Smart Senior

Senior to Senior: Reading-Exercise Your Brain

Exercise your brain by reading a novel or two or three. If you are a reader or love your book clubs you will understand. Reading for the brain is like exercise for the body. You can exercise your brain by playing an instrument, learning a new language or taking up a new hobby but reading is more fun and books are everywhere. Reading is good for you. Just 6 minutes of reading had been shown to reduce the heart rate and ease muscle tension; that’s called relaxation. From preschool to old age, it never changes. One of the best ways to grow and stimulate you brain is to read often. If you don’t always have time to curl up with a good book, you might explore the world of audio books. At first your brain will cringe as you force it to concentrate on something new, but the brain is resilient. Soon you will be able to listen as you walk, as you do housework, or while counting repetitions at the gym. Start by listening to a book that you have already read; as with any other form of multi-tasking, it takes a while but the brain soon adjusts to doing more than one thing at a time. You really can walk and chew gum at the same time, so don’t limit yourself. I prefer light fiction during walks and road trips. The main thing to remember is that narrator’s matter, a good narrator is everything. You have a choice of venues; old fashioned cassettes, CDs and Downloads. If you drive long distances to work or walk for exercise, whether on treadmill of around the neighborhood, you will find listening to audio’s an excellent way to alleviate boredom and learn something at the same time. You can find everything in audio form; books on the best seller list, self-help books, learn a language books, fiction, non-fiction…read whatever you are passionate about. What a fun way to exercise your brain and give you a topic to discuss at your next club meeting.

Senior to Senior: Winter Blues

Baby it’s cold outside. Leaves are falling, days are shorter, and the sky is a dreary shade of gray. Sometimes I think hibernating bears have got the right idea, but then I remember how quickly time passes and I don’t want to do that either. Winter wasn’t always dreary. Remember how special it was when we were kids. We loved snow. A day off from school, sledding with friends, snowmen, snowball fights and cups of hot chocolate. It didn’t get any better than that. Winter can still be fun. There are many things that you can do to make yourself feel better. No more winter blues or seasonal affect disorders, especially now that we are older. People today tend to isolate themselves on purpose. Researchers call it isolation by design. We work from home, get groceries or meals delivered, and communicate with text messages. Therapists say we need to communicate more and isolate less. Start by talking to others in the same boat; a close friend, family member, doctor, therapist, pastor or even an on-line chat room. You need not be alone. Embrace the holidays. Instead of dwelling on what used to be, make a plan and figure how you can enjoy winter again. Focus on the “feel-good” aspects of the season. • Visit lonely seniors, help out at a food bank, or serve meals at a homeless shelter. • Dress in bright colors; bring out decorative pillows and afghans to brighten up your home. • Visit a yarn shop; take a class or buy skeins of soft colorful yarns and make something. • Do something you have always wanted to do. Try scrapbooking, writing your memoir, research family history, paint a picture or try a new recipe. Write letters to tuck in Christmas cards. Last but not least; take care of yourself. Fresh air, exercise, nourishing soups and stews and a good night’s sleep. Think warm, colorful, cat in your lap cozy. Read a book or watch a movie. Do something nice today, and make this winter the bet one ever.

Senior to Senior: Late Bloomers

Maybe you weren’t a child prodigy, most of us weren’t, but just because we struggled learning our times tables or couldn’t “get” algebra or geometry, doesn’t mean that we were destined to be failures. Some of us were “late bloomers” and even more of us are still waiting, but all that means is that the best is yet to come. It may be time to decide what your “best” is going to be. People are living longer and with an extra ten, twenty or even thirty years to play with, the pressure is off. There is still time to figure out who you want to be when you grow up; time for you to “bloom.” Nowadays, late life can be thought of as an opportunity instead of a burden. Let your past experiences guide you into learning new things, into exploring new places, and into developing talents you didn’t know you had. Advancing age actually sets the stage. The kids leave home, social security and a pension means you can quit your day job, and you don’t have to worry about what others think of you. You are ready to be who you were always meant to be. Talents can emerge slowly. Of course, genes play a huge role but now researchers are saying that even genes have lives of their own, and that they can spring into action at different times. It’s not an all or nothing at all deal. Think passion. If you can muster up the passion; you can still develop your abilities. Ask yourself; if you could do anything you wanted to with your time, what would it be? Think about it, make a plan, and go for it. Instead of worrying about the outcome, try to enjoy the process. We all know that mental fitness is wrapped around diet and exercise but that isn’t enough. Challenges, novelty and love are as important now as they were when you were a child. It’s impossible to predict when each person will eventually blossom, but if you believe in your own potential it could still happen.

