Smart Senior

Independent Living: The Cane

Don’t let bad knees cramp your style. Stand tall, look the world in the eye and don’t let the thought of using a cane send you into a tizzy. In days gone by the cane was an important fashion accessory; when did we let it become a sign of disability and defeat? Just knowing that you are doing something positive for yourself should make you feel strong and powerful. For people with arthritis or other joint issues, a cane can mean the difference between dependence and independence. It is time to get over the idea that using a cane or a walker makes you look old and useless. If you are wondering if a cane or other walking aid is for you, talk to your doctor or a physical therapist. No borrowing a neighbor’s cane; a professional evaluation and training are a must if you are going to do this right. A cane does not define who you are, unless you want it too. If a cane helps you walk, when without it you could not, it is worth the effort. The main purpose of the cane is to give you physical support, but it can be a pretty handy tool in other ways too. Use it to retrieve dropped or out of reach articles. Use it to scratch the itch in the center of your back. Use your cane as a pointer or to push a doorbell. Here’s one you are going to like: Think of your cane as a weapon; remember Steed in the Avenger? Find a self-defense class and learn how to use your cane as a weapon. Stand tall and take a few swipes in the air; makes you feel powerful doesn’t it? Attitude is everything. Go ahead and accessorize your cane or buy one made of exotic wood. People will notice an unusual cane and they will comment on it. Believe me, people will speak up if your cane matches your outfit or sports a holiday decoration. You will actually be doing them a favor because they don’t have to pretend not to notice your pain. Be confident. Let the world know you are still here, you are walking and you are as strong and independent as ever.

Senior Living: Better Bathrooms

The bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house, and it’s the room that you go into most often. Think about it; wet and slippery floors, poor lighting, cold enamel tiles, a slippery tub, and narrow doors. We spend a lot of time talking about falls and fall prevention, and for good reason. Anyone can take a fall, but for seniors the consequences are often life changing or even life ending. Unless you live in a very modern senior community where every possible safety feature has been addressed, you need to compile a list of your own. You shouldn’t have to fear for your life every time you enter your own little “chamber of horrors.” Most seniors can’t afford to do the kind of remodeling suggested by the experts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a “better bathroom” on your own. If you have had a fall, or a near fall, you already know that grabbing the shower curtain or a towel bar is not going to do much to save you. Grab bars you can afford. Install them everywhere. Replace all standard towel bars with grab bar-rated towel bars, and install grab bars near the commode and in the shower and bathtub. You can also afford to either remove or replace bathroom doors that swing into the room (sliding doors or pocket doors are good alternatives). Even simpler: • Remove throw rugs that can trip you up. • Apply non-slip decals in tub and shower • Use Soap-on-a-Rope or install liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner dispensers. • Lower hot water temperature settings to comfortable but not scalding temperatures. • Buy a sturdy shower seat. • Consider a raised toilet seat. • Organize your bathroom so that all toiletries are within reach. Not every little suggestion has to cost an arm and a leg, but check out the hundreds of devices and products designed to make your life easier. You can also get a professional evaluation of your bathroom if you ask your doctor to prescribe a home visit by an Occupational Therapist.

