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.

You don’t need to be lonely because you live alone, or lacking in social interaction.

Take a lesson from the 2 guys in prison who, one night, looked outside of their cells through the prison bars.

One guy saw the beautiful full moon set against a dark sky, dwarfing the millions of twinkling little stars in the background.

The other guy saw the mud below.

Of course, it is never nice to be behind bars, but there is always a silver lining in every situation you are in. And you have a choice whether to fixate on the dark clouds or peer through its thickness to see the bright sunshine behind.

You can wallow in your loneliness until death, or shake it off and live a happy and fruitful life – like many other elderly people do.

Loneliness is not peculiar to you. A study done by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), shows that 18% of elderly people in the U.S. live alone. Of this figure, 43% of them are chronically lonely.

That leaves more than half being able to shake off loneliness; more than half enjoying their golden years.

And it is not difficult to be one of them – just focus on the moon, not on the mud. It may take a lot of determined effort. But it is worth it. Besides, being alone has its own benefits not appreciated by seniors living with family.

Benefits of Living Alone

How to Banish Loneliness from Your Life

The post How to Banish Loneliness from You Life first appeared on Age With Charm.

“You have cancer,” your doctor said in a very calm and professional way. No matter how he said it, the gruesome news that you have the dreaded disease of cancer will still hit you like a vicious punch in the gut. You will slump in your chair like an empty sack. Your face gets tight; life seems to slowly ebb away.

And you will feel cold as if a gust of Arctic winds suddenly envelop your entire being.

Then self-denial sets in. You will ask yourself, “Why me#8221; despite knowing the obvious answer which comes right after – “Why not#8221;

Your mind will become a kaleidoscope of unanswerable questions and grotesque images. Images like your family and friends sending you off as you are lowered into the ground.

Is it the end?

Not quite. Just when dark clouds hover over you, your thinking and logical self will kick inset in and say, “I am not dead yet. I still have time to make the most of what’s left; time enough to know what I am up against with and learn how to ride it till the end.”

Time to know…

What is cancer

Cancer is a collective term for diseases that occur when some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping until they spread into surrounding tissues.

As long as you’re alive, the cells in your body follow the same cycle – they grow old or damaged, die, and new ones take their place.

Sometimes, this process breaks down. Old or damaged cells will not die, but new cells still form even if not needed. These extra cells divide without stopping to form growths called “tumors,” which are nothing but masses of tissues.

An exception to the rule is leukemia and other cancers of the blood – they don’t form tumors.

Note: Only malignant tumors are cancerous. The benign ones are not.

Cancer risk factors

There are several ways for a person to get cancer, the most common risk factors are:

Aging

Advancing age is the most important cancer risk factor because, “As you get older, you tend to have more potential exposures and more unhealthy habits,” says Dr. David Boyd, of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America,

In fact, about 60% of those who have cancer are people 65 years old and above.

Smoking

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in the world. This is because cigarettes and other tobacco products contain chemicals that damage the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid).

Sun exposure

Sun exposure is good, it is healthy. It helps your skin produce plenty of vitamin D which your body needs.

Beauty conscious women bask in the sun for hours to get that exotic and sexy tan.

But too much exposure can cause dry skin and premature wrinkling. Excessive exposure can cause the formation of cancer cells.

Radiation exposure

Certain radiation wavelengths, called “ionizing radiation,” from radon (radioactive gas from rocks and soil), x-rays, UV light from the sun, gamma rays, etc., can damage your DNA and cause cancer.

Take note that these radiations may come from such benign sources x-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, PET (positron emission tomography), and radiation therapy you are often subjected to in hospitals.

Chemicals and other substances

They are known carcinogenic household items such as benzene, beryllium (an alloying element for making springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, etc), vinyl chloride, asbestos, and arsenic.

Some viruses

Some viruses are linked to human cancer like the human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr, human T-lymphotropic, Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus or KSHV, and Merkel cell polyomavirus.

Certain hormones

Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body created in the endocrine glands. These messengers control most major bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger to more complex systems like emotions, mood, and reproduction, to name a few.

One example of such hormone is estrogen.

Estrogens are a group of hormones which, in females, play an important role in the development of breasts, pubic and armpit hair, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle and reproduction.

It is a known carcinogen, but if taken with progestin (a synthetic version of the female hormone, progesterone) as a menopausal hormone therapy, can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Family history

Like heart disease, cancer also runs in the family – for the same reasons – genes and lifestyles.

Contrary to popular belief, however, cancer is not inherited but the faulty gene mutations may be passed on from parent to child. In fact, only about 5 to 10% of all cancers result from defective genes inherited from parents.

This should give you some relief.

Alcohol

All alcoholic beverages contain ethyl or ethanol alcohol. Per se, these are harmless substances if taken moderately or occasionally.

But over the long haul, alcoholic beverages can cause different types of cancers. In fact, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists alcohol consumption as a human carcinogen. And in a 2009 study, an estimated 3.5% cancer deaths in the U.S. were alcohol-related.

Poor diet

What you eat can have a great impact on your developing cancer.

Diet high in fats like fast foods, chips, fried chicken, and sugar-laden snack items like chocolate, crisps and biscuits can lead to obesity – which is a cancer risk.

Lack of exercise

Lack of exercise is not only a cancer risk factor but for a host of other chronic medical issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, even premature death.

