Seniors Site

Retirement shouldn’t be all about reaching the end of line or the start of slowing down and boring days and nights. In fact, many seniors these days are all geared up to start a healthy lifestyle now that they are nearing retirement and will have all the time they need and want to achieve the ever coveted longevity.

If healthy living is still all foreign to you, there is no better time to start than now. Assess your current lifestyle and how it affects your health and disposition. Remember that longevity depends on how you live your life right – that is, your overall well-being.

· Healthy lifestyle is a must! There is no getting around healthy lifestyle this time. I am sure you know how nasty habits lessen quality of life then as a result, would also shorten your life years either by lifestyle diseases or your body malfunctioning earlier than normal. Adapting healthy lifestyle can revert damages done by past lifestyle mistakes and it is never too late for this.
· Maintain an active lifestyle. Move around and don’t stop. Even your sex life should be maintained in a healthy phase, that is of course, recommended in your age and condition.
· Continually challenge your brain. Your brain, if you stop challenging it, is most likely to bum around until it can no longer be of any use to you. Give it the exercise it needs as well as the nourishment it deserves. Feed it well. Learn new things.
· Accept changes. One of aging’s worst enemies is depression and sometimes depression is brought about by the changes our body and mind undergo. Add to that the changes in our lifestyle when we get old. However, if we learn to accept these changes early on and embrace it, then we will be able to skip depression and move on with our lives.
· Know more about your health. This way, you’ll know your body’s limitations and prevent a disease from happening. For one, if you are prone to diabetes and you were forewarned about this, then you’ll be able to adjust your diet accordingly.
· Don’t be afraid of health screenings and lab tests. While they usually represent something that is wrong inside your body, it will also help your doctor to plan your recommended lifestyle.
· Spend more time with your family and friends. These are the things you missed when you were younger and working 9-5. This is the perfect time to catch up on them and keep yourself active at the same time.
· TV is evil, stay away from them. Remember when TV was rare that we were forced to go out in order to amuse ourselves? It may not be the most convenient idea of fun but it kept us moving so it’s a great idea afterall. TV will only make you stuck sitting on the couch.

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.

I don’t know why it has become so hard and expensive to live a healthy lifestyle nowadays. For us seniors to grow old gracefully, we need to exert some effort into it but one look at how much this endeavor will cost us is enough to make us cringe and grow more wrinkles in the process! The food we eat and the activity we engage in are the most important factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle however these things can be costly if we don’t find other ways to still meet the “healthy” requirements without breaking the bank.
Below are some of my tips and tricks to leading an affordable but healthy lifestyle:
· Get screened as much as your insurance permits! Take advantage of your health insurance and whatever there is that will allow you to get these screenings without having you to dip into your pocket at all – or take out just a little money out of your pocket, if need be. Health screenings help you and your doctor to monitor your health especially those that are not visible i.e things that are mysteriously happening inside of you. Some of your local pharmacies do blood pressure for free as well as cholesterol checks — if you are really lucky, even sugar level checks! Check with your local authorities for free immunizations to prevent you from getting viruses and such.
· Prevent falls by fallproofing your home. Take note that the most painful experience a senior may get that could last a lifetime and bring about other complications is breaking your bones? Especially around the hip area, that is. This is why it is absolutely necessary for seniors to prevent falls and slips as much as possible. Install grab bars and rubber mats inside the bathroom to help you maintain balance whenever you need one.
· Put together your help line. Since mobile phones are just about everywhere, it’s high time you get one too. This will not only ensure that you get help when you need them the most, but it will also have all your help lines in one easy, accessible place when the people around you need to reach them. Don’t be intimidated by monthly bills, instead shop around for best deals!
· Quit smoking. And keep drinking alcohol to a minimum. These things have profound effect on your health: smoking and excessive drinking. They make your life a lot shorter and your quality of life a lot poorer. Also, it makes diseases and illnesses harder to cure.
· Challenge your mind on a regular basis. Active mind is sharper mind. Make it a point that you “exercise” your brain every single day by doing puzzles and/or engaging on projects that will make you think.

