Smart Senior

Senior to Senior: Balance

Balance is defined as the ability of your body to maintain equilibrium when standing, walking, or performing activities of daily living. Let’s face it. Most of us have had some near falls when pulling on slacks, walking on uneven ground, or reaching for something on a shelf. Balance isn’t addressed nearly as often as strength training, aerobics, and stretching routines, but it is a real concern for seniors everywhere. Seriously, the sense of balance begins degrading in your twenties and goes downhill after that, and that is a very long downhill journey. We need balance every time we take a step. It’s what keeps us on our feet when walking and keeps us from wobbling when standing still. The process is quite complex, involving brain messages and multiple senses. Quite astounding, isn’t? Aging happens. Changes in vision, core strength, flexibility, and intricate changes in the ear canals all affect the way information is relayed to the brain. Poor balance is the reason that incidents of falls become more common as we age. The good news is that experts tell us that there are some things we can do to preserve and even restore the sense of balance. Yes, the dreaded “exercise” word comes into play again, but this time it isn’t about six-pack abs or training for a marathon. You will be pleased to know that balance exercises aren’t rocket science. The ones that come to mind involve standing on one foot while brushing your teeth or talking on the phone, and practicing walking heel-to-toe, with one foot directly in front of the other. If that isn’t challenging enough you can buy or check out senior exercise videos from the library. All of them include a segment on balance, it is that important. If you crave company, find a class at the YMCA or Senior Center near your home. Talk to your doctor. Conquer your fears. You can opt to use a cane, walking sticks or a walker, but if you can put that off a little longer, isn’t it worth the effort?

Senior to Senior: Make a Difference

You can make a difference. Seniors tend to hold back because they feel that the little that they can do may not be good enough. Still the desire to help lives on. Medical problems, decreased mobility, and having to depend on others for transportation make it difficult, but not impossible. Use your talents, no matter how big or how small they may seem. A friend of mine mentioned that her church was collecting donations for charity. Winter is coming and volunteer organizations are asking for donations of warm hats, scarves, and mittens. The contributions, they stipulated, can be store bought or homemade. It’s easy to run to the store to buy a scarf or a pair of mittens, but we all know that hand knit, or crocheted items, are sturdier and warmer. If you stopped knitting because your kids or your grandkids decided that homemade stuff wasn’t cool enough, you can rest assured that someone struggling to get by isn’t thinking about designer labels. Dust off your needles and start knitting, crocheting or sewing again. The smallest contribution can make a difference. Besides, working with your hands is good for you. Many seniors testify that knitting and crocheting has improved their manual dexterity, their hand-eye coordination, and the range of motion in their fingers and wrists. We won’t even get into decreasing anxiety and stress, and the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile. All skill levels are needed. Novice or expert, there is a project waiting for you. Not sure what you could make? Afghans, quilts, mittens, hats, caps, slippers and toys. Mittens for the homeless, chemo caps for oncology patients, or preemie caps for neonatal departments. Toys for children, baby booties…so many people in need. All you have to do is follow the news to see heartbreaking stories about people who have lost everything. You can help. You can make a difference. Work from home or join a group and rest assured that what you do is appreciated. Items made by hand have something that store-bought can never duplicate, they are made with love.