Senior to Senior: Older Pets for Older People

We’ve had pets in our house for as long as I remember. Fifty-three years ago, a young man rescued my cat from a tree; he has been rescuing all of us ever since. We’ve always had two pets at a time because pets need company too, so never a dull moment. We’ve reached the age when bringing a youngster into our home is out of the question. Adoption agencies are pretty fussy these days, if you know what I mean; we are now considered “at risk” parents. Sad but true. Does this mean we have to resign ourselves to being pet less for the rest of our lives? Not necessarily. Researchers all agree that seniors who have pets tend to remain independent longer, cope with stress better, and are less likely to experience loneliness and depression. What do you do to assure your pet won’t outlive you? Well you can’t, but you can lower the odds by adopting a slightly “used” pet of a less active breed. The needs of an older dog are different; instead of chew toys and long walks, you need to think about senior proofing your house, just like you are doing for yourself. A slippery floor can be dangerous; think about adding area rugs or runners with skid proof pads if you or your senior pet are having mobility issues. Fido will appreciate an orthopedic bed, and if you want a couch buddy or a bed partner you will want to buy a padded stair step. Your senior pets still need stimulation and exercise so you won’t be off the hook, but a senior pet will be happy with just a walk around the block. I knew a lady who walked her cat on a leash, and another who walked around the neighborhood with her gray parrot on her shoulder. Your veterinarian will answer questions about diet, immunizations, medications and other issues to resolve. There are volunteer organizations for pet sitting, pet walking, or providing transportation for veterinary visits. Contract with family or friends to provide care if you should become incapacitated, and do remember Fido in your will.

Senior to Senior: Loneliness

Alone or lonely. When does the state of singleness become worrisome or even pathological? Families worry when they notice that an elderly parent is spending too much time alone. Seniors are especially vulnerable to loneliness. Studies reveal that loneliness often leads to depression, and depression is indeed something to worry about. Like it or not, human contact is essential for optimal health and well-being. Easier said than done, especially if you are an introvert, and many of us are; we actually prefer our own company. The idea is to find some sort of balance. Suggestions by the experts: • Reach out and establish contact with friends and relatives (introverts may not be phone people but a note, e-mail, even a tiny text message is a good way to start). • Say yes; accept an invitation to join someone for lunch or to go to an exercise class once in a while. • Volunteer; if you aren’t a people person you can volunteer at an animal shelter. • Take a risk; smile more, introduce yourself to a neighbor, initiate a conversation; It doesn’t have to be a lengthy dissertation, just a word or two. • Adopt a pet. Seniors may have to work harder to make friends but it can be done and is worth the effort. • Begin small; don’t try to reinvent yourself all at once. • Find a level of interaction that you are most comfortable with; a book club or a fitness program. • Think quality rather than quantity when it comes to relationships. It isn’t easy if you are a true introvert. If you find people a little scary or a little too noisy, make a date with nature. Studies prove that everyday interactions with green and blue places can be very motivating. It also helps establish a routine and gets you out of the house. There are many introverts out there; you aren’t alone. The idea is to put yourself out there enough that other people know you are just quiet, and not the neighborhood curmudgeon. It’s okay to enjoy solitary pursuits but don’t forget to reach out once in a while. Start small; smile at one person today.

