Smart Senior

Senior to Senior: Learn Something New

If you aren’t a reader, you may think reading fiction is a waste of time, but if you give books, and even some television shows, a chance, you might find a few nuggets of wisdom inserted between the lines. I read at least 4 books a week, so I don’t remember which author suggested it, but the idea of learning one new thing each year struck a chord. Other sources suggested daily or weekly sojourns into the unknown; not to become experts but to try as many new experiences as possible. It is never too late to learn something new. Seniors often resist because they think that they are too old, not good enough, or they have the ridiculous idea that they don’t have time. You don’t have to tackle anything earth shaking, but you might want to try something slightly out of your comfort zone. It turns out that your brain likes challenges, and in the long run will thank you for it. Retirement is a great time to try out this new theory. It can be anything. What piques your interest? Do-it-yourself projects, gardening, mastering electronics, playing an instrument or learning a new language. More than a third of the people over 50 have successfully learned a new talent or hobby and they feel better, both mentally and physically, because of it. Stop thinking it is too late or that you are too old to change your ways. No matter what age or what season of your life you are in, there is still much to experience. Stop worrying about what other people think. It doesn’t matter if you just accept that it might take a little longer, or that it might be a little harder than when you were twenty. Don’t worry about looking silly; no one else cares. Besides seniors are allowed to be a little “eccentric.” Go for it! Resolve to do one new thing a day, a week, a year. Take an ax-throwing class, learn how to swim, study history, learn how to knit, or travel somewhere you haven’t been before. The possibilities are endless.

Senior to Senior: Teach a Child to Read

Is education taking a nosedive? Evidence is piling up, again, and not in a good way. While everyone is aware that reading is the key to educational success, the problem isn’t being addressed. Studies indicate that we are dropping the ball. Too many children in the United States are not getting effective reading instruction. Blame the pandemic if you want, but the problem starts a little closer to home. It is time for parents and grandparents to step up. Parents don’t want Grandparents to interfere, and Grandparents want to enjoy their retirement, but at what cost? Teachers cannot do it alone, especially if parents and educators are at war. If the school system in your state is ranked near the bottom of the educational heap, it’s true that you need to rise up and make your feelings known, but don’t let your child suffer in the meantime. It really does take a village to educate a child. Parents, grandparents, and educators need to tap into every resource available to right this grievous wrong. It is heart breaking to hear adults say that they don’t like to read. Is it that they don’t like to read, or is it that they just don’t understand how important is? Stop being too “busy” to read with your children, to supervise their homework, or notice if and when they might be struggling. Grandparents to the rescue; quality time should not be about expensive gifts, smart phones, babysitting or acting as chauffeurs. Reading is the best way to bond with a child. If you read to children at home, they are more apt to be comfortable when they start school. Start early. Use story time to engage with your children. Gift them with books; cloth books, paperback books, electronic books, comic books or graphic novels, whatever it takes to ignite their passion. Don’t wait until your child starts school and expect someone else to pick up the slack. Children who read outside the classroom develop the tools to support learning throughout their lives. If you don’t have a child or grandchild of your own, volunteer. Please volunteer. Local schools and libraries need you. Teach a child to read and you have given them the world.

Senior to Senior: Ask Questions. Please.

You are never too old to ask questions. You may think that you know enough, and you may even feel that “been there, done that” says it all. Still, it may be time to admit that your education is a little out of date. The old adage of “because I said so,” doesn’t cut it anymore. No one knows everything, it’s impossible. Admitting that, and showing an interest, is important. It means you are still relevant and that you can still be a good role model. Asking questions lets your friends and family members know that your mind is open to possibilities. There is no shame in admitting that you don’t know something, or that you need to have things dumbed down a little. It’s okay. The important thing is that you are brave enough to ask questions. Let that be your “supe power.” Age is no excuse. Refusing to admit that you don’t have all the answers, or that you don’t know everything, is not a bad thing. Nothing says “old” more than thinking that things were better in the “olden days” or adamantly refusing to embrace change. Stop being complacent. The world as we know it is changing so fast that just staying on top of everything is a full-time job, but we still have time to ask questions and seek answers. A good question leads to a good answer. If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, just say “I’ll get back to you.” Between the public library, the internet, and even your own children (and grandchildren), you can find the answers if you want too. Be a kid again. Remember their incessant questions? Drove you crazy but that was how they learned; how we all learn. Asking questions mean that you can vote intelligently, senior proof your home, or answer Jr’s questions about why the sky is blue. So many things to learn. Brilliant thinkers questioned everything; don’t you want to be remembered as being one of them?

