Seniors Site

Many longtime partners will agree, somewhere along the line, the so-called “flame” will start to flicker and for some unfortunate couples, it eventually dies down without them even knowing it. This is usually the case with seniors who will suddenly go for a divorce, shocking everyone around them, even their already grown kids. Try as they might, they won’t find the right reasons to separate since there is none to begin with, it’s just that they have been in the relationship for too long, they are already missing what it’s like to be inlove.
It’s true. It really happens. It is possible to stay in a boring relationship but it is impossible not to dream of once in a while, falling in love. I am not saying that the love is now lost for these seniors, of course it’s there. In fact, it will forever be there. How else could a person live with someone if he or she doesn’t love the other, one way or another? Staying in a relationship and staying in love, apparently, are two different things although they are closely associated. Unfortunately, falling out of love has its own catastrophic effects. One of them is infidelity.
Seniors should know that it always takes two to tango especially in a relationship. When you fall out of love, it means that your partner must be feeling the same way too. If you feel there is something “lacking” in your relationship, do consider that your partner might be noticing it too. When you start looking for love some place else, then it’s time to check on your partner as he or she may be doing or entertaining the same thoughts as well. Do take note that most affairs form when a partner starts thinking of what is lacking in his or her own relationship rather than trying to fix it.
Never let passiveness settle in your relationship. The usual problem with longterm relationships is that it is fairly easy to feel comfortable with the “arrangement”, falling into a routine, and in the process, taking for granted your partner. When you start NOT seeing your partner as a person, instead, an object or something short of being a part of the house, that’s when you know you are now being a passive partner.
Always be there for your partner. Even if you two are living together for quite sometime now and somehow, managed to build and create your own characters as a person, there’s nothing like being the person who catches their backs when they are in need. This is also the best time to reconnect with your partner and make them feel they are still special in your eyes, wrinkles and all.

For those who have been a slave all their lives, bound by adult life’s rules, retirement must be their second leash in life. A few may dread it due the number it represents i.e their age but obviously, a large number of seniors do look forward to it especially those who are able to reach this age with a healthy mind and body. Retirement is indeed liberating. Retirement, for most seniors, represents the time when we don’t have to think of anyone but ourselves; no children to consider, no jobs to keep and certainly, nobody expects us to abide by the rules anymore. To top it all, discounts and senior privileges abound!
I bet, when you think of retirement, the first thing that comes to mind is moving to another city and start anew. A burning desire to make life just the way it should be or something you have always dreamed of but failed to achieve due to adult-ish reasons. However, there are lots to consider before you pack your bags and move to some unknown lands. Consider this as your last task to accomplish to finally release yourself from the bonds that hold you. After this, you are certainly on your way to happy retirement, just to forget to write back when you have time! J
First you need to assess your financial standing. This is crucial since starting out means no job to sustain your existence for the first few months. You also have to consider the amount of time you’ll need to adjust to this newfound lifestyle. To do this, you must first, determine what type of lifestyle you want and plan on how to make it happen. In some cases, you might need to sell some of your stuff to raise money for this new “life” you are preparing for. This includes properties which are not yielding desirable income for you and your family, or perhaps some assets which you can no longer attend to once you move away. However, it is wise to have a backup financial source just in case your plans did not pan out so don’t just list everything on sale and be left with nothing. Take a moment’s time to determine whether a property or asset is worth keeping or not.
No matter how eager we, seniors, are with moving and all, as much as possible, take everything slow, just so you won’t miss anything important along the way. Anyway, you can always take a little step toward your retirement plan even before retiring such as moving to a smaller, more manageable house right after the kids flew out of the nest or moving to a community which is closer to the activities you would want to pursue upon retiring. This way, you got everything together by the time your retirement year arrives and would only require a little adjustment when that day comes.