Senior to Senior: Age Is Just a Number

Age is just a number, or so they say, but isn’t that just another way of side-stepping the question of how old we really are. Life is measured in terms of milestones and each milestone is associated with a number, so why not now? Remembering milestones is easy; your first day of school, entering your teen years, learning how to drive, graduating from high school and of course turning twenty-one. Monumental occasions, each and every one of them. After twenty-one time slowed down, although in retrospect it seemed to speed up, and before we knew it we were thinking in terms of “down-hill” or “over the hill.” Milestones, while more interesting, were not nearly as exciting as they used to be. Age has never been “just a number,” age has always been “the number,” until now. When is it that we officially become old? I wrote to a friend the other day, complaining that I had inadvertently gone to the grocery store on “senior discount” day. Horror of horrors, the place was packed with “old” people; the aisles were jammed with browsers moving at a snail’s pace, carts laden with portable oxygen tanks, and so many scooters that I feared for my life when I reached the end of each aisle. Well, I muscled through but vowed I wouldn’t go back on the middle Wednesday of the month ever again. When did I start separating myself out from the rest of the pack? I certainly qualify, age-wise, but it made me wonder why I wasn’t willing to accept that I am one of “them.” We are lucky that today age is defined by degrees of health and well-being rather than being assigned a random number. I find this quite empowering; we are more than justified if we don’t want to play the numbers game. So, what about that number? If we can learn to deal with the physical challenges associated with getting older we can do anything. It is nice that we no longer have to define ourselves by how old we are, but rather by what we are doing.

Senior to Senior: Reading

Reading Are you reading as much as you used to? It’s a fair question. When we were kids “book worms” ruled. A trip to the library was the highlight of the week. Yes, I am talking about the years before television, before cell phones, and before Saturday matinees became mainstream. Reading for pleasure is still one of life’s greatest gifts. Whether you have been a lifelong reader or just someone who thought “maybe someday” you would have time to catch up. Now you have a new reason; researchers say that we need to do something to challenge our brains. Unfortunately, poor health or physical disabilities may stand in your way. Decreased vision, hand issues, medication side effects, pain, and even lack of sleep may make curling up with a good book difficult. Don’t give up. A good book can still be your best friend. Books engage your mind. If you are sad and need to laugh, you can read a book on humor. If you feel your life has gone stale, a book with new ideas or challenges can inspire you to do great things. So, what do you do when age related issues make it difficult to indulge in your favorite pastime? • Talk to your doctor if you feel that medications, sleeplessness or other physical issues make it hard for you to concentrate. • See your eye doctor regularly. Your problems may be explained away with a new pair of glasses. • Prop heavy books on a pillow or use a book holder. • Electronic readers are lightweight, have backlights, and you can turn the page or enlarge print with the tap of a finger. Trouble concentrating? A special quiet reading nook, reading out loud, listening to an audio while following along in a book, or use a bookmark to hold your place as you move down the page. Read for pleasure, read to learn, or read to exercise your brain. Find a book that inspires you, appeals to your sense of adventure, or just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

Senior to Senior: Mindful Knitting

My mother could knit the most beautiful Norwegian ski sweaters you’ve ever seen, me not so much. The last thing I remember knitting was a long green scarf when helping out our Girl Scout leader. I know enough about knitting to know that a real craftswoman can turn out unbelievably even stitches, and without even looking down at her hands, but that isn’t enough. I wasn’t terribly surprised when I read a newspaper article about a major corporation suggesting that their employees take up “mindful knitting” to help them relax. Who knew, maybe our mothers and grandmothers were on to something, besides adding sweaters and mittens to our wardrobes. The focus of knitting used to be to produce sweaters, scarves, booties and blankets, but now knitting is being taught as a way to meditate. Knitting, they say, can lower your blood pressure and improve your mental health. When you doing something by rote whether it be knitting, coloring or scrapbooking, the mind can relax. If they had told me that knitting was the new yoga way back when, I might have looked at it differently. Instead of fuming over dropped stitches I could have viewed the repetitive motion and the soothing click of the needles as a subtle meditative technique. The upside is you don’t have to go to a yoga studio to achieve this inner peace; you can knit any time and any place. Its not about what you make that is important. Paying attention to each stitch and the rhythmic pace of doing the same thing over and over can be soothing. Hobbies that require mindful, solitary activity such as knitting can help break the stress cycle. Knit simply for the sake of knitting. You can be creative but if knitting the same scarf over and over works for you, that is fine too. Go ahead and use different colors and different yarns if variety is important to you, and if one of those pieces becomes a thing of beauty, you can give it as a gift. Don’t roll your eyes if a boss or a friend hints that “mindful knitting” might be good for you.

