Smart Senior

Senior to Senior: Holiday Gifts

Black Friday. People were out there shopping, throwing things in their carts willy-nilly. How much thought went into those gifts, especially gifts for the parents and grandparents in their lives? It could be your own fault. If you don’t say anything about what you want, they naturally assume that you “have everything” or that you “don’t need anything.” Older folks grew up at a time when they didn’t spend their money indiscriminately. As a result they either went without or bought the cheapest versions possible, which means that there are many “wants” and “needs.” My presents are already under the tree and the only issue is whether I can wait another three weeks to open them. I made myself a “wish list.” Let people know that you would like to have exercise videos, professional grade art supplies, food deliveries, books, electronics, gym memberships or taxi scripts. There are so many things that you “need” and that you wouldn’t dream of buying for yourself. I’m sure you would enjoy a meal delivery program or someone to clean your house. Maybe you would like to learn how to use an e-reader, program your watch, or set up a voice activated program. A little help would be much appreciated. Don’t forget hobbies, a gift subscription to a yarn shop, art supplies, ergonomic cookware or gardening tools. How about gift baskets. You likely don’t want or need wines, cookies, or candies, but some real foods like tinned meats and soups would be nice. So many things’ seniors need but wouldn’t dream of buying for themselves. Gift certificates for groceries, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, dry cleaning, house cleaning or restaurant meals. Homemade coupons for things like window cleaning, painting, gardening, changing filters…. above all transportation for shopping and doctor visits. How about prepaid winter utility bills. Ask yourself what you really want and let your poor beleaguered friends and relatives know well in advance. Seriously, dear senior, if you don’t make your wishes known you are going to get the same last-minute boxes of chocolate covered cherries, bath powder, and another bathrobe?

Senior to Senior: Learn to Adapt

Aging well is all about accepting and adapting. Aging happens to the best of us. Aches, pains, stiffness, and a plethora of other medical issues are all waiting in the wings. Are you ready? Deny it if you please. I’ve been doing it for years, but unwelcome changes are already happening. Many of these changes impose limitations on both physical and mental capabilities. Fortunately for us, clever people have been busy designing tools and gadgets to help us out. The other good thing is that researchers assure us that fewer people succumb to dementia and catastrophic illnesses than you might suppose. This is encouraging to say the least, but we still must do our part. A friend of mine sent a picture of her new three-wheel bike. She didn’t like that she had to switch to what she called an “old lady” model, but she had a smile on her face. She accepted and adapted. As a result, she can continue to enjoy the out of doors, get some much-needed exercise, and make new friends (people who think the new bike is the coolest thing they have ever seen) for years to come. The dog, in the basket, was smiling too. A win-win situation. How are you going to handle all this? Can you accept a three-wheeler, a scooter, a walker, a cane, or whatever it takes to get you out and about, or are you going to be a “dick” and let your limitations define who you are? Seriously, you may not be able to run a marathon or play tennis anymore, but you can play pickleball, frisbee golf, or other less vigorous activities. It’s not all about sports either, it’s about everyday life. Being older doesn’t mean that you must give up everything you love. Learn how to cope by developing new strategies that will allow you to compensate for your dwindling reserves. Despite research and well-meaning fitness guru’s you may not be able to fix everything, but you can give it your best shot. Work within your own boundaries and explore your options. There are many ways to make your life easier, safer, and more enjoyable. How adaptable you allow yourself to be will determine how happy you can be.

Senior to Senior: Technology

You don’t have to be a genius to dip your toes into the digital world. Technology is here to stay, and it can make your life better. We are lucky to be living in a technology driven world. We’ve come a long way, but there is still a little reluctance or downright resistance to new stuff, but seriously, aren’t you just a little bit curious? We know in our hearts that we should try, but sometimes it seems so hard. First time dabblers often rely on children and grandchildren to problem solve for them, but it often means waiting for days, or weeks, for them to have time for you. The thing is, we all need to learn enough to keep lines of communication open. If your kids move away or the grandchildren go off to college, you need to figure things out on our own. First, let us look at why seniors should embrace technology: It’s all about communication. The pandemic really drove home the importance of being linked to the outside world. Our physical world has grown smaller, but the need to keep in touch and to stay informed is ever present. Really. Wouldn’t you like to be able to hear from family and friends, listen to the latest church sermon, take a class, research your ancestry, or exercise with an instructor? You can you know; you can invite the world into your own home. What to do: Don’t let your insecurities keep you in the dark. Tap into the next generation; if you are lucky enough to have grandchildren, you could trade a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies for their expertise. Don’t just ask for help, ask for instruction. Don’t despair if family members are too busy to help you. Seek help elsewhere. The first step is your public library. Second step is your Senior Center. They are there for you. They have books, classes, and tutors. You are not a failure if you need help. Technology is the biggest gift of our modern world. If you adopt and adapt you can enjoy the benefits and the world will be yours.

