Congratulations if you are reading this. It means you are still mentally healthy.  Your mind is still functional despite your age. You can understand and make clear and sensible decisions; it doesn’t flit between fantasy and reality.

You still discern colors, sights and sounds around you; feel the warmth of your children’s hands and the smooth skin of their faces as you trace a finger over them. You heart still overflows with joy each time they say, “I love you Dad,” or “I love you, Mom.”

They don’t call you senile or be constantly reminded to take your medicines on time can feed yourself. Nobody is hovering over so you won’t fall or get lost around the neighborhood.

And of course, you want to stay that way for as long as you want – to be able to make choices, go places, play your favorite sport or fly a drone or assemble a remote-controlled car.

You can.

There is no limit to what you can do – even in your latter years.

How?

Read through until the end and be put up to speed about the following:

• What is “mental health”
• Mental health risk factors
• Mental health symptoms

What is Mental Health

Mental health is a person’s level of emotional, pasychological, and social well-being.

It shows on the way you think, feel, and act. Your mental health can be discerned by the way you handle stress, relate with others and make choices, among others.

Contrary to popular belief, mental health, per se, is not age-related.  But aging brings about changes that may affect you physically, emotionally and psychologically. Failure to cope with these changes will impacts your mental health negatively.

These days mental problems have become too common. You hear about mental health issues among, students, celebrities, sports superstars or, at home. Sadly when people talk about “health,” what they mean physical health – forgetting the fact that anything that affects the body, affects the mind as well. And vice versa.

Mental Health Risk Factors

For most, retirement is a time to celebrate. After working for the better part of their lives, they can now relax, stay home with family and friends, travel, or engage in a hobby or sport.

It is the time to enjoy and quench your thirst for a stress-free and enjoyable life.

However, life does not follow this script for some. More too often, the things you did in  your younger days will come to roost – like karma. Even if they don’t, your current circumstances such as loneliness and financial problems will wrankle your mind, affecting your mental health.

Aside from that, the following age-related issues brings about the same effect:

• Health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease.
• Chronic pains in the joints, neck, back, shoulders, and nerves
• Side-effects of medication.
• Loss of income, relationship, independence, self-worth, or mobility, etc.
• Change in living arrangement, i.e., independent living to a nursing facility.
• Social isolation
• Hospitalization.
• Anniversaries of traumatic or sorrowful events and experiences.

Nearly 95% of adults 60 years old and above have at least one chronic condition. And as previously mentioned, all these will affect mental health in varying degrees. And if not properly handled or managed, they can drive one to self-destruction

Mental Health Symptoms

Mental health disorders are treatable if detected early. However, these symptoms are often taken as a result of old age – which, most often, they are. But they should not be brushed aside as one of those things.

For example, if you feel any of these things, consult your doctor:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Shying away from people and usual activities
• Lethargic or feeling lazy
• Loss of purpose
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Smoking or drinking more than usual
• Crave for harmful drugs
• Being confused, forgetful, edgy, angry, or scared
• Showing episodes of emotional outbursts against family or friends
• Frequent mood swings that affect relationships
• Negative thoughts or recalling old memories
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Having suicidal thoughts
• Inability to do daily routine tasks

Don’t take them lightly, especially if they start affecting your daily routine.

How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Old Age

Depression, anxiety. and dementia are the common mental health conditions among people. They affect about 7% of people aged 60 and above. Though not many, they should not be taken for granted.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for its onset – if ever.

Be ready for the changes that come with aging

Being old and retired is a different ball game and you must be to embrace it with grace.

While it may be great to be spared of your daily rush-to-work routing each morining, but you must have a plan to take up the slack so you won’t fine yourself looking up at the ceiling wondering what you will  do rest of the day. God said, “Idleness is the handmaided of temptation.”

For live-along seniors, prepare for bouts of loneliness and isolation, chronic illnesses, and living off a meager pension. While being old age may be liberating, it also imposes limitations that may need assitance from within of without.

Have someone to talk to

Each time I feel like being pressed from all side, I go out to a coffee shop near me. Or I get in touch with my daughter of sister who lives nearby. These may not help in getting rid of the demons of lonliness but they can surely provide relief. It’s always good to have someone to talk to.

Don’t be a hamster of a wheel. Go out and talk to someone – anyone. If you do, don’t unburden your problems to them. That is the surest way of driving them away. Talk about the weather, about politics, religion, of anything under the sun, except your worries.

Talk to a:

• close family members or friends
• a specialist, someone who can help you in a professional way
• someone who shares your concerns
• trustworthy and won’t make your mental problems go viral.