Senior to Senior: Vacation at Home

Snowbirds in particular have much to think about this year. Whether they should stay at home or travel to their winter abode looms large. Many couples are opting to stay at home to avoid non-essential travel. Yeah, or nay. Spending the winter up north could be quite an adventure, especially if you haven’t done it in a while. Some embrace the whole idea as challenging, while others say “no way,” and opt to head into the “eye of the hurricane,” so to speak. If you decide to chance relocation, consider how you are going to get there and if you will be truly welcome. Are you healthy? Does your insurance cover out of state illness? Is your winter home in a high-risk area? Last but not least, if you do get sick, do you have family nearby to help take care of you? Treat yourself to a vacation at home. This new concept of working from home, homeschooling children, keeping up with daily household tasks and adapting to new technology has not been a piece of cake. First and foremost, you can’t risk getting sick. You need to stay healthy; you need to work, you need to go to school, or you need to be available to help out those in your inner circle. Plan this vacation like you would any other: • Let your office know that you are taking a few days off. • Turn off your phone. No video calls or online work projects. • Catch up on chores, homework, or office work ahead of time, this is not a working vacation. • Pick up a good book, start a jigsaw puzzle, play games or go for a hike Disengage from stressful activities: • Explore nature in your own neighborhood. Take up birdwatching. • Browse gardening catalogues. • Do something different, even if it is just rearranging your furniture. What do you think? Can you create a modified vacation experience in your own home? Come on: Breakfast in bed; different menu experiences every day, virtual travel or long walks, can make all the difference in the world. You deserve a break today!

Senior to Senior: Armchair Travel

If you have traveled at all you know that the desire to study, explore, and see for yourself, never grows old. If you had to cancel vacation plans this year, or are sad because your retirement plans have been put on hold, it may be time to explore some new options. Travel is limited right now but the desire to see and appreciate our world is stronger than ever. Start planning your next trip right now. Planning the perfect vacation is half the fun, and you can still do that, but don’t limit yourself. Getting older puts a whole new spin on traveling, and it happened before the coronavirus came to call. We have all had to shift our ideals. Hiking through the Alps or bicycling through Europe may no longer be an option, but you can still drink in the beauty of it all. During uncertain times you may be wondering if you be able to revisit favorite places or take a real vacation again. Think positive thoughts, but in the meantime, let arm chair travel come to the rescue. Seriously, the only way to travel right now is from your living room. I’ve watch so many PBS Mysteries lately that driving on the “wrong” side had started to look quite normal. Pick a country. Immerse yourself. Learn how to speak a few words of the language, cook a meal (alright, order out from an ethnic restaurant), listen to native music, learn a folk dance, drink the wine, and appreciate the art. The internet age has made it possible to visit places that you thought you would never see. Armchair travel is a real thing; it is sharing another’s experiences by reading, hearing or viewing. Start by contacting a reference librarian to find books, movies, and documentaries about the country of your choice. Ask for help to access YouTube and other venues that can zoom you away to faraway places. I hate to use the phrase “time is running out.” but it could very well be. Explore this wonderful, exciting and beautiful world while you still can.

Senior to Senior: Learn From Home

School may, or may not, start up on schedule this fall, but even if it does, the curriculum is likely to be abbreviated. Early attempts at virtual classrooms didn’t go particularly well. What can you do to help? Now is the time to draw all family members into the pictures; no, mothers working from home cannot do it all, but grandparents can. Knowing that you are truly needed sounds like a win-win situation to me. You can’t just sit a kid in front of a computer and expect instant learning to occur. Kids are kids, but they need a teacher/mentor/monitor at home just as they do in a classroom. Make sure everyone is healthy and set some ground rules; kids need supervision and they need help to stay on track. Students need a supportive adult to be firm, to be encouraging, and to just be there. Grandparents can help: • Students need to get up, have breakfast, and get dressed so that can go to school whether at home or in the classroom. • Students need to have a schedule: they need to know what their assignments are and when they are due. They need to be present for their classes and they need to know what questions to ask when instructors are available. • Peace and quiet. This is serious business; work time. Even if your little one is just learning new words there has to be a time, a place, and a learning atmosphere. • Focus: distractions are everywhere whether in a classroom or at home. School time is not the time to check phone messages, take naps, or walk the dog. Keep distractions to a minimum. • Don’t forget recess. Mentor, tutor or supervisor; grandparents are important. They can listen to lectures (you might learn something new), notice if junior is struggling, and help formulate questions so that both of you understand everything. Learning can be fun. Learn to embrace new teaching methods and wonder at the thing’s kids are learning these days. Families need to invest, not just in the latest equipment, but in the time necessary to make education a priority.