No matter how poor you see yourself right now, there is definitely an estate to plan hence the need for an executor. An executor is someone who will administer your estate when you pass away and he or she should be someone who is very much capable of doing so — not to mention, willing to. To be able to know both, you and your executor should have “the talk” as soon as possible and get things straight.
Bear in mind that the talk between the executor and you is, most of the time, not a one-time talk. As long as there are changes in your life, or something came up, the need to talk with your executor is instantly there. For example, if one of your kids die ahead of you or you remarried or perhaps there has been a change in your financial flow, these things will prompt a talk with your executor and shouldn’t be delayed. Buying a new home and even thinking of adopting – whether a pet or a child – should also prompt a brief discussion with your executor.
As soon as you determined what is included in your estate, choosing the executor is the next step. If your chosen executor is not your own personal lawyer, it would be a good idea to bring him or her to meet with your lawyer to discuss your estate and straighten things out. Discuss and be honest about what’s involved and what needs to be done. The executor’s role should also be discussed straight away such as distribution of assets, paying off your acquired debts, handling of insurance policies and inventories, and lastly, handling the sale of your home and other saleable items you own. He or she should be empowered to handle your estate and be the point of contact when there are issues pertaining to your assets. Your executor, to be able to successfully handle and facilitate this, should have a copy of the list of people who would get in touch with him or her for certain issues. While it is quite honorable to be chosen to be an executor, he or she should realize this is more than your trusting them with your asset but a responsibility to make sure everything will run according to plan. This is why choosing the most suitable executor is a must – it may not necessarily be a relative but someone who has the capabilities of executing your will as written.
Spending some time with your executor is also recommended as it will somehow explain the things you have written in your will like why this should go to who and what should go to who. Distribution of asset has always been a touchy subject for surviving families and you wouldn’t want your executor to weather these things our right?

When seniors talk about their health, for some reason, it is easier for them to just lie about it or not tell anything at all. What they don’t know is that some of these littlest things are considered by doctors as important red flags when it comes to your well being so it is really important for you to mention them everytime you visit your doctor! By doing so, you prevent misdiagnosis from happening and your doctor will be able to give you better treatment than have him second guess things.
#1: Your smoking habit. Smoking is bad and seniors are not encouraged to continue smoking – healthy and otherwise. Seniors know this too but as they would simply put it, what difference does it make if they continue doing so? In return, they just keep on smoking – lessen it 2-3 sticks a day to remove guilt – then just lie about it when asked by their doctors. Some who admit the nasty habit to their doctors, try to trick their doctors into believing that they are on their way to weaning when in fact they don’t have any intention of doing so. One stick or ten, you just have to tell your doctor – they need to know about it. Smoking affects your blood circulation and put you in risk of forming blood clots which can clog your arteries. Smoking can also alter your treatment, bringing about unexpected drug reactions. Only your doctor can understand and foresee these reactions if told.
#2: Your stress levels. When you talk to your doctor, make it a point to express your current stress levels. A lot of bodily reactions these days are connected to stress. Just recently, my doctor found out that my incessant coughing has nothing to do with my lungs but it was brought about by an allergy – an allergy triggered by stress. So does my friend’s tummy ache – which was diagnosed as ulcers. So the next time your doctor is up for a chat, do a little rundown of the things that have been bothering you, just don’t burn your doc’s ear about it.
#3: Vitamins, supplements and other medications, herbal and otherwise, that you are taking these days. Sometimes when we refer to something as “natural”, we are quick to assume that it’s not worth telling your doctor when in fact, even the kind of food you eat, is something that should be taken note of. Fish oil for one is a blood thinner so if your doctor happened to be prescribing a medication to do exactly as such, you are doubling your recommended dose for thinning the blood.
#4: Your sex life. Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you are safe to have sex and/or invincible in acquiring sex related diseases. I say that this is the time when you should be more cautious about your sexual relations and be more aware of what going on “down there”.
#5: Your eating habits. Or more so, the kind of diet you are engaging at the moment or planning to engage in the near future. Even the slightest shift in your appetite should be reported as it is an indication of what’s going inside your body.

For me, the greatest invention ever for the mobility challenged seniors would be the chair with wheels or wheelchairs, electric and otherwise. These mobility aids do help seniors who experience difficulty in walking and getting around in and out of the house. It also helps caregivers a lot in terms of getting their seniors to and fro destinations especially if they are used to the said device. Nowadays, even the “not-so” mobility challenged ones find benefits from using wheelchairs. A dear friend of mine just bought a stylish mobility scooter for himself in case his arthritis attack gets bad. Since he insists on living on his own and staying single, mobility scooter must be the most sensible solution to his problem. He can walk fine on a normal day, by the way, and he sheepishly admitted that sometimes he ride his scooter just for the fun of it. I would too, if you ask me.