Make it conversational. For God’s sake, don’t cry a bucket of tears in front of other people – if you can help it. Keep it simple. Skip the drama and don’t come out as a cry baby.

Listen, too.

A good conversation is a two-way street. Doing a monologue will defeat the purpose. Besides, nobody really wants to know about your problems, but being lent a sympathetic ear is blessing enough.

Seek help

Follow this formula, “If you need anything, just holler.”

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. It is not a sign of weakness, but acceptance that things are going as well as expected. Acceptance is the first path in untangling the knots on your

Seek help from:

• family and friends
• health professionals
• support groups
• online sources or social networks.

Make a  plan

If my daughter and her hubby (both doctors) go out of town for several days, they make arrangements with a nearby hospital and a fellow doctor to attend to me should I need medical attention.

Though I have never availed of such a plan so far, it is reassuring to know that help is available if needed.

Life is uncertain at best. At our age, each day is a blessing. While the life of an elderly is a toss of the dice, you can improve your odds by having a  plan.

For example:

• Plan whether you will spend the rest of your days at home or in a care center
• What measures to take in case of health and mobility problems
• Are your finances in order
• Do you have quick access to medical facilities and transport
• Who will take care of you when you no longer can’t?
• Have you made your will or funeral arrangements in case of death?

Never leave these things to chance to prevent chaos for those you leave behind. Having them in place is mentally reassuring.

Exercise and have enough sleep

Exercise is important to people regardless of age. It is a must when they hit the 60s and beyond. Not only is it physically good, but mentally as well.

Here’s how exercise keeps you mentally healthy:

• Boosts self-esteem, raise self-worth and self-confidence
• Helps lower blood pressure, strengthens the immune system and many others
• Promotes better sleep
• Provides a good opportunity to meet other people.

And sleep?

Don’t fall for the fallacy that elderly need fewer hours of sleep each day. Sleep is as important as food and you should get the full serving of 7 to 8 hours a day. Anything less will result in:

• poor concentration
• bad mood and irritability
• feelings of lethargy
• a weak immune system

Eat well, drink moderately and stay hydrated

Eating well is not going on a diet – as the word is commonly defined. It is getting the right kinds of nutrients in your meals.

Eating well helps you maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure and the energy to stay active. It is a hedge against arthritis, diabetes, and various heart conditions.

Old age affects a body’s ability to absore alcohol – too much of it. But it is healthy if taken moderately like one or two drinks in a day. However, consult your doctor regarding this as it doesn’t sit well with certain medications and may exacerbate some forms of medical issues.

And don’t substitute it for water. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can result from some pysiological changes due to aging. Several studies have shown that dehydration has a negative impact on cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and critical thinking.

Relax and enjoy life

If there is a time in your life to relax and enjoy life, it is now. The kids are done through college, mortgage payments are done with (presumably), and you have all the time in your life to do whatever you wish to do – travel, write a book, engage in a hobby or your favorite sport.

Reach out to old friends or establish new ones. Don’t withdraw into your shell, but be in the hub of activity, of action and adventure, of laughter and merrymaking. Your brain’s synapses never stop growing and these things are the nutrients for their perpetual growth.

Make your life as stress-free as possible.  Stress makes your thinking murky, as a drop of ink does to a cup of water.

Be grateful

No matter how down on your luck you may be, there is always a reason to be grateful. The grass on your neighbor’s yard may not be green but parched arid and overgrown with weeds.

You don’t have enough money Be grateful you are not in a shelter for the homeless.

Suffering from chronic illnesses Bear in mind that a lot of people your age are on life support or have but a few hours or days to live.

Be grateful that you are walking above the ground while many of your relatives, associates or friends are six feet beneath.

Things are never worse than you think they are. The Dalai Lama said,

“Gratitude is the healthiest of human emotions.”

Other than emotional health, gratitude:

• improves relationships
• is good for physical and emotional health
• enhances empathy and reduces aggressive behavior
• can help you sleep better
• increases self-esteem
• increases mental strength

Being mentally healthy doesn’t mean you won’t suffer the pangs of loneliness or the wretchedness of depression. You may hurt others due to occasional mood swings. But a healthy mind can recognize these as nothing but momentary episodes of emotions stoked by stressful events or circumstances.

Worldwide, avout 16% adults aged 60 and above suffer from a mental disorder. Not a shattering figure but still of serious concern as the population ages.  That leaves you with a choice whether to live among the ranks of elderly people living in the darkness of their thoughts or bask in the sunshine of a healthy mind.

And do help others by sharing this modest piece.

~oOo~

The post How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Old Age first appeared on Age With Charm.

Do you feel angsty when you wake up some mornings?