Senior to Senior: Creativity

Creativity is innate. I read somewhere that everyone is born with a certain amount of creativity, but most either don’t recognize it, or they have had to put it aside until later, much later. The shame of it all is that somewhere along the line thoughts of “not being good enough” creeps in, and creativity dies. Try to remember that you do indeed have a creative side. Understand that creativity does not just relate to music, art, dance, or writing. Anything that piques your interest is fair game. As child you were passionate about everything, the sky was the limit. What happened? Allow your creative side to flourish again. Revisit arts, crafts, or hobbies that piqued your interest long ago. If you truly enjoy yourself you will find that creativity reduces stress, combats depression, and alleviate loneliness (conditions often associated with older people). People are living longer; many of them are looking for ways to make their extra years more fulfilling. Now is the time to reactivate your hidden talents; the time is right. So, what if forty or fifty years have gone by; you can knit something besides a potholder, you can pick up a paint brush again, learn a foreign language, explore your ancestry or write something fun and memorable. Stop dithering. You now have time. The kids have left home and a pension has allowed you to retire. You are free to do what you want and you don’t have to worry about what others think. Be more creative: • Pick something that you like to do whether it writing your memoirs. knitting or playing an instrument. • Do not compare your work to others. • Immerse yourself in what you are doing; enjoy the process. As adults we need more fun and creativity in our lives. Your art will give you something fun and productive to do while keeping your mind off from pain and the other stresses associated with aging. Creativity knows no age limit.

Senior to Senior: Vacation 101

Yes, seniors need vacations too. Whether visiting family or just looking for time away, a change of pace could be just what the doctor ordered. More and more Seniors are packing their bags and hitting the roads to tour America. Granted, car trips are not always fun, but if you plan ahead and take your time you can do it, and you can have a nice time too. For retiree’s a car trip is the perfect way to visit or revisit places of interest. Try to keep in mind that road construction, heavy traffic, and being passed by those in a hurry are only inconveniences, not the end of the world. Before you leave home; plan your itinerary and make motel reservations in advance. Take your time. Accept that you are older now and well past the age of skipping meals and driving through the night. Limit your travel time to 4-5 hours a day. Stop at every rest stop whether you need it or not. Walk around for a few minutes and enjoy a beverage. Make it easy on yourself; pack one big bag with items you won’t be needing until you arrive at your destination, and leave it in the car. Put toiletries, a clean shirt, a few changes of unmentionables, medications, slippers and pajamas in a small lightweight “carry on” bag for your own personal use. Travel with a friend. You will not only enjoy the companionship but in this day and age you need a navigator. It’s a jungle out there, even with a good GPS you will need help. Stay a few days or a few weeks. No hurry. Do a little research (travel bureaus or internet) and take in the sights. Get off the beaten path. Take your time; stop to read historical markets, pull into the viewpoints and stay for a picnic. Go ahead, plan a road trip. Sure, it can be harrowing. Driving is exhausting and your “backseat driver” may make you nuts, but if you take a minute to chill out and breathe, you could be in for the vacation of a lifetime.