Senior to Senior: Mindful Knitting

My mother could knit the most beautiful Norwegian ski sweaters you’ve ever seen, me not so much. The last thing I remember knitting was a long green scarf when helping out our Girl Scout leader. I know enough about knitting to know that a real craftswoman can turn out unbelievably even stitches, and without even looking down at her hands, but that isn’t enough. I wasn’t terribly surprised when I read a newspaper article about a major corporation suggesting that their employees take up “mindful knitting” to help them relax. Who knew, maybe our mothers and grandmothers were on to something, besides adding sweaters and mittens to our wardrobes. The focus of knitting used to be to produce sweaters, scarves, booties and blankets, but now knitting is being taught as a way to meditate. Knitting, they say, can lower your blood pressure and improve your mental health. When you doing something by rote whether it be knitting, coloring or scrapbooking, the mind can relax. If they had told me that knitting was the new yoga way back when, I might have looked at it differently. Instead of fuming over dropped stitches I could have viewed the repetitive motion and the soothing click of the needles as a subtle meditative technique. The upside is you don’t have to go to a yoga studio to achieve this inner peace; you can knit any time and any place. Its not about what you make that is important. Paying attention to each stitch and the rhythmic pace of doing the same thing over and over can be soothing. Hobbies that require mindful, solitary activity such as knitting can help break the stress cycle. Knit simply for the sake of knitting. You can be creative but if knitting the same scarf over and over works for you, that is fine too. Go ahead and use different colors and different yarns if variety is important to you, and if one of those pieces becomes a thing of beauty, you can give it as a gift. Don’t roll your eyes if a boss or a friend hints that “mindful knitting” might be good for you.

Senior to Senior: Talking to Strangers

Once again, researchers are doing studies on a subject that to us “older folks” is common knowledge. They could have just asked us. We might not have used words like “psychological benefits,” but we’ve always known that talking to strangers is a civilized thing to do. When we grew up, we knew everyone in the neighborhood, and everyone in the neighborhood knew us. The word stranger wasn’t even in our vocabulary, but times have changed. Our children and our children’s children have been cautioned, practically since birth, not to talk to strangers. Not talking to strangers morphed into avoiding contact and being careful not to invade anyone’s “personal space,” and this was before cell phone relationships even existed. Researchers are now studying what this current level of social isolation means. The Wall Street Journal ran an article the other day (Monday, May 13th) by Elizabeth Bernstein. The author talked about importance, and the benefits, of interacting with people outside of your immediate social circle. Our children, at one time or another, have all told us that we embarrassed them when we talked to strangers. I hope you ignored them and went on being your old friendly selves. We don’t need researches to tell us, although that is exactly what they are doing, that talking to strangers improves everyday experiences. Studies show that insignificant interactions, like giving a complement or asking a cashier how there day is going, is good for us. You both get a little jolt of happiness even though you are strangers and may never see one another again. Lifting your head and engaging with the person standing next to you is worth the effort. People are happier when they connect with others. Do a little study on your own. You are surrounded by strangers every time you walk down the street. When you exchange a word, a smile or a compliment, you are reaching out. You are sending a message that says you are recognizing each other’s humanity, without making any demands on their time or yours. Cool huh.