Senior to Senior: Air Quality

As if the heat weren’t bad enough, we are now besieged with questionable air quality, which is even harder to escape. The numbers, at times well over 100, are not encouraging. A good deal of the air pollution is due to smoke from wildfires, but even without that, our cities often look like they are cloaked in haze. This can’t be good. Seasonal wildfires are making what should be idyllic summers a nightmare. Poor air quality readings are becoming way too common, and experts tell us that episodes of air pollution are likely to get worse instead of better. Once again, we are faced with an unimaginable predicament. This is not the time for nostalgia; we need to protect ourselves and our families by limiting the amount of time spent outdoors, and once again consider wearing a good quality mask. Pollution follows you everywhere. Outdoor air, including pollutants, can enter your house through open windows, vents, or window air conditioning units. The EPA recommends using fans and portable air purifiers if you don’t have central air conditioning units that cool and distribute clean air throughout your house. That’s not too bad, but what about indoors? Indoors is where you really live. Did you know about keeping doors, windows, and fireplace dampers shut? Recommendations go even further than that; avoid activities that create more pollution indoors. We are talking about things like not smoking cigarettes, spraying aerosol products, frying or broiling food, vacuuming, and burning candles or incense. Children, elderly people, and adults with existing lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly vulnerable. Even healthy people should try to stay indoors. Inhaled smoke particles can irritate the lungs and stress the heart. Not a good time to be jogging or doing much of anything outdoors. We can’t seem to win. Smoke in the air can trigger asthma attacks, worsen COPD, and worsen pneumonia. Symptoms to watch for include increase wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and chest heaviness. People with lung illnesses should keep inhalers handy. Seek medical attention if symptoms don’t improve with your normal medications. We can do this.

Senior to Senior: Challenges

Many of the challenges associated with aging deal with physical disabilities, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. The two-thirds of the iceberg that you can’t see is more insidious; it is about what is going on in your head. A friend wrote that she hardly ever had good days anymore. This made me very sad, because I believe that every day should be a good day. It is relatively easy to senior proof your home, but memory loss, depression, anxiety, and loneliness are harder to deal with. We did things backwards when we were young and foolish. We worried more about gray hair and crow’s feet than we did about who we wanted to be when we grew up. Much of the angst is a generational thing. Young old agers may find it a bit easier, but for older folks, balancing good days with not so good days is hard work. Older seniors get stuck in a time warp because they don’t want to be a bother. When someone asks them if something is wrong them, they either talk your ear off about their “symptoms,” or they whisper, “I am fine,” when things may not be fine at all. There is a huge psychological disconnect separating the generations. Nowadays everyone shares their problems, and they talk freely about support groups and therapy sessions. You probably think this is a good thing for “them,” but not for “you. If you could just feel relevant again. That isn’t asking too much, is it? You are the only one who can make yourself relevant. Stop thinking about how old you are and focus on being “other centered.” This means starting each day thinking of ways you can be nice to someone, including yourself. It doesn’t have to be a big something. Smile at the jogger running by, write a letter, call a friend or offer to get something from the store for a neighbor. Share a plate of warm cookies or crochet a baby blanket for charity. Make someone else’s day. You may find that you can have a good day as well.

Senior to Senior: Take a Vacation

Does it feel weird thinking that you need a vacation? Seriously, once you are retired, isn’t every day a vacation? Maybe so, maybe not. If you are still programed to be busy all the time and if anxiety has become your middle name, you may need to get away. Sometimes, it takes a vacation to pry you away from the news and all the other negatives in the world. Get away from work (whether voluntary or paid) and forget all the commitments that you probably shouldn’t have made in the first place. A change of scenery is a good thing. If nothing else, it makes you appreciate “home.” If, on your vacation, you find that you are bored, not sleeping well or missing your old routines, you are missing the point. The point being that you are trying to recharge your batteries and restore order to your life. Keep your older body in mind and plan a “senior friendly” vacation. Enjoy spending quality time with family or friends but make your vacation about you. Spend time outdoors. Be spiritual. Be active. Be calm. Select your destination carefully and consider your needs. Handicap accessibility and comfortable sleeping arrangements are paramount. Be sure that you have your medications and dietary supplements with you and stop complaining. I remember my aunt and my mother complaining that nothing was ever as good as it was at home. Don’t miss the point of why you needed to get away. Stick to a routine (this means regular eating and sleeping schedules) and allow yourself plenty of quiet time. Take a few projects to work on so that you aren’t left twiddling your thumbs while others go off on one more adventure. Take things slowly and take care of yourself. Scope out where the nearest hospital is located, just in case, but then put your mind at ease. With a little bit of planning, knowing your limits, and knowing what you want to achieve from your “vacation,” you can return home a new person or at least a better, more relaxed, version of you.