You feel something is amiss, or about to go wrong. But you don’t know what it is.

It burdens your heart but you can’t express it. What’s worse is you don’t have anybody to express it to,

I do. And my first time got me really scared.

Thoughts of a heart attack danced before my mind.

I felt a slight pressure pushing against my chest, breathing was difficult and painful, and my heart was going boom, boom, boom.

With haste, I immediately drove to the nearest hospital. The results came in after almost an hour of the usual tests. And the verdict was…

My heart was good but my mind was running wild. It was nothing but a severe case of anxiety.

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. While anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful events, the elderly are more prone to it because of the various issues that come with aging.

Here are six of the most common:

1.  Mental Health

Mental health is the level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness. It is the state of someone who is “functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment”. – Wikipedia

With old age comes a change in lifestyles. While most seniors handle this transition with ease, a few (about 15% of adults aged 60) struggle with it, consequently affecting their mental health.

Among the stressors that can cause mental deterioration among the elderly are:

• Retirement
• Depression
• Dementia
• Change in environment
• Effects of medications
• Loneliness and isolation
• Loss of a loved one
• Physical disability
• Chronic illnesses
• Alcohol or substance abuse

2.  Physical health

If there is a scorecard on physical health, most seniors will fail. According to the National Council on Aging, 92 percent have at least one chronic condition, and 77 percent have at least two.

Physical health issues greatly impair your ability to perform daily tasks and other activities like sports. People with physical health issues can’t get by without taking several medications a day to keep them going. Often, they need someone to help them with ordinary activities like eating or personal hygiene..

A myriad of physical health issues can befall to  people in this age range, including you and me. The most common are:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Respiratory diseases

Most of these can be managed to allow you live happy and productive life.

3.  Health care costs

Politicians and medical practitioners define “health care costs” differently but this article is not going to give you a giant headache. So to cut through the chaff, it’s going to make it simpler.

“Health care costs are out-of-the-pocket expenses or the amount of money you regularly spend to maintain your health and overall well-being.”

For example, I am taking multi-vitamins and an anti-hypertension drug on a daily basis. They represent a portion of my health care costs, not counting tennis club membership and other things to keep me physically fit.

This amount can be huge even if you are covered by Medicare. A study done by the Center for Retirement at Boston College shows that an average retiree spends around $ 4,300.00 on out-of-the-pocket health care costs per year.

4.  Financial security

Financial security refers to the peace of mind you feel when you aren’t worried about money matters; that you have enough money to cover your daily needs and emergencies well into the near future.

As in physical health, a lot of seniors will fail in the financial health category. Over 25 million Americans aged 60 + are living below the Federal Poverty Level ($ 29,425 per year per person).

They have issues on housing and health care bills, inadequate nutrition, access to transportation and diminished savings. And things due to normal rise in cost of living, their difficulties are expected to go from bad to worse.

5.  Elder abuse

Elder abuse is the single or repetitive lack of action in a relationship or trust, and which causes harm or distress to an older person.

It includes physical, emotional, sexual, financial exploitation or neglect of their welfare by people who are directly responsible for the care of the elderly. This is a growing menace as most of the victims would rather suffer than report them. In fact, more than half a million reports of elder abuse reach authorities every year.

6.  Loneliness and social isolation

Loneliness is a negative feeling resulting from unmet social needs in terms of quantity and quality, while social isolation is total or very limited social contact; to be cut off from your normal social network.

Social isolation and loneliness are often taken as the same. They are not. On one hand, loneliness is temporary and is often a choice, but social isolation is caused by factors like mobility, health issues, no access to services or community activities, or a total lack of communication with friends, family, and acquaintances.

Both are bad for the elderly. Isolation can result in serious chronic diseases such as lung disease, arthritis, and mobility problems, and loneliness can make some seniors engage in unhealthy habits like overeating, drug abuse, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Everybody wants to finish well – whatever we are doing. Retirement is no less. We all want to retire in good fashion – healthy, financially independent and with a vibrant social circle.

Things, however, don’t always turn out the way we want them to. No matter how good your plans are, these old-age issues can derail them any time. The above are just a few of them.

If not handled or managed well, your life will be a string of stressful events. It will be like battling one of those Australian brush fires. Instead of enjoying old age, you will wallow in a deep mire of suffering and regret.

Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be. The Internet is full of resources you can use to achieve your retirement dreams. This blog is one of them.

You can spend precious time searching them out or have them delivered to your email on a regular basis if you subscribe to this blog. The choice is yours.

But remember this – you need not walk the lonely path alone.

Image: Lovin’LIfe after 50

~oOo~

The post Six Old-age Issues You Need to Know first appeared on Age With Charm.