Senior Living: The Perfect Gift

It is never too early, or too late, to shop for presents. Regardless, try being a little creative this year. What are you going to give mom, dad and the “grands”? People spend hours browsing through retail and antique stores looking for the perfect gift, but they often come up empty handed. Face it, seniors don’t need more “stuff” that they will never use, especially more pajamas, nightgowns, slippers or robes. Granted finding the perfect gift isn’t easy, especially when they tell you that they don’t need or want anything at all, but that’s silly. Everyone has a secret list of things that they would like to have but can’t afford, or think they can’t afford, to buy themselves. At times like these it is difficult to be creative, but try to ignore these self-effacing statements and do the right thing. Ergo, seniors need to cooperate too. This means they need to hint broadly and post a list on the refrigerator door. • Think about your senior’s health; a one-year membership at a fitness club or at the local senior center is a fine way to show that you care. • Make up food baskets; not a once a year offering of holiday goodies, but a month to month gift of fruits, soups, crackers, cheeses, breads and other kitchen staples. • Pay for an older adult’s prescription medications for a year, and have them delivered. • Pre-purchase cab fares or bus service or take them out once a week for appointments and shopping. • Gift with a medical alert system, a closed caption phone or other practical safety features. • Volunteer or hire a handyman to winterize their homes, pay for a cleaning service, or shovel snow. If your senior has everything, you can give them the latest books (e-book or hard back), audio books, coupons, art or hobby supplies, or gift certificates at a favorite restaurant. There are many ideas for gifts but nothing is more important than showing them that you care. Forget the chocolates and lap robes and give gifts that they need but are reluctant to buy for themselves. Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries will indeed be dates to remember.

Senior Living: Dental Health

I went to the dentist and lived to tell about it. Seriously, it was painless and affordable. I thought this might be a good time to remind you that routine dental care is important for seniors too. You made your kids go to the dentist and now I am hoping it is your turn. As a child going to the dentist was all about cavities, as a teen it was about braces, as an adult the emphasis became more cosmetic in nature. White teeth and a pretty smile; those were the days. As a senior the emphasis is on health and well-being. It is time to forget about the little space between your front teeth or the slightly crooked canines, or the crowns or the bridges. The focus now is on keeping your own teeth and preventing the gum disease that could trash your health. The good news, thanks to improved dental technology, is that more and more seniors are keeping their own teeth. The not so good news is that because you are keeping your teeth you are in danger of developing an oral infection (a.k.a. periodontal disease or a gum infection). All of a sudden, the news of “no cavities” isn’t good enough, it’s those tiny measurements that they do now. Measurements that indicate how much your gums have receded since last year. “Oh no,” you say. “I’ve never had a seven before.” If that isn’t enough, you have to worry that the bacteria associated with gum disease will migrate, via the blood stream, to others parts of your body. Now we are talking serious trouble. Given the health risks associated with poor oral hygiene the importance of seeing your dentist regularly should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately lack of dental insurance, lack of transportation, phobias, and even difficulty wielding dental appliances can make good dental hygiene difficult. Still there is much to learn about things like dry mouth, fluoride treatments, oral cancer, denture care and new and improved appliances. Oral Health matters. Healthy aging starts and ends with your mouth. Put your fears aside because modern dentistry had come a long way. You have nothing to fear and most dentists have reasonable plans and senior discounts.

Senior Living: Seniors Love Birdwatching

A Love Affair with Birdwatching You know you need to walk more but walking the same old route every day is so boring. Let me introduce you to bird watching, a hobby that will make walking fun again. Wouldn’t you like to know a little more about the cheery critters nesting in your shrubbery? Bird watching is fascinating and it is easy to see why it had become one of the country’s fastest growing hobbies. Walking and bird-watching go hand in hand. You set the pace and the birds provide the entertainment. All you need is a pair of binoculars and a guide book to get you started. Borrow or buy light weight binoculars (at least an 8x magnification) that are not too heavy to hold comfortably in your hands. Next, buy a small guide book that you can tuck in your pocket. That’s all you need to track and identify the birds in your area. Apps and online resources will whet your appetite for more; before you know it bird watching will turn into a true adventure. Ask your grandkids to help you out and don’t be surprised if they offer to join you. If you are new to walking or hiking it is okay to start slowly; in fact, you can sit in your backyard and wait for the birds to come to you. Find a place to sit or stand and just wait. Pull out your notebook and jot down or sketch what it was that caught your eye (the birds color, size, shape, sound and habits). These details will help you identify them when you get a minute to consult your book. What birding can do for you: • Undoes sitting disease. We talked about “sitting disease” last week so you know what I am talking about. • Sharpens the brain. You are multitasking; walking, watching, focusing and taking notes. • Listening and watching stimulates all of the senses. • Improves your mood. Exercise, fresh air, and nature are medicine for the soul. Set your own pace. Listen to your body and relax. Join million of others who have discovered this love affair with nature.