Senior to Senior: Good Old Days

Old people talking about the “good old days” is a given, but just how good were they? As kids we vowed not to dwell on the past when we grew up, but remembering the past is what people do. The problem is that they (we) mostly remember the good stuff. We forget about “not so good” superstitions, diseases, plumbing, electricity, and all the other comforts that we now take for granted. I don’t think anybody wants to go back to the way things were. Now that we are “older” we too find ourselves reminiscing, just a little, but I’m thinking we are a little more realistic. Are we more stressed than we were in the past, or did we just handle it better back then? I suppose it depends on how far back you are willing to go. Stress has been with us since the beginning of time. In long ago days there were saber tooth tigers ready to eat you for breakfast. In the Middle Ages diseases that could kill you in the blink of an eye proliferated and superstitions ruled, and then there were the wars. People didn’t live long. The good old days. Hmmm, I don’t think so. Come on, do you really want to give up central heating and air conditioning? You know that you enjoy having a television set, a phone, riding in cars, a dentist who doesn’t hurt you, and medicines for nearly everything. Living longer is a given, not just a quirk of fate. We can’t deny that we are living in troubled times, and it is debatable whether our grandchildren will look back and say that these were the good old days. We tried to destroy our planet for heaven’s sake. Still, life is good, even though we wax philosophically about the days when children could play unsupervised, or you could bicycle through Europe without worrying about kidnappings or sex trafficking. It’s okay to reminisce about the good old days, but while you are remembering things fondly, try not to get stuck in a time warp. Instead, focus more on what you can do to make the future brighter, something that the next generation truly can enjoy.

Senior to Senior: Public Library

Most seniors know a “good deal” when they see one, which makes me wonder why so many of them ignore the best deal of all, the Public Library. Not one of my family members, friends, or neighborhood acquaintances make use of the public library. I mean really… have you checked out the price of books, print or audio, and movies these days? What is it about “free” that people don’t understand. Why in the world would anyone, especially seniors, buy a book or DVD when they can borrow it for free. They say they want to keep favorite books or movies to read/watch again, but face it, do you really have enough time left to do that? Everything is more expensive these days, which is fine if your income has increased proportionately, but if you are living on social security, investments, and savings, it may be a stretch. Seniors know how to economize. We’ve been through tough times before. We learned how to be frugal and to live within our means, and we can do it again. We read books. We learned how to feed a family of four on $20 a week, traveled Europe on $5 a day, grow produce in a window box, and we could fix almost anything with “How-To” books from the library. Today, the library is more than just a repository of old books. Public Libraries have bent over backwards to remain relevant, available, and free. The mission has remained unchanged; they aim to give you access to information, literacy, learning, and culture. This is a big deal. Today you can find eBooks, audiobooks, traditional print books, videos and educational apps. At the library you can browse, take a class, use the computers, join a book club or research your genealogy. You can browse, sit and read, or just shelter from the heat or rain. Libraries may be the last truly public institutions. In a library, no one is asked to pay for anything. It may be the last place that you can go to enjoy peace and quiet, and just be. The Public Library is, and always will be, the heart and soul of your community.

Senior to Senior: Second Childhood

Seniors are often laughed at, and accused of going through a “second childhood,” when they do something outrageous or fun. What does “second childhood” really mean? Is a good thing, or is it just a way for your children to tell you to stay in your rocking chair? Frankly, it sounds like a good idea to me, but the whole concept gets mixed reviews. Too often it is associated with senility or dementia, instead of what it really is, an effort to enjoy the rest of our lives. Fulfilling a bucket lists sound more glamorous, but in many cases, it is the same thing. Of course, there are negative as well as positive connotations to this state of being, and we must be very careful what we wish for. The unthinkable may happen; you may find yourself in a rehabilitation unit relearning the basics. Who knew that the activities of daily living that we take for granted can be stripped away in a heartbeat. Aren’t we all just a step, or misstep, away from a cardiac event, an exacerbation of arthritis symptoms, or the aftermath of a bad fall? Fighting for independence is as real now as it was when we were toddlers. Instead of reveling in our newfound independence, we may find ourself struggling to hold on. Despite advanced warnings, nobody sees it coming. It may be time to think about how you want your “second childhood” to play out. Was your childhood as wonderful as you remember? Can you recapture the ideals, the wonder, and the awe of youth? Perhaps you can, if you don’t dwell on the negatives, and think about what it could be. You can start your journey by surrounding yourself with young life. There are children everywhere. Grandchildren, neighborhood children, school children, church school children, and children at local youth centers. Volunteer. Watch them. Love them. Learn from them. See the world through their eyes. Embrace your “second childhood,” and make up for what you missed the first time around. You are allowed to have fun. You are allowed to learn, and you are allowed to rediscover yourself. This is what a second childhood is all about.