Do you know that 92% of all seniors have, at least, one chronic health issue while 77% have two?

If you are skeptical about this, stand beside or behind an elderly in drugstore counter and observe the wads of prescription pads he wants to be filled.

I once stood beside a guy behind such a guy who was well into his 70s. And he had prescription pads thick enough to fill a folder. When I asked what were those for, he calmly said, “You name it, I have it.”

Yes, by age 60 and beyond, people’s hair gets thin and gray, the midsection has gone sideways, and their diet includes lots of pills – from blood-thinning aspirin to Zytiga, for cancer.

It’s quite ironic that at a time when you are supposed to enjoy life, do all the things you never had time to do before, i.e., travel, re-invent yourself, engage in a hobby, etc., you are also beset with aging-related health issues that need a full day to discuss with your doctor.

For example, here are the most common of them…

Most Common Health Issues of the Elderly

On a scale of 1 to 10, I may be at 8, health-wise. That’s because I am taking Norten, and both my knees have osteoarthritis. But for a guy at 71, that’s relatively healthy. If your situation is similar to mine, don’t blow your trumpet too soon. Someday you can come face to face with one or a couple of these:

1.  Arthritis:

In simplest terms, arthritis is “painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.” However, arthritis is anything but simple. An episode can be moderate to painful and can last for weeks or months.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but the most common are osteoarthritis,  rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout.

On a day-to-day encounter, when people say they have arthritis, in most cases, what they mean is gout.

Says Marie Bernard, MD, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland,  “Arthritis is probably the number one condition that people aged 65 or older contend with.” 

2.  Heart Disease:

Heart disease is a collective term to describe a range of conditions that affect the heart, These conditions include blood vessel disease (coronary artery disease), heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), and congenital heart defects.

It is often used interchangeably with “cardiovascular disease,” which refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, angina (chest pains), or stroke.

The most common among the elderly are heart failure, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation.  And it is serious because it kills, and kills silently. In 2014, almost half a million people aged 65 and above died of heart disease, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

3.  Cancer:

Cancer is a collective term given to a group of related diseases characterized by an uncontrolled division of some of the body’s cells and spreading into surrounding tissues.

There are more than a hundred types of cancers but the most common among elderly people are breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancers.

The greatest risk factor of cancer is age. In fact, 60% of new cancer cases in the U.S. are among people aged 65 and above. The silver lining, if there is such where cancer is concerned, is that the disease is treatable if detected early.

4.  Respiratory Disease:

Respirator disease is a disease that affects the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system, i.e., respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura, and pleural cavity, etc., causing health issues like asthma,   COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), fibrosis, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

The most common among the elderly are respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and bronchial asthma)

In2014, 124,693 people aged 65 and above, died of respiratory diseases – making it the third most common cause of deaths among the elderly.

5.  Alzheimer’s Disease:

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most cases, the first symptoms appear in the mid-60s.

One in three cases of Alzheimer’s disease is preventable, and the risk factors are lack of exercise, smoking, depression and lack of education.

6.  Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a disease that reduces bone density making it porous and fragile.

This is a serious health issue among the elderly because of the risk of bone breakage due to falls. Between 2006 and 2016, falls were the leading cause of traumatic brain injury-related deaths among people aged 65 and above.

And what is alarming is that records from the National  Osteoporosis Foundation, show that 54 million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.

7.  Diabetes:

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar), is too high.

There are several types of diabetes but most common are Type1 and Type 2. Of the two, the latter is more common.

Type 2 diabetes develops when your body does not make enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. This type of diabetes can occur at any age but is more common among middle-aged and older people.

Aside from age, the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are family history, obesity, and lack of physical activity. Other factors also come into play in the development of Type 2 diabetes like high blood pressure and gestational diabetes among women.

Diabetes is an incurable wasting disease. If not properly managed, it can damage a host of body parts like the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and teeth. It can make your feet rot and eat your nerves.

The horrifying part is that roughly 25% of people aged 65 and above have diabetes.

8.  Influenza and Pneumonia:

These respiratory diseases are worth occupying a slot of their own because elderly people are particularly susceptible to them, and they are contagious and deadly.

Influenza, or flu, is common among seniors with chronic diseases. Their symptoms are easy to spot and are easily curable. But if not properly managed, it can lead to long hospital stays and possible more serious complications like pneumonia.

Pneumonia, on the other hand,  is an infection of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs making it difficult to breathe. Aside from that it also affects the efficiency of the lungs to provide oxygen to the blood.

In most cases, the flu is seasonal but there is no significant determining factor for pneumonia except that age is one of the risk factors.