In my early teens, cheating would mean “the end” of my fairytale romance. It was even considered as a sin amongst my peers and a person who cheated should be rightfully persecuted, along with the 3rd party involved. In my 20’s, cheating got a whole new meaning. It became a reason for me to break the trust and commit infidelity myself, just to get even with a partner. In my 30’s, I was wishing for the partner to commit them just to add some spice to a boring relationship or to end a miserable one. 40’s was when cheating became infidelity and indeed, a scary topic for wives as it would mean getting left behind without child support, no means to live and a two-year old in tow. While 50’s would be the decade when you finally accept that in a relationship, you are bound to get cheated, one way or another—and accept the situation with an ample sigh of resignation. After all, life goes on right? It’s just one of them bumps on the road. Arriving 60’s and beyond, this is the time when you chuckle in amazement and just leave the door open for the partner to come home either sick or dead. No matter how you look into things or how great your outlook in life, we must admit, infidelity still hurts and it molds us to what we are and what we will become. Unintentionally, it will also affect the way we connect with other people making us weary and less trusting.
Indeed, it is hard to accept infidelity, even with us seniors. When you commit infidelity, trust is put in question. Getting over infidelity is even considered as one of the most difficult things you have to go through in life. Also, when infidelity occurs, the damage is almost always directed both ways; the offending party seeking forgiveness while the offended one seeks answers as to why infidelity happened at all, often blaming themselves for their partner’s act. This is true for most long-standing relationships in which trust was already established but got broken unexpectedly.
If you find yourself stuck in a situation like this, do know that you have several choices to choose from. You can either walk away from the relationship or just accept things as they come. What matters most is that you move on from this situation with your self-respect in one piece. Never make hasty decisions, instead, find a calm place wherein you can sort things out and be able to arrive in a more acceptable judgment of the situation. While it is so easy for seniors to just drop the relationship since there will be not much to consider, do remember that some relationships deserve second chances.

For normal, average person like me, it is when the lower extremities i.e ankles or feet appear to be abnormally big for the rest of the body. Edema, one of the most possible causes of swelling, normally occurs during pregnancy however, seniors tend to get swollen legs from time to time especially if they suffer from arthritis. Other age groups do get them although not as frequent as the two aforementioned. It is important to take note that when you get abnormal swelling, consult your doctor at once since 9 out of 10, it signifies health problems needing immediate attention.
Health care providers consider swelling as a symptom of a disease, both underlying and ongoing. This means, everybody can get it at any point of their lives, young or old, male or female. In an elderly person’s case, swelling can occur as a side effect of the medications you are currently taking in. Furthermore, Swelling will also occur when there’s an existing health problem bothering the senior as of the moment such as arthritis and gout. Swelling of the legs is treated by health care providers in the same way they treat inflammation and in minor cases, especially when there’s no immediate health risk to the swelling, is only given anti-inflammatory drugs. A patient who is suffering from mild swelling is almost always sent home and advised of proper home care such as elevating the feet when lying down, using support stockings and receiving mild massage to improve circulation. Application of hot and cold compress in an alternating manner can also improve your condition.
Edema is not a disease, not even heredity, and it is only one of the reasons why a person suffers swollen legs. Edema happens when extra fluid leaks out of their normal way and somehow accumulated in the lower extremities. When you stand or sit too long without moving, it is most likely to happen. It is also noted that when you consume too much salt, a person who is predisposed to such condition will certainly experience swelling of either the face or the person’s extremities. Liver and kidney diseases are known causes of edema. Please take note that edema can cause respiratory difficulties so it is important that you submit yourself to a doctor when you experience any kind of swelling to receive proper care.
Obesity can also cause swelling as the weight adds unnecessary pressure to lower extremities. If you suspect this is the cause of your swollen legs, you just have to take an extra effort in losing excess pounds and managing to stay within the ideal weight.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is mostly associated with younger adults than in the seniors’ group. It is a digestive condition that is not at all fatal but absolutely stressful for the sufferer. Also, Irritable Bowel Movement or IBM cannot, in any way, lead to any serious disease of the colon or even the digestive track for that matter. IBM can be controlled by diet and medication but you have to submit yourself to strict monitoring by your health care provider for them to be able to pinpoint the exact cause which triggers the condition.
This condition has many symptoms that can be associated with it; it can be abdominal cramping, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Other times, it can be as inconspicuous as backache and chest pains. Serious manifestations of IBM can disable a sufferer but these serious cases are very rare. This digestive condition is considered by doctors as common and manageable. However, for seniors, IBM can go unnoticed therefore subjecting seniors to unnecessary aches and discomforts, even getting diagnoses and medications that are not at all related to IBM.
There is no specific cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome discovered yet.  Some researchers say that it is the movement or non-movement of the colon, while others claim that it is the person’s digestive sensitivity to some types of food such as gluten or alcohol. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is pretty much the same no matter the age you are in. Lucky are those who belong in younger generations since they don’t have any other diseases interfering with their IBM diagnosis. Seniors, on the other hand, have the tendency to experience the exact same symptoms from entirely different illnesses, making it very hard for their doctors to make the right diagnosis. My advice is, if you suspect that you are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, have your doctor look at your symptoms closely and insist on tests before dismissing the condition all together. It is also important to take note of your own digestive responses such as your bowel movement and abdominal pains– when and how are you getting them. This way, it will be easier to convince your doctor that indeed it is an IBS. Also, take into consideration that IBS is never age-related. It is not something you just develop later in life. Chances are, you have had bouts of them during your younger years, only you don’t give it too much attention back then. Also, when it attacks, it usually takes months—3 consecutive months, the least—to clear up.

