Seniors Site

Organizing a theme party is fun and exciting since it involves creativity and resourcefulness. Theme parties are almost always associated with dressing up and just having pure fun and nothing else. With theme parties, one is allowed to go as crazy as can be without hurting your reputation afterwards. This is the perfect opportunity to socialize, at the same time satisfy that inner urge to be a child again; like a license to second childhood!

Unfortunately, those parties organized by younger adults are more often than not, directed to their age-group and not so favorable to older adults. Maybe because it’s somewhat hard to decipher which themes work with us best. Also, many event planners just rely on what’s in fashion rather than spend actual time in getting to know what the participants need. It goes without saying that the best event planner for senior events should also be a senior or at least at the same age bracket of the participants.

Some of the most popular events which involve senior participation are birthdays and anniversaries. As you can see, every year is worth celebrating than the last so virtually, seniors won’t run out of occasions to celebrate. An average, boring day can even compel a senior to an impromptu get-together with minimal fuss. Why not add flair to these get-togethers then? Here are some theme party ideas for seniors:

·    Prom. This one I like best. Prom theme parties are great as it will require us to dress up, dance to “our” music and just relieve the glory days. Prom theme parties are great for class reunions and homecoming. Prepare activities that are similar to the ones you did way back then and don’t forget your king and queen!
·    Medieval Costume Party. This one’s a hit! Seniors will surely get a kick out of medieval costume parties as they get to dress up and feel supreme!
·    Poker/Casino nights. This can be done for a beneficiary or in other words, for fundraising purposes. Seniors love to play and feel the rush that comes with it. What better way to satisfy this urge than doing it for a cause?
·    Luaus. Well, one of the most popular themes for all ages, the luaus or Hawaiian parties.
·    Western parties. I truly believe western parties are the easiest to organize since we seem to have collected western-styled outfits through the years. Just have a quick look inside your closet and you’ll see.

Soon after retirement, there are retirement work options you need to think about. Actually, retirement work and everything else that comes with it should be prepared ahead of time just so when you have reached the big day, there will be no added surprises anymore. At best, your home office should be set up—and ideally “soft” running—even before you are held legally retired by the law. This is because setting up an office might sound so simple, but in actuality, it’s not as easy as it seemed.

Setting up an office takes time and planning, of course. Not only that, right after settling in and, for the very first time, working in this office, that will be the only time you’ll see how your “careful planning” has gone wrong. Like any other business, home-based also has its own set of challenges and will also require time to get on its feet. The only difference is the penny you’ll save as compared to renting a proper office space. Aside from that, some clients do prefer working with someone who operates from home.

If you are thinking of setting up your own home office then check out this step-by-step guide in making it as smooth as possible:

·    Designate a suitable room. When I say suitable, it means it should be as far as it can get from all potential distractions. If possible, it should have a great view of something soothing and/or refreshing. However, if you are living in the city and you don’t have this kind of luxury then choose a wallpaper that suits you best. Blue is known to stimulate the mind while light blue gives an illusion of a much wider space.
·    Floor planning or even a rough sketch of what you have in mind. If you have one in mind, this is the time to draw it down, if you don’t, consult the internet for many interesting ideas. While it is easy to lose yourself while doing this, you need to consider two of the most important factors that should exist in an office: comfort and functionality. Start with your essentials then add accents later.
·    Clear the room. As in zero. Nada. It is much better—and easier—to start with a blank space than keep moving things until they finally fit in. It will also give you a clear idea how much space you have in your hands rather than depending on your estimates.
·    Start with what you have right now. You don’t have to buy every single piece that goes into your office. With a little creativity, you can manage with almost 80% of your existing furniture and still be happy with your office.
·    Be on the look out for companies which offices are currently under renovation. Chances are, they are also offering their “old things” for sale!
·    One by one, fill your office up but be conscious of the remaining space when doing this. If you intend to spend lots of time in this room, it is easier to breathe when you have a lot of space to do so.
·    Lighting is very important. Choose a light that won’t strain your eyes. Neither too bright nor too dim would work.
·    Give it a test. After admiring your handiwork, it’s time to get down and dirty. Remember what I have said about soft opening? Every major business does a soft opening because this is the only way they will be able to see the office in action. Do this too so you’ll have time to fix or arrange things before a large transaction comes.

It’s a known fact that seniors today have already redefined retirement—and according to their terms! Today, specific facts for retirement are only those you will find written as a law, other than that, it is solely up to the senior how he or she chooses to spend the so-called golden age.

Traditionally, when you reach the legal retirement age, you are expected to quit your job, collect your benefits, stay at home and spend the rest of your life in a leisurely manner. While some of the seniors today have saved enough money to cover their backs, they prefer to stay employed or at least generate money just for the fun of it—and of course, enjoy the many benefits it brings.

Studies show that working retirees are not prone to depression and it keeps mental diseases at bay. And because more seniors are now conscious of their health, taking a little extra effort in making their bodies as fit and strong as possible, they live a much longer and enriched lives. Furthermore, seniors swear that working in their retirement years brings them a certain level of satisfaction and security. Part time retirement jobs give time flexibility making seniors enjoy the best of both worlds.