9.  Substance abuse:

Substance abuse is a pattern of harmful use of any substance like alcohol and drugs (legal or illegal), to alter the mood and the problem is growing, and this problem is growing.

It is particularly harmful to the elderly because they are more susceptible to the deteriorating effects of these substances; they have a decreased ability to metabolize drugs or alcohol. Other than addiction, this health issue can lead to frailty, cognitive impairment and other potential adverse effects between the misused substance and the brain.

These days, due to advances in science and medicine, people live longer. And the proliferation of the Internet has provided countless opportunities to make life easier, convenient, enjoyable and memorable.  With our without these health issues, people have more options on how to live their lives.

Provided you do your share by keeping a regular visit to your doctor.

Image: https://goo.gl/AfmQ6L

~oOo~

The post What Are the Most Common Health Issues of the Elderly first appeared on Age With Charm.

How do you enjoy life?

If you surf this question, Google will show you ten articles about the subject on the first page, alone.  It will also show you that no less than 3 billion people are as interested to know the answer.

And you should, too, because, at this point in your life, your primordial concern should be to enjoy life – the more the better.

Here’s why…

Old age is the high time to enjoy life – the more, the better. You have had a fruitful career, you may be grayer, but wiser. You are happy and confident with yourself and the things you’ve accomplished, and the time and freedom to do all you want to do.

Evil Knievel said,

“I decided to fly through the air, and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could.”

Sadly, enjoying life is not bestowed upon retirement. To bask in the rejuvenating rays of sunlight, you must get out from under a shade – no easy task for seniors with chronic diseases and money problems. Others are so rapt up in the trivialities of life forgetting that a lot of things we worry about are nothing but mists that will disappear at the break of dawn.

I learned this the hard way.

A lot of seniors are in a worse situation than you.

While confiding with my daughter about being depressed over something, she immediately snapped back saying, “You have no reason to be depressed. There are a lot of old people out there in a lot worse situation than you.?

She was right. We could never enjoy life if we are so self-focused; if we think that the world revolves around us.

That experience made me recall all the life lessons I learned through the years the hard way. To enjoy life…

1.  Don’t overthink

Don’t overthink, especially about your problems.

Problems are necessary components of living. We all have them. But people who are enjoying life realize that problems are either real or imagined, serious or light and act on them accordingly.

Overthinking is bad because you are unnecessarily taxing your brain over things without basis, or may never happen at all.

Instead of fussing over an issue, analyze it carefully, act accordingly then move on.

As the saying goes, “Don’t worry, be happy.”

2.  Minimize stress

Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. This response could be physical, mental, emotional in nature. Most of the time it is a combination of all.

It is a normal part of life and could be positive or negative.

Stress is positive if it alerts you to a threat or danger by motivating you to move or avoid it.

But when it becomes constant, even chronic without relief or relaxation, it will overtax your stress response mechanism resulting in the emotional wear and tear of the body.

It becomes harmful if it results in the compulsive use of stress-relieving substances.

When you feel stressed out, remember this – “…There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not,” – Valerie Bertinelli.

3.  Keep busy

If you want to live long, keep busy – that’s what Andre Maurois meant when he said,

“Growing old is no more than a bad habit which is a busy person has no time to form.”

Busy people are happy. They are never bored and their brains are always working. They are productive and, in a much greater sense, they are enjoying life.

4.  Love

Love is a feeling that nurtures positive energy to a tired and lonely soul. Loving someone else or yourself is kind of a well-spring that nourishes your body and mind each day of your life.

It makes you care and share and, if necessary, bear the brunt of the vicissitudes of old age with a smile.

It makes you cherish and enjoy each passing moment of your life. And gives you a ton of health benefits.

5.  Socialize

Having a close-knit of friends is one of the best ways to enjoy life.  Good, supportive friends increase your self-confidence and self-worth. They make you feel secure.

Good friends can boost your physical, mental and emotional health. They are a good hedge against loneliness and isolation. They help reduce stress and can contribute to longevity.

Socializing these days is a lot easier than decades ago when you had to walk a mile to see an old friend. Now, you can reach them any time of the day, wherever they may be. They are just a click away.

6.  Be grateful

Nothing sets your day right better than to say a prayer of gratitude for living another day, of seeing another sunrise, of being with your loved ones.

Being grateful in all things – big and small – gives you more positive emotions, enjoy a good experience, improves your health, builds strong relationships and allows you to deal with adversity.

Expressing gratitude, to give lasting happiness, is not simply saying “Thank you,” but by having a cheerful and grateful disposition.

7.  Have faith

Faith is complete trust or confidence in a person, thing, or concept.