Senior Living: Gardening

Gardening My good friend in Wisconsin, despite a very long and very cold winter, is digging out her gardening tools, dusting off her grow lights and preparing her seed pots. It is time, snow on the ground or not, to think gardening. Once the family had flown the coop and gardening is no longer an economic necessity, you may be asking yourself “why bother.” It is easy to purchase a single tomato, a small bunch of lettuce and a few green onions, but it just isn’t the same. Once exposed to the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of gardening it is pretty hard to let it go. Planting, digging, mowing and other activities related to gardening are a great work out. Thirty minutes a day of moderate activity, such as gardening, can reduce the risk of many chronic conditions. Not to mention that you will have all of the fresh fruits and vegetables you can eat. Exercise is reason enough, but there is something about digging in the dirt that makes you feel like a kid again. Gardening is dirty, but at the same time there is something life affirming about getting back to basics; soil, seeds, and seasonal cycles. Smart seniors have discovered the world of ergonomic tools. By adopting a few modifications and using innovative tools they can garden without causing excessive strain on tender joints. Don’t worry about not having a green thumb; it may be that your time just hasn’t come yet. Patience, experience, more leisure time, and the maturity that comes with age gives you an edge over your younger more impatient self. Check with your doctor and be sure you understand good body mechanics, and then go for it. Digging, smelling blossoms, breathing in fresh air, feeling the sunshine on your shoulders will bring you inner peace like nothing else. Now the answer to the real question. What are you going to do with your abundant harvest (beside eating more vegetables)? The answer of course is to “share” your bounty with neighbors, friends and the community soup kitchens. Share your joy!

Senior Living: Hand Pain

When it comes to pain, hands and feet trump everything else. You may be focusing on back, hip, or knee pain, but what if a simple task like picking up glass a water or tying your shoes made you cringe? Believe it or not, when I started looking for studies on the aging hand, I found more information on ways to make hands look younger (topical creams, hormones and injections) than about easing the pain associated with osteoarthritis. By the time you become a “true senior” you have probably figured out that being able to write, type, or open a jar is more important than whether or not your hands look young. You are not alone if your hands are painful and stiff; osteoarthritis is universal and one of the many challenges seniors have to face. Do you hear a snap when you bend your thumb? Repetitive stress from a lifetime of activities make the joints at the base of the thumb and finger tips especially vulnerable. Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, can affect us all, and it has little to do with whether we have been formally diagnosed with severe arthritis or not. It is too late to take back the years of repetitive stress, but it is not too late to take care of our hands. • Movement helps; regular exercise will help maintain range of motion and reduce pain and stiffness. • Wrap your fingers around a warm cup of coffee or enjoy the luxury of a bath or shower to ease pain and increase flexibility. • Use assistive devices to ease stress on tender joints. There are many ergonomic tools available today. You will marvel every time you use your ergonomic jar opener, and you will love exploring the world of voice activated computer programs. • Avoid doing anything that involves resistance (squeezing, grasping, twisting). Activities that require a lot of gripping run the gambit from using free weights, playing tennis, golfing, knitting and gardening, right down to all-important activities of daily living. If your discomfort goes beyond being a minor inconvenience, see a hand specialist and work with an Occupational Therapist.