No, I’m not talking about anything romantic today i.e stroking or one-on-one body massages, we’re all about health today:  seniors’ health!
Seniors are very much familiar with the words “high blood pressure”, “heart attack” and of course, “stroke”. In fact, too familiar that sometimes we tend to overlook simple details such as their warning signs and prevention. Stroke, even if the disease put seniors in the so-called “high-risk group”, it can be prevented. Even the “instant death” it tends to bring can be prevented if its warning signs are given immediate attention. The problem however is that, most seniors never even knew about these signs or may have recognized them but mistakenly associated them to other minor condition. Basically there are five warning signs a senior may experience when he or she is having a stroke:
·    Poor Balance. Unable to walk or stand steady and straight.
·    Slurred or difficulty in speaking.
·    Numbness of the face, or any side of the body including extremities.
·    Loss of vision.
·    Severe headache.
Just by looking at these signs, one would understand why it’s quite hard for seniors to know if they are indeed having a stroke. In an aging body like ours, these are common, normal, everyday occurrences. By the way, these stroke signs don’t come in complete bundle, they may come in two’s or three’s, making it more difficult to detect. Also, stroke occurs when there’s a blood clot that blocked a vessel in the brain or if a vessel breaks resulting to an internal bleeding.
As you age, your risk of having a stroke greatly increases. Adding to the risk is your lifestyle. Take note that smoking is a major contributing factor to stroke, as well as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. You can also blame your genes as tendencies to have stroke can also be inherited. If you have any of these diseases or factors, you should be very conscious of the warning signs and call your doctor at once when you are experiencing them.
Again, stroke can be prevented, especially if you are willing to undergo some changes in your lifestyle. Keeping your blood pressure in check can help keep stroke at bay. Staying active by doing some light to moderate exercises on a regular basis will help your blood flow and circulation. Smoking, on the other hand, causes hardening of the arteries which can lead to breakage and eventually, hemorrhage. It is also important to discuss this with your doctor as he or she can prescribe you the right medications to take.