The life of an elderly is not a leisurely drive along the freeway but a roller coaster ride. In some days, you are up, in others, you are down. There are many unexpected twists and turns that can make you lose traction, direction, or purpose.

What evens them out, the equalizer is faith.

You can lose everything or everyone in your life but never lose faith. With faith,  you can withstand the worst storms in life. Without it, a soft breeze will topple you down.

At 71, I am enjoying life to the fullest. But it was not like this a couple of years ago. Arriving at this level of enlightenment can be likened to that of Gautama’s.

A couple or so years back, I used to overthink. That habit usually led to anxiety or bouts of depression. Until one day, my daughter socked it to me straight (mentioned above).

That episode made me sit under my own Bodhi tree and recalled all the life lessons I learned from the past and put them to good use.

You, too, can.

Please share.

~oOo~

,

The post Seven Life Lessons to Help You Enjoy Life More first appeared on Age With Charm.

A real issue faced by people on the verge of retiring is where to retire in – at home (aging in place), or in a care facility Why The euphoria of finally being free from the shackles of work, work, and more work clouds everything out. After years of making a living, now they want to make a lif – a life they never enjoyed before. Like a bird caged too long, they want to “fly” far and wide, to explore, or just sit and do nothing but make the days pass by.

But the hands of time never stop and the ravages of old age exempt no one. What if both conspire against you when you are in the 80s or beyond when you are frosty-old Will you still stand fast, or make a beeline to the nearest nursing home?

This article intends to give you the real score, so stay put and read on.

What is Aging in Place

Aging in place is the term to describe an elderly person’s choice where to live where he is most comfortable in – in his home. It is the preferred choice of most elderly people because of familiarity. In fact, less than 4% of people 65 and above lives in nursing homes and 90% of Americans approaching retirement age plan to stay put.

Not only out of familiarity, but home is full of memories and memorabilia of the past. It echoes the clanging utensils during dinner time, the laughter of your kids, their toys and crayon scribblings underneath the stairwell wall.

It was once your “love nest,” where the kids were born, grew up, went to school, done with college, got married and started families of their own.

At home, you are surrounded by people you have known for the most part of your life; people who can be counted on to help in case of emergencies.

Aging in place is to be free of the strict rules and regulations found in assisted living facilities.

It is freedom – with a price.

Pros and Cons of Aging in Place

I live in a culture where aging in place is a default option for elderly people like me. It’s the familial bond among Asians that make it possible. Being sent away to a care facility is like a betrayal of an implied parent-children relationship.

But I cannot say the same for those on the other side of the cultural divide. If you are in that situation, be aware of the following pros and cons:

Pros

• Home gives you a sense of peace and serenity. You know who lives immediately around you, play golf with your doctor, and is on a first-name basis with your filling station attendant or the check-out girl of the nearest convenience store.
• Retiring at home avoids the trauma and stress that come with change i.e., being surrounded by people you don’t know, follow routines strict and unfamiliar routines, and eat food revolting to your taste like having a hole in the head
• You get away from the emotionally-draining experience of getting rid of things you don’t need – things that have their own stories to tell like your first fishing gear, your kid’s bike, your wife’s priced casserole set, etc.

Con

• Though less expensive than a nursing home stay, aging in place is not entirely free. There are maintenance costs you have to budget for or spend some effort on;
• It can be lonely at times. Even if you are a very private person, there are times you need to mingle with others and your friends, family members or neighbors may not be there when you need them;
• You are highly vulnerable to health and safety risks.

Aging in Place Tips

I’ve been living alone since my wife died almost eleven years ago.  Before that, I did not know how to make the bed the way she did.

As days went by, however, I learned. I learned when to mow the lawn, prune the hedges, clean the house, cook my meals and many other things. When push comes to shove, we learn. And aging in place is a process of constant learning. It’s kind of day school all over again or a boot camp.

Here are a few things I learned over the years.  the way. These are good tips when you encounter some bumps along the way.

1.   Have a game plan

Consider aging in place as an adventure, the success of which depends on how you planned the trip. Plan for:

• Things to do every day. A daily schedule assures that you have something to do each waking moment of your day. Not only is it a good deterrent against loneliness, but also a good exercise;
• Plan your meals to make sure you won’t skip your dietary needs and your ref full of foodstuffs that can keep you strong and healthy;
• Make sure your finances are in order, your payables are current, your will is in order and your executor knows fully well what to do should the need arise;
• Draw a regular schedule of going out with friends or family members. If you lack both, go out still. Sitting in a coffee shop, a park or mall and watch people go by make you feel “connected;”
• Keep within easy reach the telephone numbers of your doctor, ambulance service, the police, your nearest neighbor or kin;
• If your finances allow it, plan for regular vacations or long drives. Getting away from the regular environment of your home is rejuvenating both for body and soul;

2.  Develop a good money attitude

A good money attitude is essential to help you outlive your retirement funds. While your needs may be a lot less now compared than before, but expenses never stop. They just take on another form, like spending more on nutritious foods and medicines. And if you are not careful with your funds, it is possible that it will run out on you.