Senior Living: Independent Living and You

What happens when independent living becomes a challenge? It is easy to talk about “aging in place” when you are in your 50s and 60s, but as you careen toward 80 it seems a bit more daunting. It is rather alarming to discover, even if you have done everything right, that it is harder to maintain the status quo than you thought it would be. Independent living is like the standard learning curve. There are peaks and valleys along the way, but learning how to take care of yourself and how to get along with others becomes a large part of who you are. Basic skills, learned as a child, morph into an “independent living” module and it is something to be proud of. Independent living is a process; a learning process. Learning may be easier for some than for others, but everyone learns. If basic activities of daily living have become challenging, learning is more important than ever. Having a disability, whether at six or sixty-six, does not diminish who you are. If you are having trouble with activities of daily living it may be time to seek help. Ask your doctor about an Occupational Therapy consult. OT is not just about rehabilitating hospital patients. The scope is larger now and it encompasses all aspects of independent living. It may be as simple as dealing with the physical changes that accompany aging (hand arthritis, hip or knee problems, mobility or pain control). Issues associated with aging or catastrophic changes in life all threaten independence and self-esteem. Occupational Therapist are people who can help you learn or relearn basic skills. Sometimes the adjustments mean learning how to use adaptive equipment or exercising to strengthen muscles around painful joints. You can learn how to simplify your life if you will allow these professionals help you. There is always room for improvement. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Fear is what keeps you dependent on others. Tasks that seem insurmountable can be conquered. You are never too old to learn something new; accept the challenge.

Senior Living: The Senior Gardner

Ah, the joys of summer. Succulent tomatoes, sun ripened berries, and enough work to keep serious gardeners busy for months on end. Seniors love their gardens and they love their yards. Whether you consider yard work a hobby or a chore is all in how you look at it. Either way you get to commune with nature and get some exercise at the same time. If you tend to your own yard you know that mowing, watering, raking, trimming, digging, weeding and pruning are a lot of work. Bending, reaching, and squatting are bad enough, but don’t forget other hazards that can literally trip you up. I love the cartoon Crankshaft, but his backyard antics are not acceptable behavior; common sense must prevail. Tripping over a garden hose or dealing with a gas explosion should not be considered par for the course. Modern homeowners do more than plant bulbs and pluck weeds. Real gardeners use tools, and tools come with instructions and warning labels for a reason. A tool can be your best friend or your worst enemy; treat them with respect and they will serve you well: • Keep tools in a storage area that is clean and dry. • Keep tools in good condition (rust-free, oiled, and sharp). • Handle tools with care. Wear gloves when changing, cleaning or sharpening blades. Safety first: • Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sturdy shoes. Clothing should be close fitting to avoid anything that can be caught in machinery with moving parts. • Put gardening tools away as soon as you finish using them (hoses, rakes, spades, forks, mowers and pruning shears). • Have a professional check out mowers and other power equipment on a regular basis to make sure they are in good condition and that all safety devices are working properly. • Leave jobs requiring ladders to professionals There are some yard and gardening practices that need to be turned over to a professional, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t roll up your sleeves and do most of it yourself.

Senior Living: Knitting for Therapy and for Charity

An article in The Seattle Times (June 10, 2017) featured a story about a woman who knits baby sweaters for a local charity. I was impressed, not only because she is 100 years old, but because she is doing something so loving and in such a timeless fashion. Knitting in itself is awesome. My mother knit enough sweaters, scarves, socks and hats to outfit the whole family, but I seriously doubt that any of us appreciated the skill and the love involved. There is still time to say “thank you” to mom’s everywhere; pick up a pair of knitting needles and share the fruits of your labor. You may actually enjoy rediscovering a hobby that is inexpensive, creative, and calming. Knitting, as you may have heard, is considered to be the “new yoga.” Not only does it keep your fingers nimble but it will relax your mind and nurture your creativity. Knitting is easier than it used to be. It is not difficult to learn, or relearn, and the new and improved equipment and materials will surprise and delight you. Check in with The Arthritis Foundation for joint friendly tips and easy to use tools. Knitting is not just about going through the motions; it is a labor of love. Pick something simple; quick projects that you can pop out easily. Simple works of art, whether baby sweaters, mittens or wooly blankets can be a reflection of the love that is in your heart. How do you get started? • Visit a yarn shop • Sign up for a class • Join a knitting circle Knitting is not only a great to relax but it is a way to keep older arthritic fingers moving. You will feel a connection with fellow knitters as well as with generations of knitters in your past. It is not a pointless pastime it is a proper craft that keeps on giving.