Losing weight is much more than following a strict diet and exercising. I say, when you want to really lose weight, you need to prepare yourself in every aspect of your life, especially emotionally and of course, physically. If teens and midlifers with stronger and more stable bodies are having a hard time following these two simple rules, then what should we expect from an aging body like mine?
With slower metabolism, limited range of motion and digestive problems, seniors are indeed puzzled on how to really lose weight and stay healthy for the rest of their lives. It seems that the odds are now reduced to almost half. Take into consideration the fact that seniors SHOULD never engage in anything drastic and life threatening which I find in every fad diet that comes my way!
One of the reasons why I find it hard to lose weight is that I always find myself shifting from one fitness program to another and end up with several fitness programs with zero results. Why? Just because I heard someone has been successful with her program and I want to try it too. Unfortunately, frustration strikes me first before I see anything tangible to hold on to! In addition to exercising hard enough, a senior must be able to stick with “the plan”. With that said, your fitness program should be something you really enjoy doing or take an extra effort to make it enjoyable on your part. A fitness instructor once told me that the best fitness program is a combination of cardio and light strength training. For seniors, it could mean jogging and Pilates on a regular basis.
Making your body strong enough to endure exercise is a must. This means seniors are allowed to eat to fuel the body as well as provide your body with enough sleep. I understand that some seniors are having a hard time getting enough sleep however, never harass yourself and end up frustrated for not getting any sleep at all. Seniors must gauge themselves, if you feel you can do exercise with little sleep, then by all means, go.
A proper mindset is also important when trying to lose weight and even in maintaining an ideal weight. As much as possible, try to aim for a healthy body to help you live longer, rather than a stick-thin figure which I think is not too charming to see. Furthermore, a balanced mind and body requires a stress-free lifestyle. While it is impossible to live a life free of stress, there are ways to de-stress yourself like getting a massage or joining a Yoga class.

This amuses me, as I am guilty as charged! Sometimes I use my apparent forgetfulness as an excuse when it’s really a case of procrastination and I must admit, most of whom I have caused trouble due to my love for excessive procrastinating did accept my excuse without an iota of doubt. Of course, at the back of my mind, I feel guilt and sometimes the nagging feeling to cram and still finish my tasks—which are now seriously delayed—as, sort of, damage control.
I would say, with years of experience and expertise, me and almost half of the senior population—okay maybe even more—are indeed masters of procrastination. Honed by practice, we developed this uncanny ability to procrastinate without detection. Due to this, seldom do you find someone accusing us of procrastinating, only a nod of soulful understanding with a little bit of pity thrown to this potentially Alzheimer’s disease-laden senior. These were the times when I didn’t really know whether to laugh, snicker or feel bad about it. Of course, who would want to be suspected of such terrible disease? Unfortunately, drastic times call for drastic measures.
Procrastination in seniors is way more than just simple laziness. Sometimes we procrastinate to convince ourselves that we still have that much time on our hands. We would like to believe that delaying things will make bad, bitter things go away. That, I find true when I need to submit myself to an annual medical checkups. As well as, when I need to put together an emergency kit in case a fire/natural calamity/disaster strikes. No matter how important they are, seniors try to put these tasks further back in their “to-do” list.
Speaking of lists, I find that when I write down all the things I need to do today or tomorrow or even the day after that, I stand reminded of the things I should be doing in a somewhat chronological order. To further enhance my organizational skills, I number each task according to priority. This way, if and when procrastination attacks, I can just reschedule for the next day and just do those things that are needed to be done today. I know, I am a chronic procrastinator and there’s nothing I can do about it! In some rare days when I feel I can do so much, I try to do non-priority things in advance.
Expert says that procrastination can lead to stress and when you undergo stress management sessions, procrastination is one of those things that they will teach you to avoid. To some extent, I must admit, yes, but when you reach a certain age when no one is expecting you to move faster, procrastination becomes as normal as your sagging belly.

