Seniors Site

One of the most common practices we seniors usually do during the holidays is reflection. Together with your reflection comes self check. During these times, we try our best to assess what we were able to accomplish and what we missed in our lives. After much deliberation comes planning for the coming year, including short and long term goals. This is done to encourage yourself to always look forward and hope for the best. The downside however is the so-called holiday blues.

Holiday blues can be triggered by the season. Holiday season brings forth sweet memories from the past which may include your lost loved-ones. Also aggravating the bad feeling are health problems you might be having now. Another reason to have the holiday blues is your current financial situation. When combined, it can be a recipe for disaster!

Holiday blues are deeply acknowledged by health professionals since it was observed as a common occurrence during holiday seasons. However, there are ways to avoid holiday blues from attacking seniors, as suggested by doctors:

·    When loneliness strikes, seek other people’s company. This doesn’t mean seniors just calling a friend and talking over the phone or social-network marathon but you have to force yourself to go out and have fun, with real people. Be physically there. If you don’t know where to start, or are afraid of being rejected then go for volunteer programs where you can share yourself to new faces and personalities. Actually, it’s impossible to not have somebody, it’s just, you’re not reaching out hard enough.
·    Avoid drinking too much. When you do, it effectively brings down your inhibitions, making you more vulnerable to hurt. Alcohol is a known depressant that is why your doctors strictly advise against it when suffering depression.
·    Get someone to talk to you. You need to take it off your chest. Senior centers have counseling groups to assist you when nobody is available to talk, don’t hesitate to seek help when you need them.
·    Depression has signs, it is best if you get yourself familiar with them. The soonest you recognize these signs, the better you’ll be able to handle the situation.
·    Try to divert your attention to something else totally unrelated to what is bothering you. Do something daring or a task you’ve been meaning to do for a long time. Sense of accomplishment can easily counteract depression.
·    Even if it seems easier to stay at home and be with yourself, resist it. You need to be out there and discover the world and what it has to offer you now. You can never find these things alone.

Depression is a state wherein the only person who could help you overcome it is yourself. Yes, help can be sought but it can only do so much for you. Deciding what’s best for you, still, is the best way to beat the holiday blues.

Holidays are not only meant for giving gifts and exchanging cards. Along with it comes good food and unhealthy practices. While it’s quite understandable due to the jolliness of it all, we should always remember that keeping healthy still means a lot to an aging body but that doesn’t necessarily mean we must miss out on the fun!

By the way, staying healthy is not limited to the physical aspects of it alone. Sometimes, holidays can also bring about emotional and mental stress. In order for us to really enjoy our holidays, we must take some precautionary measures thus allowing us some time to breath. This is really important so that after the holidays, we can easily slip back to our old routines and not feel drained and emptied.

For quick and easy ways to maintain right equilibrium over the holidays, here are some suggestions:

·    Renew your spiritual grounds—Christmas rush can easily make us forget what the holidays are really for. Renewing your faith in God will certainly give you the spiritual satisfaction you might have been looking for.
·    Renew your senses—It’s easy to overlook things that are there for you to see especially if you were bound with obligations and responsibility. This is the perfect time to get to know your self again and discover new things around you.
·    Plan ahead—To plan is to organize. If you plan early, you will be able to do things according to their right timing thus allowing yourself some time to rest and relax before the big day. Also, planning eliminates stress of last-minute whatnots.
·    Let go of your baggage—Holidays can also mean family get-togethers which sometimes prove to be a painful affair. Old quarrels can easily be brought up and long overdue spats rekindled. You, being the oldest of the pack should be the first one to let go of old arguments and promote love within the family.
·    Indulge yourself—Not by eating of course! Indulging yourself should mean keeping your overall outlook happy and light. Treat yourself to a day in spa with your partner or do something you have been meaning to do for quite sometime.
·    Discover outdoors—If you are one of the many seniors working indoors and spending too much time doing everything else over the internet then now is the time to go out and discover the joys of outdoors. You’ll be amazed on how the world evolved the last time you were out!
·    Choose what you eat—People nowadays are more conscious of the food they eat so it’s fairly easy to skip on the unhealthy stuff and be on the healthier side. If you feel you are going in a war zone where healthy foods are not an option, then it’s best to prepare and bring your own food while disguising it as your contribution to the festivities. This way, the host won’t feel offended if you choose not to eat the unhealthy stuff.
·    Stick with your exercise routine—This may be the hardest to keep since it’s really tempting to just sleep, eat and be merry all holiday long. Unfortunately, two weeks of being “merry” will certainly make a dent out of our healthy lifestyle so better exercise than regret later.
·    Hydrate yourself—Make water your best buddy this Christmas. Why? It’s because it’s never good to be dehydrated. That’s why.

This Christmas, it becomes really important to have peace of mind, or else, you don’t stand a chance of having a jolly one! Personally I see peace and Christmas go hand in hand so when you say the latter, the former becomes hundred times magnified that sometimes it almost becomes depressing to even think of.