Senior to Senior: Travel

The Second Time Around Retirement and travel go together. You finally have time to visit, or revisit, places that you have been dreaming about for years. It is great fun at first, but often too exhausting to be fully appreciated. After a few trips you may be rethinking the whole idea; simple activities like carrying luggage, walking long distances, and uncomfortable flights may be causing you to have second thoughts. Don’t give up. You can still travel even if your “get up and go” is telling you otherwise. You may have to forget about lengthy walking tours or whitewater rafting adventures, but you can still enjoy all that man and nature have to offer. If you plan your trips well in advance you can figure out how to overcome most obstacles. Package tours, for example, will take care of sightseeing, luggage transfers and searching out suitable accommodations. What could be easier than that? So, plan ahead, know your capabilities, and know what you want to see and do. Other than a cruise, where you don’t have to anything more strenuous than stand in the check-in line, you might find shorter trips are more to your liking. There are any number of beautiful and historic sites readily accessible by bus, train, or automobile. We revisited the Grand Canyon a few weeks ago. No, we didn’t do a mule ride this time, but the guided bus tours were excellent, and we found ourselves seeing things that we missed 50 years ago, when we rushed through on our way to somewhere else. You can still enjoy natural wonders and historic landmarks if you pace yourself: • Get out of the car or bus and stretch whenever the opportunity arises. • Don’t skip meals. Eat well, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough rest. • Plan ahead and take advantage of educational opportunities. • Keep luggage to a minimum and use lightweight bags with wheels. • Keep any medications you might need on your person. If you plan ahead you will find that travel, as a senior, is better than ever. There’s something to be said about the second time around.

Senior Living: Fall Prevention Away From Home

The holidays are right around the corner. For many of you this means you will be away from home visiting family and friends. My cousin and her husband fly from the Wisconsin to Virginia two-three times a year for family visits, and enjoy RV trips during the summer months. I considered them “seasoned senior travelers.” They reminded me that creating a safe environment in your own home is one thing, but being careful when you are on the road is another matter altogether. They both emphasized the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times, especially in regard to stairs and curbs. For them, in the interest of safety, it meant giving up tickets to their much-loved Packer football games, but they continue to travel. We came up with a few tips to help you navigate the unknown: • When you enter a room for the first time; scan for potential hazards (throw rugs, pets, toys on the floor, and electrical cords). • Homes built for young families often have little regard for personal safety. Many have multiple levels as well as a step up or down leading into the living room. Do not attempt to navigate stair steps without a sturdy hand rail. • Do not tempt fate by wearing socks, stockings, sloppy slippers or fancy dress-up shoes in the house no matter how comfortable they are. • Dim lighting may come under the category of ambience to some but are a safety hazard for others. Pack a flashlight and even a nightlight or two so that you are never left in the dark. With a little bit of care, you can continue to enjoy visiting with family and friends no matter where they live. Be mindful of your limitations. Be sure to take advantage of amenities offered by airlines and hotel/motel accommodations and ask for help when in doubt. Enjoy your holiday. Be a guest and concentrate on taking care of yourself. Drink plenty of fluids, take your medications, and get plenty of rest. Be a guest; they invited you because they wanted your company.

Senior Living: Family Medical History

Researching family history is not only interesting but important. Seniors often take on the task of researching the “family tree” and happily share their information with others. If you are interested in genealogy you are probably eager to begin, but take your time and put first things first. Start by researching your family medical history. You may think this sounds boring when you want to dive right in, but do yourself a favor and start here anyway. Your family health history (the conditions that your relatives have, had, or died of) provides clues about what you can expect regarding your own health. You and your relatives not only share many of the same genes but often adopt similar health habits. With the right knowledge you may be able to sidestep your genetic destiny. Researching medical details, including mental health and pregnancy complications, is a big project. Your goal will be to collect health conditions, ethnic background, age and cause of death for at least three generations of blood relatives. The best place to do this at those family reunions that you hate so much. Go anyway. The women in your family will gladly fill you in on everything you want to know. You may not like what you learn but having this information can benefit you in many ways. Preventive strategies such as routine screenings, diet modifications, exercise or medication can make a difference. • Ask for health histories from relatives closest to you, and then move to the previous generation and so on. • Research: get copies of death certificates or medical records, family diaries, military records, immigration papers and obituaries. • Delve into physical and behavioral illnesses such as alcoholism, depression, mental diagnosis etc. This may not be as easy as it sounds because back in the day people didn’t go to the doctor very often. Be alert for subtle clues; an amputation might point to diabetes, “bad blood” might have meant anything from anemia to syphilis. Look at pictures for signs that a relative might have had osteoporosis or other telling birth defects. Start with your “medical family tree’ before worrying about whether Uncle George was an Earl or Aunt Susie came over on the Mayflower.