Cancer has been a very emotional issue for me ever since. I have seen friends and families succumbed to the said disease, many have fought—and hard—but eventually lost the battle, others have just plain given up, died either lonely or happy depending on how they were able to spend the last days of their lives. Based on my experience, only a handful of seniors were able to survive the terrible disease and even after cancer, their life can never be the same. There is always the nagging feeling that anytime soon, the disease will strike back and by that time, the body is in a really bad shape, it could no longer fight back. Cancer survivors treat each day as their last. Just imagine that, not a single day shall pass without thinking about the day you will die!
I say, treatments are only the first phase of cancer and once you’re diagnosed with the said disease, expect your road to be long, winding and indeed rocky! Physically and emotionally, cancer will certainly leave indelible marks, during and after. Fear is amongst the first emotions a cancer survivor may feel. Adding to that is the very apparent work discrimination that cancer survivors are now experiencing. Many have gone back to their work place, only to find out that they have been sort-of “demoted” to less challenging positions; that is if they are lucky to even find their jobs still open for them after the long “cancer hiatus”. Some are encouraged to retire earlier than they are supposed to which leaves a senior with no choice but to accept, albeit half-heartedly.
True indeed, that cancer is not a death sentence, like it was once, but sadly, getting cured is only half of the story—the only good thing about cancer nowadays, even. Treatments are known to drain a cancer patient’s financial reserves, with or without coverage.  Scars would always be there to remind the senior of the pain and suffering he or she had been through. Take for example a breast cancer survivor who underwent a surgery to remove one or two breasts to stop the cancer cells from spreading. Just imagine what it feels like being a woman with no breast—I know, because I’ve seen my mom went through the same and never can I imagine the pain in her eyes.
It is important for caregivers to still be there for senior cancer survivor since, more than ever, this is the time they need someone’s help the most. It is a common pattern for friends and families to slowly drift away from the survivor once the cancer is cured; problem is, cancer survivors, especially seniors, are the last ones to move on from the whole experience. With that said, one should expect a senior cancer survivor to be prone to depression and it is imperative to never leave them even after cancer. Several support groups offer care plans for survivors; together with your senior, encourage them to go to these sessions.

Even in your golden years, your credit score still stands as one of the most important factors in one’s life. You will need a good credit score if you are planning to get a mortgage or perhaps a new car and, of course, loans—which tends to be a “jack-in-the-box” kind of thing in a senior’s life. Yes, obviously your credit score needs to be protected and nurtured as long as you live!
And indeed you have every responsibility to do so, unless you want to spite your stubborn son or daughter and give them a major headache in figuring out your debts! Aside from that, you need to maintain a good credit score if you are currently single in status and now looking forward to marrying again. This, you also have to check with your potential partner prior to marriage since it can seriously affect yours once married.
Alarmingly, according to a study conducted by AARP, the senior citizen group is the fastest growing in terms of credit debt. That alone shows how seniors are faring amidst the economic crisis and clearly, it’s not good. But, if you have been a good boy or girl and vigilantly keeping an eye on your debts and credits, chances are, you are now enjoying its benefits. One of the advantages of having a good credit score is of course, hassle-free loan eligibility which means you don’t have to wait too long for it and no need to forward 101 documents to have it granted. Also, keeping a good credit score means you will be able to enjoy lower interest rates as well as compared to those who are not too careful of their debts. These things should be reason enough for seniors like us to maintain a high credit score so that when the time comes that we need a loan, it won’t cost us heaven and hell to get that kind of money!
Contrary to public notion, your credit score does not depend on you being debt-free all your life. In fact, if you don’t own a credit card, now or even then, chances are, you don’t have any credit record in any agency. No credit history means no credit score for you sir, hence nothing to look at in case you apply for a loan. Chances are, your application will get rejected by the lender. Also, if you were a plain housewife and your husband did all the transactions in the past, don’t expect the authorities to be keeping track of your “neighborhood store” debts. In other words, these loans and debts need to be legal, binding and a pack made with authorities, something that can put you behind bars if you don’t pay up!
The easiest, most convenient way to improve your credit score is by using your credit card at least twice a month. This way, your name will be charged with a small enough amount that you can pay right on its due date. Just make sure you make the payments right on time or else, it will lower your credit score. As much as possible, stay within 25% of your maximum limit and keep old credit card accounts with you as it will prove you pay well. Small loans are also okay, just to keep everything running. Consider these things as an investment, even if you don’t really need them now.