Seniors Site

Holidays indeed require lots of energy and merry making thus warranting stress as well. This can’t be prevented or avoided as it comes with the experience however for seniors with little energy to spare as well as for caregivers without much time to give them own selves much less, activities like this, this could spell double stress. Below are some ways to minimize holiday stress and make the festivities something to actually look forward to!
· Plan ahead. It may be a little bit late for this now but planning ahead really does wonders in preventing potentially stressful situations. If you are planning a trip with your senior, it is always better to do a little research on your destination to know what problems you might face when you get there. Same goes for parties you and your senior are invited to; it is always best to RSVP with your host at least 3 days before the event.
· Take advantage of the holiday break and get enough rest and sleep. If you are an active senior, meaning you are the kind of senior who is always up and about all year round, then this is the perfect time for you to slow down, sit back and relax. Now if you are a caregiver, you can perhaps hire someone to cover for you for a day or two, depending on how many days you are willing to hand-over your caregiving duties and go get your well-deserved rest and sleep. However, if you are not comfortable with this, asking someone to give you a hand just for the holidays would also work well just so you’ll be able to do more without actually abandoning your post.
· It’s okay to be NOT perfect. Perfectionism adds unnecessary stress. Who cares if your plates and glasses are not matching? It’s not like you’re entertaining foreign dignitaries and the president (unless of course if you really are expecting them) Gone are the days when it was rude to not use the china when entertaining, nowadays people find casually organized parties more fun.
· Forget deadlines. Holidays shouldn’t be done with schedules to stick to. People are busier these past few years that putting up and decorating a Christmas tree second week of December is not anymore a big deal. Unless you are booked for a holiday trip then there’s no need for a timeline, just do whatever whenever suits you.
· Stick with healthy diet. While festivities are synonymous to food, skipping those bad for your help will help you stay happy and healthy even after the holidays. No need to feel all guilty with whatever you consumed over the holidays just as long as you know you didn’t break any major diet no-nos.

One good way to really feel the Christmas season is to hang your own Christmas stocking somewhere around your fireplace, sit back and wait for it to magically be stuffed by Christmas morning! My grandkids have already hanged theirs and were non-too-subtly dropping hints on what they want in their stockings. That toothless kid who was screaming her head off last Christmas begging the dentist to open shop on Christmas night is still asking for chocolate candies for hers. Lol.
Going forward, here’s my suggestion for Christmas stocking stuffers, coming from a pro like me!

For the gents:

· Ticket to a sport event. You can never go wrong with this. Just pick a sport he likes best then go choose a date when his team would play and you’re done!
· Accessories to his gadgets. Save the gadget for gifts, for Christmas stocking stuffers, go for its accessories. If you don’t have any idea, Ebay and Amazon are good places to start with.
· Slippers. This should be your last resort.
· Pen with his name engraved. I know that engraved things are not anymore “in” but it’s nice to once in a while, be reminded that you own something even as simple as a pen.

For the ladies:

· Spa certificates. Ladies absolutely love getting pampered and since treatments should be personalized, certificates would be the next best thing to give them since it will allow them to pick their own treatment when they get there.
· Chocolates. No matter how fierce they tell you that they are on a diet, chocolates never fail to put a smile on a lady’s face.
· Bath set. Because they love to pamper themselves at home and matching scents are also an alltime favorite!
· Planner. A human planner is also a good idea but he/she won’t fit inside the stocking right? So ladies will be glad to settle with a planner and a nice pen.

For the kids:

· Go for something educational instead of just plain amusing. Some small foldable board games (the one with magnets for roadtrips) are nice. Classic games like Snakes and Ladders and Chess are small enough to fit their Christmas stockings but guarantee hours of fun.
· Art supplies. Twistable crayons, pencils and small doodle pad would be nice.
· Candies and chocolates. Just make sure you have painkillers within reach to avoid any traumatic experience afterwards.