Anyway, while mobility scooter looks like the best choice for wheelchairs, some seniors are still considering manual wheelchairs over electrical ones. Of course, if price is to be considered, manual wheelchairs are cheaper than their electric counterparts but there are also manual ones that are quite pricey especially if they were specially made to suit a certain need of the rider. Manual wheelchairs have been around for quite some time now, even dating back as far as the twentieth century which more or less, makes its design more dependable. Basically, manual wheelchairs should be durable but at the same time lightweight. As for the design, manual wheelchairs can have handrails so the senior riding it can better navigate the chair by themselves. Do note that a type of wheelchair called transport chair doesn’t have handrails since they are designed to be pushed from behind. Transport chairs are for those who can no longer operate their wheelchairs on their own. Manual wheelchairs are foldable too which make them more appealing to caregivers.

On the other hand, mobility scooters are the rave nowadays as they are very comfortable for the rider, not to mention, stylish. It somehow exudes the feeling of in-control rather than incapacitated. However, it is expected to be more expensive than manual ones – way expensive, that some seniors don’t see any sense in getting one for themselves. Mobility scooters are sturdier since it has four to six wheels supporting it and the chair supports your back more effectively. Of course, it is easier to maneuver a mobility scooter than manual wheelchairs because it uses joystick from its armrest.

Years of driving may have put your old self into confidence and comfortability when on the road that it is not impossible to overlook some of the basic safety tips when driving. While road mishaps are still very much rampant, most of it can be avoided – actually almost all of it could be avoided if only the drivers were more cautious of their driving habits. The sad truth though is that many innocent lives were taken just because of such carelessness- accidents that could have been avoided.
Let’s face it, as our own bodies conspire against us and aging takes toll, we are more and more becoming a life threat, not only to ours but to others as well. Below are some of the most practical tips to maintain safety on the road, even if you are already a senior:
· Take breaks whenever your body calls for it. Anytime you feel the need to stop, do so. Not only you are doing yourself a favor but you are preventing an accident from happening as well. Suddenly dizzy? Pull over and let it pass. Acknowledging what your body is trying to tell you is the key to safety on the road.
· Check the weather. Road visibility is very important especially if you are struggling with poor eyesight to begin with. Avoid driving when it’s raining as the roads are probably slippery and considering your reaction time, you might have problems navigating the roads.
· Slow down at night – or not drive at all. The problem with night driving is that it impairs your visibility effectively. Also, headlights coming toward you can cause problems , as they can be blinding.
· Drive with company. Like I always say, 2 pairs of eyes are better than one even if they are both impaired. Your company can be your extra eyes. Also, they are most excellent when you are trying to consult a map or if you need to reach for something while trying. In other words, it will allow to you focus your attention to driving and not anything else.
· Use your signal lights. You know the problem when driving is that you are unable to communicate with other drivers realtime. That is, you cannot possibly say to the one in front of you that you would like for him or her to go a little faster or whatnot so the best thing to do is at least use your signal light to let the driver following you to know where you’re planning to go and prepare him for what comes next.
· Use your brakes wisely. Did you know that the most common cause of vehicle accident is breaking abruptly? This is because drivers don’t expect you to just do that hence they are not prepared to suddenly brake when following you.

Once in a while, we find ourselves bitten by the “makeover” bug. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of changing your hairstyle or perhaps a quick trip to a nail salon but most of the time, the change of scenery starts at home. However, money is a factor when going for a makeover and a big space like that of your home would surely cost a lot. For budget-challenged seniors who would like to give their homes a new look, here are some tips to get you by:

* Clear the room and start from scratch. With all those accumulated junk littering your home, it’s quite hard to see the beauty and potential of a room, right? If you would like to test your “eye for beauty”, why not start with the guest room since it is rarely used therefore won’t cause any disturbance or difference if held unusable for days. Take everything that can be moved out – everything, including the bed, if it’s not fixed. With a bare room, you’ll be able to see what needs to be done to make the room brighter.
* Invest in good, classy cabinets to hold your display items. Seniors indeed don’t run out of things to display but leaving them out to collect dust is never a good idea. Your cabinets don’t have to be expensive, just as long as it is sturdy and can stand the test of time.
* Bring in plants. This is ONLY IF you swear to water them and care for them everyday otherwise, just leave them out and alone as a favor. Plants bring life to a house and it brightens up a place.
* Sort your junk – your older junk! Take a quick trip to your storage area –ideally while taking out the current junk from your house –then do a quick inventory of the things you already have there and can be used again inside the house that will suit your current theme. This is called “recycling”. A little restoration can make it interesting again.
* Go for yellow tones as they tend to make a very stylish accent. Orange, brown and mustard are your perfect colors. Don’t make a mistake of choosing too bright and too dull colors, just the ones in between.
* Use old dresses that are no longer serviceable considering your age as pillow covers. Pillow covers are meant to be interesting, by using your own dress which you have worn once or twice will give it character.
* Go for blue in the bedroom. Blue is calming and you can never go wrong with blue, even babies use them! It also creates the illusion of space so your room will look bigger.