Senior to Senior: Gifts for Seniors

There is a reason why seniors tell you that they don’t want or need anything for Christmas. They are tired of mock expressions of delight over boxes of candy, bath powders, robes, colognes and aftershaves lotions. Seriously, who needs that kind of stuff? This year, if you are a senior; give your loved ones a list of the things you really want. If you are a family member, make your own list and check it two, three, or even four times. Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Stop filling your carts with everything on the display tables…use your heart as well as your head when shopping for the senior in your life. Seniors do have needs. Of course, they want and need stuff; who doesn’t’? It’s up to you to read between the lines. People on fixed incomes need so many things that it boggles the mind. Food items and gift cards may not sound romantic, glitzy, or particularly awesome, but filling someone’s pantry or freezer may be the most thoughtful gift you will ever give. Gift cards have a bad reputation, but they can be lifesavers. Use your head; don’t give gift cards that will never be used. Think more along the line of grocery stores, hair salons, taxi scripts, or pharmacies. Consider paying for housekeeping or care giver services, or dog walkers for pet owners. There are so many things to make life easier. Can’t wrap your mind around that? How about thinking back to the best present you ever received? It was likely something handmade. Better yet, a gift of your time; a car ride, a phone call or trips to the grocery store. Think. Keep in mind peoples interests or hobbies. Reading, knitting, cooking or gardening. Everyone enjoys something. Look at the huge selection of ergonomic gadgets and tools available. Not a senior alive wouldn’t cherish those. So many ideas, and they are fun to shop for; you may even want to get some of them for yourself. Aging comes with physical limitations, keep that in mind when looking at everything from electronics to emergency call systems. Shame on you for not thinking of them. Shop with your heart, not just your pocketbook.

Senior to Senior: Closed Captioning

You've been resisting it haven’t you? Nothing says old more than admitting that your hearing isn’t quite what it used to be. Get over yourself, turn down the volume, and get ready for a new experience. Closed Captioning is going to blow you away. To start with, you might be interested in knowing, that young people are using Closed Captioning too. CC It is not just for seniors or for the hearing impaired anymore. Closed Captioning, which displays text in the same language as the original showing, is here to stay. People are using subtitles for many reasons; to learn a language, to decipher a heavy accented or mumbled dialogue, to watch a program without disturbing others, or just to deal with producers who think loud background music is trendy. It never used to bother me, and maybe it is because my hearing isn’t as sharp as it once was, but movie and Tv series characters seem to mumble more than they used to. You also may have noticed that loud music aside, the actors often have their backs turned to the cameras when they speak. Some viewers think that this lends an air of realism, but the rest of us think it is really annoying. Granted, the typists for some of live tv shows have a hard time keeping up with the spoken words, but the techniques are getting better all of the time. DVD’s and Streaming Services do splendid jobs. At first the additional visual clutter of words written across the bottom of the screen may seem like a distraction, but you will soon get used to it. Best of all, you no longer need to feel guilty when your kids beg for TV time so they can watch their favorite movies, over and over and over again. Turn on the closed captioning feature; before you know it they will be able to read along. Closed captioning turns your television into learning tool as kids practice their reading skills and you can coach, or not. Never miss out on important dialogue again. Closed Captioning is for everyone.

Senior to Senior: The New Daily Planner

Don’t have a Daily Planner? You do, but you may not know it by that name. You probably remember it as a calendar posted conspicuously on the refrigerator door, or a scrap of paper with an old-fashioned to-do list. Regardless, it helped you get through the day without forgetting the “important stuff.” The daily planner evolved into a sophisticated tool, meant to give order to an otherwise chaotic life, but retirement and/or the virus changed everything. Does this mean you no longer have things to keep track of? Quite the contrary; the Daily Planners is back. The organized, and the not so organized, are finding that they still need plans; something that they can control. There is always something to plan. House work, meal planning, tutorials, homework to supervise, health issues, and down time. To that, add hobbies, special projects, on-line shopping, and a plethora of other daily obligations. Things to do. Daily planners still prove to be effective, as well as motivating, if done the right way: • Single versus multiple planners: some people like to keep separate planners for each facet of their lives, while others swear by the ease of using one. • Consistency: It is called a daily planner for a reason. Be consistent. Keep it (them) where you can see it one hundred times a day (the refrigerator wasn’t a bad idea). • Write everything down: appointments, events, home and work projects, dinners or anything else that is important. • Cross off each accomplishment upon completion; bask in the feeling of a job well done. Be realistic. If you put more items on your list than you can realistically accomplish you are setting yourself up for failure. Give plenty of thought to the time needed to complete each task. Knowing what you want to do is a reminder that each minute counts. Completing each assignment can be fun as well as satisfying. Be a kid again. Give yourself a gold star for a job well done. Keep in mind that each day is important and there are no unimportant tasks.