Traveling is fun especially if you do it with people you love the most. Travels and holidays are always a welcome break no matter what age we are in; kids love them for the adventure traveling represents; moms and dads for non-working days and of course, for seniors who badly need a change of scenery. Furthermore, travels are a good way to bond with your loved-ones and make some more memories for the whole family to cherish.
Special trips with your mom or dad are indeed fun and will be remembered for the rest of your life. Do this while they can still enjoy the trip and none the later. It will be more fulfilling if you prevent minor, as well as major, inconveniences from happening during your trip. Here are some tips on how to plan a trip with your senior.
· Ask your senior where they would want to go. If you must know, a lot of enthusiasm always beats whatever chronic condition your senior might be experiencing today! On the other hand, if you “drag” them to nowhere land where they don’t even want to be in, there will surely be 101 aches and pains your senior’s body will come up with.
· Necessary physical ability. Your dad wants to visit China, particularly THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA. Unless he is a lifelong runner of some sorts with will and endurance of a steel, surely you know there’s no way he will be able to endure the long walks and steep climbs. When planning trips and activities, make sure that all necessary physical requirements will be met by your senior.
· Plan expenses ahead of time. Small things like who picks up the tab for dinner tonight or who buys that pearl necklace for mom can be worked out during the trip however, bigger expenses like air fare and accommodations should be planned just so nobody would be surprised – or stressed – come billing time.
· Secure proper documentations. Such as your senior’s prescriptions signed by their doctors or perhaps that medical journal they have been meticulously keeping. You might need them while on trip while I pray not.
· Pack practical. Between you and your senior, you have a lot to keep track of, you certainly don’t need any more. Pack light and pack only those you know you will be needing during the trip. Those you can easily buy can be left behind.
· Safety and security should come first. While it is fun to conquer an unknown territory, you won’t be needing that extra uncertainty while travelling with your senior. Save the “devil in you” for next time.

Safety threats can easily ruin a senior’s vacation. When vacationing, seniors are more vulnerable to theft and overall dangers of being in some place foreign. If you are thinking that staying in a hotel puts you in a lesser risk then you might want to rethink that since reports of theft occurring inside a hotel room with or without the occupants in there are quite rampant.

Add to that the fact that seniors are the favorite targets of thieves since we look fragile and won’t cause any trouble. I don’t think seniors are coward however, I do believe that seniors are wiser, that’s why they would rather give their valuable to a thief than fight the thief and get hurt in the process. Nonetheless, this should make us, seniors, extra careful when we are vacationing especially if the place is very foreign to you. Below are some safety tips that are simple enough to do when staying in a hotel:

* Never leave your door open and unlocked. Whether you are in or out of your hotel room, you must lock your door at all times. A common thief is more likely to try to open your door casually first before exerting any other effort in opening your door.
* Travel light. This way your stuff will be easier to track than having more than 5 bags and whatnot upon checking in. This also prevents you from being the thief’s apple of the eye. I mean, who would want to risk getting caught for a wallet and a couple of jewelries that were in plain sight when you checked in? They are most likely to chase someone with several baggage just so the odds of acquiring something valuable are better.
* Clear away temptation. You don’t have to leave your money-laden wallet lying around your room especially if there’s someone else – like the cleaning personnel – inside the room. If you really have to leave your valuables behind, at least put it in a safe place and out of view.
* Inspect your hotel room’s doors and windows if they are closing right. If you spot a broken one then report it at once and ask to be transferred to another room. Better be demanding than be sorry for not asking.
* Never ever open the door without taking a quick peek using the peephole to see who’s on the other side. Thieves knock and will use force to get inside if occupants are ignorant enough to open their doors to someone knocking.
* Never ever open your door to someone who is claiming to be a hotel personnel. Watch movies and they will tell you that this is the most common SOP of those who would like to break that barrier that is the door and gain access to the room. Better yet call the front desk and ask what was the visit about.

I strongly suggest that you seniors don’t drive around during winter, better yet, just stay at home to lessen risk that can cause you bodily harm. It is not safe outside especially for an aging body like yours. Let’s just say that winters aren’t meant for seniors so you should stay home, safe and warm.

However, there will be times that it will be absolutely necessary for you to come frolicking outside. If it comes to that, you might want to remember these tips to be on the safer side of the road:

•    Plan ahead. Surely you would know if there are road blocks or perhaps road advisories within your locality. Plan your routes ahead of time to save you the trouble of having to deal with it—out there in the cold.
•    Wear your gears. Eyeglasses—check. Hearing aid—check. You don’t have to be ashamed wearing them while driving. They are your first line of defense against road accidents. Wear night vision goggles, if you must, just put your safety first before anything else.
•    Avoid distractions. If you must turn on the radio, make sure that it is news you are listening to and make sure it is not too loud so you can hear “the road”, that is, cars around you, traffic officers etc. Furthermore, never play mellow music as it can make you sleepy.
•    Have your car winter-ready. Nothing can be worse than driving a not winterized car, especially if a senior is behind the wheel. Your car has different needs during winter to maintain optimum efficiency on the road. For one, it needs different set of tires so you must see to it that you change to winter tires before going out.
•    Be a conscious driver. You should also note that driving during winter is different from driving under any other weather. It requires different approach and indeed it can be very tricky. If you are doubtful of your capability to drive during winter, it is best to have someone drive you around instead.
•    Double check your emergency kit and tool boxes. You’ll never know what’s out there but it’s good to be always ready if an accident happens.
•    Drive slowly and with caution. No one expects a racing car during winter anyway plus your best bet on staying safe when winter driving is to go on it slow. This way you’ll be able to react properly if a road problem arises.