Healthy teeth and good dental health are important to seniors since your dental health plays a big role in maintaining your overall health and outlook. Good news is, seniors nowadays recognize this importance thus moving them into action and providing their dental health the attention it needs. Seniors need to know that it is important for them to pay attention to their dental health especially during their retirement years. Failure to do so could result to infections and other diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases as well as respiratory problems.
Maintaining a good dental health is quite easy, you just have to remember to brush and floss everyday and of course, to visit your dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups and minor repairs as well as professional teeth cleaning. Do tell your dentist about the medications you are currently taking or if you notice some changes in your oral health. These dental habits lessen the risks of having oral cancer.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco as much as possible. Alcohol damages your teeth’s enamel by way of the substance metabolizing into sugar which in return encourages plaques from forming. With that said, teeth, when constantly bathed in alcohol is pretty much like soaking it in a glassful of melted sugar. Tobacco, on the other hand, is hands-down, a tooth killer! The moment you put a cigarette stick in your mouth, you expose your mouth to a hundred different kinds of abuse! Let me count the ways:
Tobacco smoking is bad for your dental health because:
1. It causes bad breath.
2. It stains your teeth.
3. It shrinks your gums.
4. It irritates the soft tissues in your mouth leading to mouth sores.
5. It limits your sense of taste.
6. It slows down the healing process inside your mouth.
7. It has substances that scratch your teeth’s enamel.
8. It encourages tooth loss as a result of one or two of above.
9. It encourages gum diseases because it affects bones and soft tissues inside your mouth.
10. It disqualifies you as a candidate for some of dental procedures.
It really pays to adapt a healthy lifestyle since it, more or less, takes care of your teeth too. For one, if you are on a diet, you are most likely to be limiting your sugar intake which apparently is your teeth’s number one enemy – sugar is. Second, a recent study showed that exercising may improve your dental health too since it contributes to overall health.
Do invest on a good toothbrush since it is your first line of defense. Dentists suggest that high-quality electric toothbrushes with rounded heads are designed to remove plaques more effectively than your regular toothbrush.

I have high regard for lifelong couples since they don’t take relationships as a game. In this day and age, 25 years of togetherness is commendable enough but more than that is truly admirable and somewhat inspiring. While I don’t have anything against divorces and breaking up, I just believe that it is important to really think things over before committing into something. That true love, when found, is really beautiful and could last a person a lifetime while if you try to couple up with every “love” that comes your way, you are wasting your time and you might miss your true love. Well, that’s just me.
Lifelong marriages have one thing in common: true happiness. A senior who belongs to a lifelong marriage is genuinely happy and content. Lifelong marriages have secrets too, as it also takes effort from both sides of the marriage. Do take note that lifelong marriages shouldn’t be one-sided such that one person loves the other more. What I found out is that love and understanding should come from both persons involved.
· Grow together. Not necessarily growing old together but the point is, humans, by nature, grow. As an individual, the need to grow is there; as a couple, the need to grow together should come naturally. Both should have the desire to grow and experience life with the other.
· Communication is the key. By the way, nagging is not communicating, I just want to make that clear. When you communicate, you talk, you listen, even if they are not too important things. Respect should also be there. When the other half is talking, you listen then in return, you should be given time to speak and be listened to. If communication is quite a pain, then that is a sure sign things are not working the way they should.
· Fight fair. When you suddenly find yourselves in opposing sides of an issue, do remember that winning an argument is not everything. Disagreements are okay – they can even be healthy at times since you will be able to get to know more about your partner but the difference is, you also have to know how to play fair and when to back down as well as accept defeat when necessary.
· Have fun and enjoy the relationship. Lifelong marriages are not a matter of being too comfortable with one another, it should be that you are still enjoying the company of your partner despite the years of togetherness.
· Stay physically and emotionally connected. The attraction should still be there and the need to cuddle should be as strong as the first time. Kissing, cuddling, snuggling and yes, sex, should still be part of the deal!