use them? Scour newspapers, mails and even the internet for more.
·    Limit dining out for special occasions only. Dining out is, almost always, expensive and it can make quite a dent in your bank account if you make it a habit. Instead throw potluck parties when you need to unwind and have a little fun.
·    Join senior organizations because they assist their own. Most organizations give discounts to members and we all know discounts are good.
·    Get to know more government programs for seniors. You’ll never know when you’re going to need one.

Naturally as we age, one can’t help but think of death and other factors that surround it. When we were younger, we felt invincible as if nobody can ever touch us but now that we are nearing our final years, it is but normal to think—and even be aware—of what may cause our death just so we can prepare for it, if there’s such thing.

Death is natural and it should come. Like they say, everybody wants to be in heaven but it seems that nobody wants to die. As ironic as it may seem, everyone of us should undergo this phase in life just because it’s the way it has to be. According to the natural cycle of life, one must perish to give way to a new life, just imagine if there will be no more deaths and we will just go on living, would that be fun? I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter if we die tomorrow or the next day, what matters most is how we lived our lives right? Below are the top 10 causes of death in seniors. As you can see, the two most apparent causes are accidents and of course, health. While the former cannot be determined when or where it would strike, the latter can be prevented if we just take care of ourselves early on. Here are they, in alphabetical order:

·    Accidents— This includes fall, slips, fractures and others, acquired from both past and present accidents. Seniors are prone to accidents, partly because most of the time their senses are impaired and they can no longer help themselves. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance when you feel you need one. Practice safety precautions especially if there’s no one to assist you at the moment.
·    Alzheimer’s disease—Although death won’t come instantly in an Alzheimer’s disease, many have gone this route and sadly, most of them would have wanted to be dead than living a life that is empty. Most seniors die from complications brought about the disease and not from Alzheimer’s disease itself.
·    Cancer– Young or old, cancer kills and it seems that most cancer fatalities belong to a much younger group now than it was before. It certainly doesn’t recognize age but it kills almost half of the senior population too. Maybe because cancer still has no cure and its cause has yet to be determined.
·    Diabetes–  Some people are born with diabetes but a greater number of patients suffering from diabetes have the “adult onset” type which is clearly defined by one’s lifestyle.
·    Heart disease–  Again, a lifestyle disease. When you know you’re prone to heart problems, it pays to heed calls early on than suffer an irreversible consequence. Dying from heart disease is usually instantaneous and there’s no telling when.
·    Infection—As we age, our body is getting weaker by the minute comprising our immune system enormously. This makes way for various infections to come and breed inside of us.
·    Kidney Problems—Too much alcohol consumed in your lifetime will certainly kill you. Not only that, it will make your overall quality of life unbearable. Kidney problems have its own set of delaying procedures but it’s too painful to put up with. Renal failure will put your body’s own toxic waste management team on hold causing harmful toxins to accumulate and ultimately poison your system.
·    Lung disease– If too much alcohol can kill a person, so does smoking. Lung disease is an effect of sustained tobacco smoking that proves to be very dangerous not only for you but also for the people around you.
·    Pneumonia– It is a lung infection. Basically, an impaired immune system coupled with a lung that has been gradually giving up already then throw in a miniscule bacterium in there and voila! The ever deadly pneumonia.
·    Stroke– Stroke happens when a blood clot blocks a major artery therefore hindering the blood flow to important organs of the body. Usually, the ones that cause problems are the heart and the brain.

Building a strong relationship with your own personal doctor is important since your life depends on this person. Like any other relationship there is, it requires two individuals working in harmony to achieve a successful relationship so it should not depend entirely on the doctor. There are things you need to do to ensure that your relationship with your doctor would be something that is built based on trust and respect and quite frankly, finding a good doctor that fits your needs is quite hard. The best possible way to find your perfect fit is to start looking early in life. This person should be, most preferably, someone who has been working with your health for quite sometime now.

If you’re able to maintain a good relationship with your doctor, it would be much easier for him to see warning signs upon checkups. His concern is most apparent and you’ll feel secured with each and every decision he is about to make regarding your health. These are some ways to enhance your relationship with your doctor today:

·    Don’t forget an appointment. Your doctor is a very busy person and making him wait for you is a very insensitive thing to do. Remember to schedule a regular checkup once a year so that your doctor is updated with your current heath status, preferably on or before your birthday, just so you won’t forget it.
·    Communication is very important. You must be very comfortable talking to your doctor and letting him know your fears. When your doctor feels this, he would develop a much stronger bind with you.
·    Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there is something you don’t fully understand. Asking questions is different from questioning his ability to decide what’s best for you so there’s no need to be afraid if your intention is the former.
·    When there is something that needs to be addressed immediately, usually the good doctor will give you an ample time to decide. Use this time wisely by doing your own research and listing down any questions you may have regarding the issue at hand. When the time has come for both of you to meet again, don’t forget to ask the good doctor of the questions you may have.
·    It is not uncommon to find a doctor that doesn’t exactly fit your needs. It may be your gut feel kicking in or the way the doctor is handling you isn’t exactly your idea of patient-doctor relationship. Whatever the reasons may be, it is important that you feel at-ease when seeing your doctor and it is not bad to find your perfect fit, so don’t hesitate to see another one if you deem fit.
·    It won’t kill a patient if he takes time to be kind. A simple “how’s your day?” would do good for anyone especially for your tired doctor. Always remember that these doctors are people too and they get tired and pressured every single day.
·    Extend appreciation for a job well done. Everyone needs to be acknowledged even if it is their job to care for people. Sometimes, doing something is not always for the money but for the friendships he or she is able to make while doing what he does best.