Hunting for the perfect gift for your special grandkid may not be that easy especially if you happen to have a kid that doesn’t drop clues or perhaps he or she is blessed with parents who just give just about everything they asked for. Make that doubly hard if you are not that “connected” with your grandchild, he or she being someone who live far from where you are.

As the gift giving day approaching fast, it’s easy to just grab anything that your neighborhood toy store is selling, wrap it and FedEx it however, I bet my bottom dollar, you won’t even remember what it was you gave them come February thus the whole idea of giftgiving defeated.

As for me, I always make it a point that when I give a gift to someone, no matter what the occasion is—although knowing the occasion is also a good starting point—it must be something they can use or something they will cherish and remember me by or both, if I’m lucky. The former, for those I don’t really know and the latter for those who are very dear to me. Knowing what they want is definitely a plus so to be safe, ask those people who are close to them such as their parents, or perhaps their siblings. If all else fails, then ask the child himself. Nonetheless, you still need to consult their parents especially if you’re planning to give them something expensive. Below are some more gift ideas for your grandkids:

•    Toys. Not just any toy but a lasting toy and when you say “lasting”, it should last a long time and it should be able to hold the child’s interest for a very long time too. It means, these toys should stimulate your child’s interest and allow them to discover their skills just by using them.
•    Big kid toys. These are for tweens or preteens:  giving them toys for big kids is like letting them know you trust them enough to let them handle such big responsibility when in fact it is meant to train them for bigger things in life. Radios, camera and even mobile phones will teach them how to value things and how to take care of them.
•    Something out of the box. Kids are more appreciative of gifts that are extraordinary. Pets, if allowed by the parents, teach a child about responsibility. Or perhaps an assortment of stickers in a big box to amuse your sticker-happy grandchild. Theres’s no limit when it comes to giftgiving!
•    A keepsake. Children are drawn to the mysteries of the past and boy, do they love stories! Giving them keepsakes which hold a story of the past—it can be yours or their parents or perhaps someone famous they know—will have them cherishing it from the day forward.
•    Collectibles. Lucky are those grandparents who have a grandkid who collects something as they only have to add something to that collection. In fact, it can be real fun to hunt for the cutest collectible for your grandkid!

For a senior like me who has families and friends scattered all over the world, traveling must be the best part of the holiday season. Not only you get to go out and leave problems for a while but also you get to see your beloved ones as well as those new additions to the family such as grandchildren and pets. Of course, spending time with them, no matter how short the amount of time will be, highlights the season and make you look forward to next however, traveling still requires seniors some protocol to follow. Not following them will surely bring about delays which you, I’m sure, wouldn’t want to bump into.

Airport security people are merely doing their job, that is to ensure our safety while onboard. It is us passengers and travelers who should be following rules for a smooth and hassle-free travels. As a reminder to passengers, TSA or Transportation Security Administration updates their website on a regular basis. For more information on how to travel safely this holiday season, check out their website.

On the other hand, below are some helpful tips for Air travelers this holiday season:

•    Avoid pat-downs. Pat-downs only happen when you triggered an alarm in checkpoints. It also occurs when a passenger refuse to be screened. Pat-downs are basically frisking by an authority to search for prohibited items. To avoid triggering an alarm, it is best to empty your pockets before going through a checkpoint.
•    Provide necessary information for TSA’s Secure Flight program. By doing so, you avoid misidentification. Secure Flight program aims to identify questionable personalities before they board a plane thus decreasing the chances of breaching air security.
•    Stay connected. There are many ways you can be informed even if you are already on your way to the airport. Laptops and handy tablet computers can get you connected to your airline’s website as well as your airport’s—your mobile phone can do that too.
•    Never hand-carry your liquids, gels and aerosols since liquid explosives are still considered as a threat by TSA. To minimize the possibility of a delay, it is best to not bring them at all especially if you can buy them at your destination.
•    Use family lanes if you really need to bring liquids and medications with you. Officers in charge of these lanes ensure a more leisurely pace when inspecting your baggage and during inspection.
•    Bring gifts unwrapped. You can wrap them upon landing anyway. An officer may ask you to open wrapped gifts to be inspected thus causing delay. By not wrapping them at all, the officer will not have a reason to flag your package down.