With that said, here are some suggested jobs after retirement:

·    Healthcare administration- This doesn’t mean you will work in a hospital scene. Of course, you won’t, instead, you will work at the other side of the healthcare profession. It can be clerical or managerial positions where tasks are much lighter to handle.
·    Tutorial and teaching aides- The best thing about this job is that you are assured of a steady income and you can conduct tutorial sessions right from your own home.
·    Writing jobs- Seniors who belong to the “frustrated-writers” group would be the perfect-fit for a job like this. Usually, those blogs you see are not written by their owners, instead they hire someone to maintain it for them. If you love writing so much and you have a lot to spare, you can try looking for job like this.
·    Merchandise and retail shops- With much pursuing made by senior groups, most retail shops are now hiring seniors to join their workforce. Check out reputable grocery chains in your area for convenience.
·    Book keeping- Let’s face it, most business people are too busy to even keep their books straight hence they hire somebody to do it for them.
·    Sales and marketing- This field has required someone with long standing experience to do the job right. This person could be you.
·    Customer service- If you enjoy talking over the phone and find it easy to chat for hours on end then it’s time to put your talent into an income generating venture.

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.

When talking about “older adults”, be aware that every term has its own implications and one cannot very well go around throwing just about every term pertaining to the senior group without knowing what it really implies. For one, if you happen to Google search the term senior, it will yield results that are more serious, health-related and aged-all-over links. Expect these links to have resources full of helpful information released by your state or government. However, when you type the words “baby boomers”, now you’ll soon notice the big difference between the two even if they share the same exact meaning. It seems that the term baby boomer is more hip and trendy than its wholesome counterpart—that being the word senior. Everything that is nice, naughty and fun in an older adult’s life can be found in the term baby boomer.

As we can see clearly now, an older adult’s life is undergoing some kind of metamorphosis for the past years or so which called for certain terms to adapt a whole new different meaning, one of which is the concept of retirement for seniors. It may be due to the demands of time, economic crisis or just plain lifestyle preferences but certainly these anxious baby boomers are ready and gearing to move forward and break free come retirement years!

According to surveys, more and more seniors are making baby steps toward productive and meaningful retirement years nowadays. There are marked changes in the attitude when seniors talk about their plans for retirement. These days, retirement is considered as a positive turning point in one’s life. Some even look at it as a new beginning wherein they are allowed to fulfill their heart’s desire. Even those who are presently tied up to the workforce are making their own choices when it comes to the jobs they take and not just about anything that comes their way. Needless to say, these baby boomers are wiser now and learning to take care of themselves better.

Plans for continued earnings are made as opposed to what it used to be but retirees are making sure that there will be enough room to play around. This balanced coexistence of work and play environment proves to be very beneficial to a baby boomer’s overall outlook in life as it takes away much of the stress.

It was also reported that senior women are more aggressive these days and it seems that they don’t take retirement as something that will hinder success in their chosen profession. They see it as a way to further advance their careers and improve themselves more.

Because of these changes, the senior population is now experiencing quite a confusion. They are now divided into categories depending on how they choose to spend their retirement years. At the end of this experiment, experts also concluded that a senior’s financial security plays a big role on how he will potentially live life after 65.

Truly, senior health care must be one of the most sensitive issues a family is most likely to face at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, it should be done whether we like it or not. Mind you, convincing a senior to surrender himself to someone else’s care especially that of a senior health care facility is only half of the story as the real action only begins when you find yourself in face of the real challenge—the terms these facilities are most likely to use when dealing with your case.

Here are some common senior healthcare terms you are most likely to stumble upon during peptalks with their representatives. Expect it to be something of a cross between medical and legal terms, coupled with their own invented acronyms. It pays to familiarize yourself so that you don’t risk miscommunicating with the management before, during and after your case.

·    Advanced Medical Directives. It has three categories under its belt namely Living Will, Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. All these, more or less pertain to a written consent of the senior which designates or assigns another living person to make decisions in his behalf, if and when he’s unable to express his wishes anymore. This should be limited to medical concerns for the senior only.
·    Assignment. This is not your usual kid’s homework as the term adapts a whole new meaning when it comes to senior health care. When the doctor accepts assignment then you’re one lucky caregiver! It means that your kind doctor accepts Original Medicare Plan as a full payment saving you a lot of money.
·    Carrier. These are companies which should be paying your bills in behalf of Medicare.
·    Certificate of Creditable Coverage. A certificate which you need to secure from your health care insurance company which states the coverable period of time your senior is allowed according to the health plan you availed.
·    Custodial care. This is you, as the primary caregiver. These are services received by your senior which are not medical in nature such as bathing, eating and moving around. This is expected not to be covered by your insurance plan.
·    Election. A written decision that is legally binding once signed by the author.
·    IHSS or In Home Supportive Services. This is a financial aid given by the state to the senior/caregiver to help pay the bills for disabled senior who wishes to stay at home and receive care from there.
·    Preventive Services. These are preventive measures done to seniors to ensure that they stay healthy or at least won’t contract yet another health condition while under their care.
·    Risk Adjustment. Since your senior’s health status is bound to change either for better or for worse, expect to have certain adjustments in your payables.

For a more extensive list of common senior healthcare terms, visit LA County Community and Senior Services website.