3.  Be tough

Aging in place is not for sissies. Living alone is freedom, but it is not exactly a day spent in a theme park. There are many situations where melancholy and self-pity will gnaw at your heart as termites do to the pillars of your home.

Particularly trying is eating alone, or doing the dishes or sitting alone in your living room at night can drive less-resolute people nuts. Even now, after so many years of living alone, these things still prick my soul once in a while.

Be tough and brush them aside. These negative thoughts do nothing but undermine your health and sense of well-being.

4.  Always keep on the side of safety

With failing vision and frail balance, you can be prone to home accidents like falls, burning or scalding, and choking or other food-related incidents. Be very careful in everything you do and keep your home as accident-free as possible. Always be on the safe side.

If you live in a two-story house, sleep in a ground floor bedroom. Remove all clutter around your moving space and have it well-lit. Never leave electrical cords or any obstruction around your home unattended. Remove them at once.

Use gloves when handling hot objects, and use serving trays for newly-cooked foods. Turn off the gas stove or unplug the oven when work is done.

In storing food, use containers with big readable labels to prevent mix-ups. Labels should also indicate purchase dates to avoid ingesting spoiled stuff. Set your ref at 40 degrees Fahrenheit to make fruits and veggies last longer.

5.  Eat well and drink lots of water

In the U.S., about one in two elderly is at risk of malnutrition and dehydration is one of the most common causes of emergency room admittance among people 65 and above.

The problem with these two health risks is that they are difficult to detect until it is way too late.

Malnutrition can cause health problems, diabetes, and heart disease while dehydration can result in heatstroke, seizures due to electrolytic loss, kidney failure or you can go into a coma.

6.  Be active

Wake up before sunrise. Seeing the glimmers of a new day is refreshing and rejuvenating. You can feel your body jumping with joy at the caress of early-morning sunshine.

Right after or before breakfast (prefer after because it gives me the energy to do my regular exercises), hit the road for an early jog, play tennis or golf, or go to the gym.

Getting physical at the start of the day primes you up for the other tasks up ahead and raises your appetite for a mid-day snack which is necessary for people your age.

7.  Go out and have fun

Keep certain days of the week to mingle with friends. An hour or so in a coffee is an excellent respite from the familiar scene at home.

If you are up to it, take a long drive or a vacation. Seeing unfamiliar surroundings, meeting new people, eating a different variety of foods can make you feel alive, excited. And the stored memories from trips will draw a smile across your face when clouds of loneliness and despair start creeping in.

Betty Friedan said, “Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

And aging in place is the best venue to find both.

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Image: Senior Money Saver

~oOo~

The post Things You Need to Know about Aging in Place first appeared on Age With Charm.

Many years ago, you did not know what it is to be old.

Oh, you knew someday you will be. But you chose to put it in the backburner; ignored it because it evoked a lot of scary images in your mind. The stories you’ve heard about old people, the movies you saw and the mold society has put old people into were agonizing to dwell on.

And the years went by like a speeding locomotive. And you survived. Now you have arrived – you are old. Or, to make it sound respectable, an elderly.

How does it feel It’s not as bad as you thought, isn’t it It’s pretty much like going to the dentist – full of anguish. But when it is over, you give a short, “Aahhh, what a relief.”

As bizarre it may be to the younger generations, to be old – in one piece and healthy – is a relief. In fact,  old age is worth celebrating.

Oh, the things that scared you before are still there, i.e., society’s perceptions or “myths,” of being old, and the patronizing stories persist. Hollywood still depicts elderly people in an unfavorable light.

But now you know better. Your own experience tells that those are nothing but mirages resulting from society’s compulsion to classify or categorize people.

Now you know that these are nothing but myths.

Here are a few examples:

Myth 1: Elderly people are grumpy

Reality: Grumpiness is not confined to the elderly. People of all ages can be grumpy some days.

Elderly people tend to be relatively content and patient, according to some research. After retirement, some people adopt lifestyle changes that mellow them down a bit.

“Older people tend to be happier than the general population,” says Heidi White, M.D., a professor of medicine in the geriatrics division of Duke University School of Medicine.

Myth 2: They sleep less

Reality: While children and adolescents need more sleep than adults, older people need seven to eight hours of sleep per night to function normally the following day.