Senior to Senior: Acting Your Age

Act your age! Seniors heard that a lot when they were growing up. It usually meant that they (we) were doing some dangerous, outrageous, or downright dumb. At 60,70, 80 and beyond, you are probably sick and tired of being told that you should “act your age.” Acting your age had a different meaning now. Some still think that you need to be somber, staid, and reasonable, but isn’t it more important to be smart, relative, and well informed? In our minds eye, parents and grandparents were the old and wise ones, but for some reason we didn’t want to be like “them.” We wanted to go our own way, even if it only meant not watching game shows or going to bed by 6:30. You are not alone if you want to redefine what “acting your age” really means. Seriously, despite physical limitations (how you look or feel) you are still the same person you have always been. It is important to stop perceiving yourself as old. You may look a little crumpled and outdated, but if you are doing your best and have taken reasonably good care of you yourself, you are just fine. Be as young as you feel, or as young as you want to feel. Go for it. Studies show that this is important. You must stop referring to yourself in the third person, laughing at jokes about age, or using your age as an excuse when you don’t want to go somewhere or do something. Stand up for yourself and be honest; admit that you just don’t want to do that. The only excuse you need is that you already have “plans.” Having plans is the real issue, isn’t it? You need to have plans. A plan can mean anything from watching a favorite program, reading a book, working in your garden or just taking a nap. Life is too short to let other people’s dictate how you should behave. Oh, and if “they” shake their heads and say you are in your second childhood, laugh, and acknowledge that they might be right. A second childhood is not a bad thing after all, especially if the first one wasn’t all that great. This is your last chance to do it right, no matter what your age. .

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 so 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 make an effort, 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 are off to college, you need to figure things out on our own. First of all, let's look at why seniors should embrace technology. Communication, of course, is first and foremost. 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, form a support group, 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 to all of the benefits, the world is yours.

Senior to Senior: Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to me! When did birthdays stop being fun? Pretty early on it seems. A lot of angst expressed at 30,40, and 50, but them silence ensues, as the rest of us hope that if we don’t talk about them, they will go away. This stops, of course, when we finally admit that we are “old.” In the past, birthdays were fun, and life was filled with endless possibilities, but at 70 or 80 things started to change. Major milestones have come and gone, and we are left wondering what is left. Birthdays are more than milestones. They signify the never-ending struggle to find meaning in our lives. It’s a great deal to take in, at a time when we thought we had already “been there and done all that.” Once we get past the horror of grey hair, wrinkles, and career ceilings, we can focus on what really matters, but first we have to figure out what that is. Culturally driven, we tend to think “young,” until we can’t. Alas, we are now at the “can’t” stage. Once you stare 70 or (gasp) 80 in the face, everything else is moot. You can remain young in spirit, but in all other respects, you have to acknowledge that “forever young” was just a movie title. The one thing that cannot be denied is the continually ticking clock. On the inside you are still the same person, but, on the outside, not so much. Your expectations remain the same, but your body begs to differ. If you can see fit to accept that, and adapt, you can move on. Yes, there are wrinkles, grey hair, medications and potentially new body parts, but lucky for us, science and technology are on our side. A birthday is, after all, just a number. It is better to be a septuagenarian or even an octogenarian now than ever before. Is that enough? It has to be. If we are terrified by thoughts of another birthday, and of feeling older, we have to reset. It is time to focus on the here and now, and consider ourselves lucky to still be here. We are blessed.