Senior to Senior: Walking Aids

Walking gets you out of the house. Walking is more important than ever these days as the need for fresh air and socialization drives us all. If aching joints make walking and/or hiking less enjoyable than it should be, you might need a little help. Have you talked to your doctor about using a cane or a walking stick? Canes and other walking aids do not necessarily scream “old” or “disabled,” but simply mean that you want to be as strong and independent as you can be. Not everyone who uses a walking aid is old, and not everyone who is old uses a walking aid. The main purpose of a walking aid is to provide physical support, but when you learn how handy having one at your side can be you will wonder how you ever got along without one. Tempting as it may be, you shouldn’t decide that you want to use a walker, cane, or walking stick on a whim. A walking aid is serious business and even trekking poles used by intrepid hikers need to be purchased with care. In order to get the maximum benefit, you need to be properly fitted, and you need to know how to use them. Really; we are talking about a professional evaluation and training. Many people use walking aids and it doesn’t reflect poorly on them at all. In fact, there was a time when canes were considered quite fashionable. Remember swashbuckling heroes in old movies? You may not need a cane to fight off the bad guys or feel a need for a “nip” from a hidden compartment, but there are dozens of ways to make this handy accessory work for you. Use your imagination: • To retrieve a dropped ball of yarn or snag a sweater from a high shelf • Scratch your back, wipe up spills, or use to exercise • Use it to make a point • Fend of aggressive wildlife There is a walking cane or a trekking pole out there for you; fold up’s, quad canes, hand carved or plain, decorative or all business. Consider a cane or walking stick to protect your joints, decrease pain, and improve mobility.

Senior to Senior: The Aging Housekeeper

It’s spring! Spring means different things to different people but one thing is a constant; “spring cleaning.” A generation ago spring cleaning was a given, and to ignore it was akin to blasphemy. Thankfully times have changed, but you may get a yen to roll up your sleeves when April showers announce the arrival of spring. You are not alone if you find yourself throwing open “newly cleaned’ windows and rearranging pantry shelves. Don’t be ashamed if you feel less passionate about cleaning than you used to; you have reason enough. Aching joints and flagging energy make housework much more difficult. But what do you do now? Cleaning services, as well as many other small businesses, have been shut down until sometime in the unforeseeable future. You might be bored enough by now to do a little cleaning yourself, perhaps not spring cleaning but, you know, cleaning. The trick is to figure out how to use your time and your flagging energy. Stiff fingers, aching joints, and decreasing energy have to be factored in as you age; you want things to be nice and fresh, but moving furniture and hands and knees scrubbing are out of the question. It’s time to redefine clean and just do what is necessary. Forget spring cleaning; your world isn’t going to end if your blinds don’t get cleaned until July or August instead of in April. If you haven’t done much of your own cleaning for a while you may have forgotten how much work these chores really are, so take it easy: • Schedule your tasks. Do more demanding chores when you have the most energy, and only do one at a time. • Stay put and use shopping and delivery services. • Acknowledge that some days you have more energy than others and plan accordingly. • Clean as you go. If you notice nose prints on the patio door, clean them now. Are you going to do spring cleaning this year? Probably not, but try to clean a little bit at a time and keep clutter to a minimum. Do enough that your cleaners don’t faint when they do come back.