In this day and age when everyone seems to be restless and running from one place to another is a way of life, it’s quite hard to find some peace of mind amidst all. Due to this fact, peace of mind becomes the most sought after state but indeed an elusive one. For one, peace of mind is practiced. It’s something you follow to avoid stressful thoughts thus achieving calmer mind. This must be the reason why meditation became popular to our age group as the practice sets definite steps to achieve your own peace of mind.

Decluttering your life is the easiest way to achieve peace of mind. Here are some ways on how to find peace of mind and be able to live at peace with yourself:

·    Do without all things negative. Negativity invites negative thoughts because even if you refuse to acknowledge it, negativity seeps into you and settles into your subconscious mind. An example of which is a nasty humor you heard in passing or even a person with negative outlook in life.
·    Never harbor grudges. It’s okay to feel hurt as we are humans with humanly feelings but grudges are altogether a different matter as it sometimes compels you to act upon it in forms of revenge.
·    Worry no more. As long as you’ve done your best, there’s nothing much you can do about something so it’s better to let it go and not to worry about it anymore. If it turns out badly, you know you did your best and that was all you can do.
·    Don’t take everything personally. Things happen for a reason and most of the time, that reason is not you. It’s just that you were there and you got affected by the situation but it doesn’t mean the situation was meant to attack you.
·    If someone is causing you stress, stay away from that person. This person is not healthy for you, that’s all. It also applies to jobs you hate doing.
·    Don’t try changing something that is beyond your control. It’s not everytime that you can change something to your own liking. Learn to accept things as they come.
·    Be more flexible. With maturity comes flexibility. Learning to be flexible will help you adapt faster to your environment thus eliminating the possibility of stress.
·    Know where your limitation lies. As a person, there are things you can do better than others unfortunately, there are some you do only averagely. Trying to push yourself unreasonably will only induce unnecessary stress.

One of the most painful conditions to ever affect seniors is arthritis. Most of the times, it hits mildly, easy enough to manage but discomfort is there, other times, it’s almost crippling! For your information, pain brought about by arthritis can be managed thus allowing seniors to do other enjoyable stuff—things that really matter.

In a nutshell, arthritis is when there’s an existing condition that damages the joint. Literally, arthritis in Greek is inflammation of the joint however, there are many types of arthritis. One of the most popular—at least to us seniors–is osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. It is when the cartilages in our joints begin to wear off due to aging. when it becomes thin enough for the two bones to meet, there begins the most excruciating pain ever!

While arthritis in advance age seems inevitable, it’s good to know that it can be delayed and managed by altering our lifestyle. I don’t think arthritis is considered as a lifestyle disease but according to studies, those people who were able to maintain an active lifestyle somehow manage to delay the onset of arthritis. Included in these studies is how diet can trigger an arthritis attack i.e types of food.

But what if we realized all these things a little too late and now we’re stuck with an immobilizing pain brought about by arthritis? Here are some ways to ease the pain and somehow increase your quality of life:

·    Walk, walk, walk. Walking helps in toning muscles in the knee area thus giving your joints better support and lessens the impact on the cartilage. It need not be a mile long, just get yourself used to walking instead of always sitting while doing your chores. Consider this one as an investment as it will also tone the butt area making it look rounder than ever.
·    Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug—your bestfriend! Of course, NSAID has wonderful success rate in alleviating pain especially in cases of arthritis and it can be bought without prescription. Just go easy on it as it is also known to cause ulcers inside us so make sure you take it with food and never exceed recommended dosage.
·    Lose weight. Why? Because, not only will it make you feel and look good, it can also take off tremendous pressure on your knees! We all know that the key to not triggering the pain is to put as little pressure as possible to the joints but it’s quite impossible not to use your hips and knees right? The next best thing is to take off unnecessary weight and be light as possible.
·    Avoid foods that trigger an arthritis attack. Usual suspects:  red meat, tomatoes, eggplants, dairy products, nuts, and caffeine. Please do take note that not all these are to be avoided since a food-induced arthritis attack depends on your own body’s reaction.

Exercising is truly a fun activity to do. Aside from that, it has many great benefits for the body. For one, it helps the body relieve itself of harmful toxins trapped inside by way of sweating. In terms of digestion, I find that it keeps constipation at bay and for some reason, it aids in everyday bowel movement which is a great news for many seniors who have been having trouble in this area. Also, one good reason to exercise is knowing you will feel great afterwards.

Feeling great is only half of the story. When you see aesthetic results finally manifesting right before your eyes, there’s a tendency to work out more or train more to boost your progress. Oftentimes, these good intentions can quickly turn into a disaster especially if you find yourself quite addicted to exercising. It’s no joke, and it really can happen. While training your body to be physically active is good for you, doing it in excess can also do you harm.

Take note that overtraining is not limited to gym-goers only, it can occur in just about any sports as long as you are pushing your body over its comfortable limits. Doubly harmful is going from sedentary lifestyle to an all-out war in making your body fit, taken into consideration is your age, of course. In fact, it is highly advisable for seniors to train under a very watchful eye of a certified fitness instructor each and everytime to avoid straining the body too much. Remember that your body is no longer an oiled machine and it needs time to adjust when introduced to a new lifestyle. Not only that, it also needs to recuperate and get itself together after stressing it no matter how much training you did that day.