Because of age-related problems like chronic illnesses, money and relationship issues, they may have a hard time falling asleep. A study of people aged 65 and above shows that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep.

But the study didn’t tell if they take day naps – which they most certainly do.

Science says that sleeping less is not a normal part of aging. Those who have must see a sleep doctor. There may be underlying causes to it, not because they are old.

Myth 3: Exercise is not safe for the elderly

Reality: Nothing is farther than the truth – unless you are into extreme sports.

Exercise is a must for the elderly. Whatever risks there are, which are very minimal, is worth taking compared to the consequences of not exercising at all.

Besides, there exercise routines for the elderly that can be done at home, in a park, or around your safe neighborhood streets. Some malls these days set aside some space for Zumba exercise on certain days of the week. It’s good business and a form of corporate social responsibility.

Exercise reduces the risk of a stroke or heart attack, prevents falls, improves bone density, reduces the risk of developing dementia, and it makes you live longer.

Before, I exercised for fun. Now, it is a must. It’s the cheapest way to keep the doctors away.

Myth 4: Elderly people are sexless

Reality: Truth be told, being sexless is not confined to the elderly. About a quarter of young adults suffer from it too.

But that is not the consoling part, is it?

What is, is that sex has no age limit and modern science has provided some fixes so can have a good dose of sex when the need arises.

There are now over-the-counter and prescription drugs intended to give excitement to a once sexless life. Erectile dysfunction can be treated and testosterone enhancers are under prescription.

All these, however, must be under the supervision of a physician especially for seniors with serious medical conditions that make vigorous cardiovascular activity risky.

Myth 5: Elderly people are lonely

Reality: There are roughly 47 million seniors in the U.S., 28% of them living alone. Many, especially those with advancing age have money problems and health issues. They also express feelings of loneliness and social isolation. But despite their problems, 90% prefer to live alone to maintain their independence.

Do these figures support the perception that elderly people are lonely Not by any measure. In fact, they are as bouncy and full of life as any age group they even go online more often than younger people think as these  infographics show:

What they do online Very much the same thing as younger adults do…

And the things they surf show that they are far from lonely:

Myth 6: Elderly people can’t learn new tricks

Reality: Unless you have a mental health problem, you can still learn new tricks for as long as you care to.

The brain never stops learning. It continuously changes and reshapes to meet your needs. In fact, it is probably the most astonishing organ because it never stops adapting to the realities it is subjected to.

Like a muscle that needs constant flexing to remain supple and strong, the brain needs constant tweaking to keep it running and functioning.

And nobody proves this more than Leo Blass. In 2011 and at the age of 99, he earned an Associates’s Degree from Eastern Oregon University.

There was a rich old man whose hearing was failing. So, without telling his family, he had his doctor install a discreet hearing aid.

When he checked in with his doctor for the required follow-up check, his doctor asked him about his hearing. He told his doctor that it’s quite ok. But since he had his hearing aid installed, he has changed his will six times.

These myths shall stay no matter what you do to prove them wrong. People love myths. So what you can do is to leave them be. They don’t make you lose sleep if you do. Besides, you can use them in a similar way as the deaf, but a rich, old man did.

~oOo~

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The post Myths and Realities of Being an Elderly first appeared on Age With Charm.

Are you living your life to the fullest?

The question got you, didn’t it It made you scratch your head and ponder whether you are or are not. Either way will make you dig deeper into your soul, peel off its layers of pretenses to arrive at the naked truth. And nobody wants to appear naked – even to oneself.

But there’s an easy way to answer it. The key is to define life and living in terms that can be related to your day-to-day affairs.

What is Life

Defining life in specific terms is impossible. Scientists and philosophers have given it a shot, but no one has come up with an across-the-board definition. Great minds like Aristotle to Carl Sagan tried too, but they were not able to please everybody.

Not that there isn’t any. In fact there are more than a hundred. The problem is that biologists define it differently than physicists, and doctors from evolutionists. And if we sit down together, we could not come up with a definition to suit us both.

I was on the brink go giving up when I came across this definition from Webster’s which, I believe, best suit the goal of this article. It defines life as “the physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual.”

What is Living

Defining living is no less easy. It’s not for differences of opinion but it seems nobody even tried – except Kumar Abhijeet. He defines living as:

…the exciting phase of life where we actually overcome our fears and try to do things that other people think we can’t do…Living is the combination of all emotions whether good or bad. It’s your perception…Just do it and you will understand the meaning of life.

To add to it, is this line from somewhere: Living is the style or way you live your life.

The post Are You Living Your Life to the Fullest first appeared on Age With Charm.