One can never really run out of reasons to celebrate mother’s day and now that it is fast approaching—for those living under a rock, it’s on Sunday by the way—we just have to somehow find a way to make it meaningful for our loved-ones especially our mothers, grandmothers or even daughters with kids of their own. One way or another, there’s bound be one in your life, you just have to recognize them and give them a day of appreciation they truly deserve.
For seniors however, celebrating Mother’s Day takes on a different meaning. Seniors can do without well-organized parties and expensive gifts. Senior moms can truly be satisfied with gifts and acts of remembrance alone just as long as it touches their hearts. It may sound confusing at the moment, especially if you don’t really spend time with your senior mom—enough to know her heart’s desire. Nonetheless, here are some tips to guide you in celebrating a memorable Mother’s Day with your senior moms!
·    Even if age is to be considered when buying gifts for your senior mom, don’t limit your choices to age-appropriate articles. Never give her a bathrobe especially if she doesn’t need one. Never assume she needs something or perhaps wants it if you really don’t know for sure. Try giving her something she is dying to try however for some reason, she is not buying it for herself.
·    Most homes now have DVD players, buy her a classic movie (of her time, of course) or a couple of her favorite movies to keep her entertained during lonesome hours. Buy her the player if she doesn’t have one yet.
·    Gather your siblings up and a couple of her favorite people and have a little get-together. Visiting your senior mom, especially those living in assisted living facilities or nursing homes, must be the greatest gift you can ever give to your aging loved-one on Mother’s Day.
·    Settle old arguments. All relationships have their ups and downs. Mother’s Day must be the best time for you and your aging mom to settle old arguments and start all over again.
·    Write a letter. For a mom, their kids stay as kids for as long as they live so receiving a somewhat “homemade” card will certainly amuse moms even if they are already in their senior years. Just sit down and feel like a child again, write your feelings down and let it all flow. No need to keep yourself monitored this time.
·    Flowers never fail to make a lady smile, especially if it’s delivered right to her doorstep first thing in the morning! It may sound impractical nowadays but if it makes her happy, why not? However, if she’s into gardening, why not send her a potted one?

We, seniors, are all for restoring our once-green environment and as much as possible, we adapt certain lifestyle adjustments just to keep up with the advocacy. In doing so, we believe that somehow we are alleviating the stress of the human impact which apparently, Mother Nature is not taking it anymore. I say, we can’t blame her!

Holidays are one of the occasions when we tend to forget our green ways and just do what pleases us. To celebrate a joyful occasion without making the environment pay for it IS indeed possible, if we just act consciously. In time, it will be like an instinct deeply instilled within us.

The idea behind green holidays is to reduce waste as much as possible. The problem however, is that the notion of a festive holiday always involves all things new and shiny. This even includes gifts and the box they should be packaged in. Here are some suggestions to make your holidays as green as possible!

·    Seniors should invest in a sturdy, fashionable eco bag, weeks before your scheduled holiday shopping. This will come in handy during Christmas rush when you just have to put everything in one place and not worry about misplacing any. Eco bags are usually big to accommodate your shopping needs with a small pocket for receipts. Eco bags will eliminate the need for several plastic bags and unnecessary, nonreusable packaging that come with each and every purchase you make.
·    Seniors should make sure that their gifts are something that can be used by the recipient and not something that will be considered as a white elephant! If you don’t know the recipient very well, then go for gifts that you know they will eventually use, such as organic soaps, wines or even a fruit basket!
·    Break the real-or-fake-Christmas-tree debate by adorning your pretty and very much alive tree firmly planted in your own front yard! If there’s no suitable tree in sight then it’s about time for you to plant and care for one! Inside your home, you can choose a right sized plant together with its pretty pot, to stand as your Christmas tree.
·    If seniors need to ship their gifts to their loved-ones living faraway, go for shipping companies that practice environment-safety precautions like measuring their carbon footprints and such. Information about their practices can usually be found in their websites.
·    I’m not a huge fan of reused gift wraps since they tend to be a not-so pretty sight to look at. My suggestion is to buy a 100% recycled gift wraps or better yet, put your gifts inside an eco bag. While you’re at it, encourage the recipient to use the eco bag when shopping!