Some of the warning signs which will indicate if you are training too much are low energy levels, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depressions and sleeping difficulties. Infections can also occur frequently if the body is experiencing overtraining. If you find yourself having these symptoms, you might want to take it slow by readjusting your fitness program and consulting your doctor about the problems at hand. Or, you can find another fitness activity which suits your body more.

There are two areas in which overtraining can occur. One is too much exertion and another is not having enough breaks in between training. Having to train 4 to 5 times a week makes a lot of difference than training every single day. Exercising should make you feel good, both physically and mentally and it should never feel as if punishing yourself will yield greater results. Adapting a proper mindset will help you get in-tuned with your body all the more.

It was always said that the key to healthier, longer lives is diet. Not the lose-your-fats kind of diet but the well-balanced one since seniors are not anymore encouraged to do—or even attempt—drastic diet alterations. What we must aim at is not only losing a couple of pounds (if we’re overweight) but maintaining a healthy body so that it can ward off potentially fatal diseases easily. A proper mindset can help you achieve this goal.

In a way, it’s like preparing your body for a battle. You must properly nourish it so it will be strong enough to withstand trial and tribulations. Just imagine if these so-called “lifestyle diseases” caught you at your most vulnerable time i.e tired, beaten and hungry. You could just imagine how much damage it can inflict upon you. Please do remember that most lifestyle diseases are irreversible, so as much as possible, do stay away from it and never let it anywhere near you!

So now you know why crash dieting is never an option for you, nor diet pills and what-not. It’s unhealthy, not to mention very risky. Risk is no longer a luxury we can afford so better stay at the safer side than traverse your way without knowing what’s there for you. Although, there seemed to be so many issues to consider when going through the diet route which makes it all the more tempting to go the other way, the good news is, it can be done even in your own simple ways. No signature diet, no counting calories, just your basic, everyday-kind-of-life diet that is realistic enough to be easily remembered! Here are your daily diet tips for a healthier you:

·    Drink plenty of water. Lots and lots of it! Colored, flavored and anything in between are not counted anymore, just pure, clean drinking water counts. The easiest way to do this is to carry a water jug with you all the time and drink even if you are not that thirsty. Consider this as your body’s mechanical oil; keeps everything else in you in moving condition!
·    Never skip a meal, especially breakfast. Breakfast is what keeps you energized all throughout the day. A hearty breakfast won’t hurt you but as the day progresses, try to gradually lessen it so you won’t have any trouble sleeping at night.
·    Adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D. They go hand-in-hand. I heard somewhere that you even have to drink your milk in the morning out there under the sun to experience full effect although it was not proven, of course. But indeed, vitamin D is what helps bones to absorb calcium so you really need these two to save your bones.
·    Do without fats and sugar. Fats is what makes your cholesterol go high and sugar makes you prone to diabetes.
·    Go for fiber-rich foods. It fills the stomach well but keeps everything else you’ve eaten moving downward and out.

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.

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.

If you are a caregiver or you have been living with a senior for quite sometime now, are you sure your senior is healthy and not on the verge of malnutrition? Sometimes seniors tend to forget about how important good nutrition is for them and just eat whenever they feel the need to, unfortunately when a senior is experiencing too much pain or is suffering emotionally, the last thing on their minds would be eating and nutrition. It now depends on their housemates to monitor their nutrition more than ever.

There are many varying factors why seniors may have overlooked their health. It can be due to the fact that some seniors live alone thus they don’t see the need to cook real food and opt to dine elsewhere. It can also be due to digestive problems which limit food choices for older adults while others find it hard to keep up with food preparation due to mobility problems. These reasons alone can tell you how vulnerable seniors are to malnutrition. Below are signs you need to look for when you are in doubt about your senior’s health:

·    Loss of appetite. When trying to determine whether your senior is eating right, don’t just ask them because if they were not, they won’t know the difference. Try spending time with the beloved senior and dine with them. Notice their appetite when served with their favorite foods as well as their reaction when invited to dine out.
·    Sudden weight loss. Drastic weight loss in a span of 3 months is not at all normal. Weight loss can be a sign of many different health conditions, emotional and otherwise. Consult a doctor immediately when you see this sign.
·    When visiting a senior, check their pantry and refrigerator just to have an idea what they have been eating these days. Check expiration dates and for spoiled foods. Throw away items that may endanger the senior’s health when mistakenly eaten and do the honors to replenish their stock with nutritional foods.
·    A dead-giveaway of malnutrition is the skin, particularly its tone. It should have healthy and hydrated look to it.
·    Positive disposition. Sudden change in the senior’s outlook in life can signify of something that others should be alarmed of. When a happy person suddenly turned lethargic and withdrawn, it’s about time you interfere.
·    Seniors with mental problems are often nutrition-neglected so do the best you can by making sure your senior gets everything his or her body needs.
·    The medications they take can also affect the way they taste foods, often making them lose appetite and do without eating altogether. When you notice this effect, discuss this with their doctor at once.