Senior to Senior: Aging Artists and Gifts From the Heart

Gift giving is a crap shoot these days. Everyone wants gift cards, money, or the latest gadgets. What ever happened to gifts given from the heart? It takes a senior to know that a gift from the heart means more than any breakable gadget or toy ever will. Homemade cards, hand knit scarves, paintings, or journals are all worth their weight in gold. Many seniors stopped crafting because family members joked or made snide remarks about “grandma’s little hobbies,” but times have changed. There are many people now who would love to have warm hats, mittens, scarves and blankets. So now, while you are sitting at home wondering what to do with your time, you can discover or rediscover hidden talents that you haven’t thought about for years. If stiff arthritic fingers have made handwork difficult, you will be pleased to know that new ergonomic products are available to make crafting easier. Not only that, but experts feel that rest is not always the answer. Needlework is now looked upon as a form of therapy. Hand work can keep stiff hands mobile and give you a sense of pleasure as well as accomplishment. Ease back into it slowly: • Take frequent breaks • Stretch painful hands and wrists • Stick with easier projects “Why bother, “you say. “Nobody appreciates homemade items anymore.” Not true. Think of ways you can use your crafting skills to help those less fortunate. You can make a difference. What is busywork to one person is “love from the heart” to another. Craft for charities: lap robes, prayers shawls, baby sweaters and afghans will indeed be appreciated by those in need. Don’t know how to knit, crochet, or quilt? Why not learn. You may not be able to go to a class right now but you can find books and even lessons on line. What could be more fun than that? Someone needing a warm blanket isn’t going to mind a dropped stitch or two, and they certainly won’t complain if stitches aren’t perfectly spaced. A special thank you to those who are sewing face masks for individuals and organizations everywhere.

Senior to Senior: The Aging Gardener

Gardening is going to be big this year. You’ve been told to avoid crowds and stay home, so what are you going to do? What could be better and more rewarding than gardening. Why bother, you say, when produce is readily available in stores. It’s not the same. Remember seed catalogs? Page after glossy page of vine ripened tomatoes and succulent berries. Planning your garden was half the fun. Why not try gardening again? It’s the right time. The ground is beginning to soften, the sun is warm on your shoulders; perfect. Disavow yourself of the notion that you are too old to garden. Surely you aren’t going to let a few allergies, arthritis, muscle aches, and a little back pain keep you from doing something truly fine. Gardening is therapeutic. Gardening is spiritual. Gardening is practical. Sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper and jot down all of your “issues,” and figure out how to work around them. You don’t need a huge garden. You aren’t feeding a family of eight; this is just for you. It’s personal and can be as large or as small as you want it to be. • You can garden in a window box, a hanging basket, on a trellis, or in a container. • You can use a raised bed set at a comfortable height or pulleys to raise and lower baskets; make it easy on yourself. • Have a nearby convenient water supply, no heavy buckets or hoses. Seeds, plants, and bulbs have been known to thrive under the best or worst of circumstances. Your garden will do just fine no matter how you approach it. Nurseries and seed catalogs offer a variety of pants and seeds suitable for your gardening needs. Work around aches and pains. You will go nuts shopping for new tools. Not the traditional heavy hoes, rakes, and shovels but ergonomic tools designed to make your job easier. You don’t have to give up gardening because you are older. Many nursing homes, hospital and community centers offer horticultural therapy programs. Just being in a garden or a room with plants calms the nerves, soothes the spirit, eases pain and makes you at one with the universe.

Senior to Senior: Aging Hands

If your hands are painful and stiff in the mornings, you are not alone. Degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, may be making everyday tasks difficult. You have been using your hands since the day you artfully picked up that first Cheerio and stuffed it in your mouth. You’ve never looked back. The repetitive motions that made you so good at your job put you at risk for injuries to your hands and wrists. By the time you reach 70 or beyond, your hands have taken quite a beating. Manual labor isn’t the only type of work that can cause these injuries. Nurses, teachers, surgeons, scientists, computer programmers, checkout clerks at grocery stores are just a few of the career opportunities that but your hands at risk. You will know if you are one of them. It starts out innocently enough; first tingling and numbness and then pain. Treatment includes rest, splints, pain medications, and the all too familiar cortisone injection. The Doctor will tell you to stop doing the activity that caused the discomfort in the first place, but of course you can’t do that because you have to work. As you age you are left with an uncomfortable stiffness and loss of hand strength; at this point the problem has become chronic. This brings us to where we are now; looking for ergonomic devices that are designed to reduce fatigue and discomfort. You now know that your hands will never regain their original strength or be pain free, but you can still learn how to make most of the dexterity that you have left. • Take frequent breaks when using your hands • Use warmth and gentle exercises to increase flexibility • Use assistive devices such as doorknob grippers, key turners, and other tools with fat handles and grip pads. • Avoid doing anything that involves resistance, such as forceful squeezing, grabbing or twisting objects Your hands are important; treat them well and they will serve you well. Do not ignore pain, swelling or tingling. Learn what exercises you can do in the morning that will improve function and reduce pain throughout the day.