On the other hand, physical activity lowers the risk of cancer because of the following:

• Lowers the levels of hormones like insulin and estrogen and other growth factors associated with cancer development and progression.
• Helps prevent obesity, and decrease the harmful effects of a condition like insulin resistance
• Exercise reduces risks of inflammation.
• Improves the function of the immune system
• Improves the metabolism of the bile acids resulting in decreased exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to harmful carcinogens.

Obesity

Evidence from various studies to establish the link between obesity and cancer show that being overweight can result in almost a dozen types of cancers such as endometrial, esophageal adenocarcinoma, liver cancer, gastric cardia cancer, etc.

In fact, in 2012, 3.5% in men, and 9.5% new cancer cases in the U.S. were due to obesity.

Common cancer types among the elderly

There are more than a hundred types of cancers but the most common among seniors are:

Lung cancer

While cigarette smoking is the obvious cause of lung cancer,  there are other risk factors as well, such as:

Causes and risk factors

• Exposure to tobacco smoke or second-hand smoking
• Long-term exposure to asbestos fiber
• Family history

Symptoms

• Chest pains
• Chronic, or worsening cough
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Pains in the bones

Colon cancer

Colon cancer is the formation of abnormal cells in the colon or rectum. Seniors must be aware of its early symptoms because more than 90% of colon cancer cases are in people 50 years old and above. The five-year survival rate is pretty high – 90% if it is detected while in stage 1.

Causes and risk factors

Causes and risk factors of colon cancer, but evidence suggests any or a combination of the following:

• Age
• A diet that contains too much meat or processed foods
• Type 2 diabetes
• Genetics/family history
• Crohn’s Disease – chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially in the colon and ileum (the third portion of the small intestine), ds

Symptoms

You must understand these symptoms to catch it formation in its earliest state:

• Constant pain in the abdomen (cramps, gas pain, etc)
• Blood in stool
• Severe weight loss
• Constipation
• Regular diarrhea

As a hedge against the disease, people aged 50 and above should have a regular colonoscopy.

Stomach cancer

Stomach cancer or gastric cancer occurs when abnormal cells form in the stomach. This cancer type is common among people 60 and above, and its survival rate depends on its early detection.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Genetics (this is mot common among Asians and South American descent)
• Family history
• Smoking tobacco
• Eating too much meat, salty and processed foods
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Diet high in processed or salty foods

Symptoms

Early detection is crucial to control the disease. Sadly, it isn’t caught until it is in later stages, decreasing its survival rate.

• Weight Loss or loss of appetite
• Blood in tool
• Stomach pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Jaundice

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a very common type of cancer. Though it can happen to both men and women, more than 80% of breast cancer cases occur in women aged 50 and above.

Causes and Risk Factors

The causes of breast cancer are still largely unknown but scientists have identified the following risk factors that may cause the build-up of abnormal cells:

• Genetics/Family History
• High levels of the Hormone Estrogen
• Obesity
• High alcohol intake

Symptoms

The five-year survival rate of breast cancer is between 93 to 100% – provided its early symptoms are recognized and attended to.

• Lump in breast tissue or underarm area
• Breast or nipple pain
• Breast swelling
• Nipple discharge
• Redness or thickening of breast skin

Women must in constant watch for the above symptoms to catch the disease in its early stage.

Prostate Cancer

This is a men’s only cancer type and occurs in the prostate – a small gland, located near the bladder and rectum, and is part of the male reproductive system.

About 50% of people diagnosed with prostate cancer are men over 65 years of age.

Causes and Risk Factors

The following are the risk factors of prostate cancer:

• Male, over the age of 50
• Genetics (more common among African Americans)
• Diet high in meat and dairy
• More common in people that have diets high in meat and dairy
• Family history

Symptoms

The survival rate of prostate cancer is high if the symptoms detected early. They are:

• Blood in urine
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain in the lower body (hips, lower back, etc)
• Problems urinating
• Frequent urination

How is cancer treated and how to cope with it

Cancer treatment is dependent on the type of cancer and the stage it is in. Therefore, there is no fixed formula for treatment. But it is usually through drugs and one or a combination of the following:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

Of course, everything depends on the best judgment of your doctor.

Coping with cancer

To be diagnosed with cancer is one of the toughest things you ever had to deal with (I know how it feels when I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma).

Feelings of disbelief, shock, fear, and anger revolve around you like a horde of flies. But they do nothing to alleviate the emotional trauma of having the disease. On the contrary, they feed on it, make you more miserable and, unwittingly, contribute to the spread of the disease.

Learn to have a pragmatic view of your ailment by doing these:

Learn everything about it and its treatment

Learning as much as you can about your cancer and its treatment gives you a sense of control over what’s happening. If there are things you don’t know or understand, ask your cancer team. Face it squarely and it will never harm you.

Express your feelings

Don’t bottle things up inside you. Express them, shout them out to the world if you have to. But don’t kill those around you with boredom by being repetitive.

“Expressing your feelings” means talking to people about a lot of things, other than what ails you. It means engaging them in a win-win and lively conversation.

If you don’t have people around you, write your feelings down in a journal, or listen or play music, paint, or anything that takes your mind off your cancer.

Take care of yourself

Having a cancer is no reason to abandon your sanitation habits, or eating non-nutritious food. These things can lead to depression or more health problems.

Go on with your life the way it was. Go for your favorite food, go out with friends, take a vacation, watch a movie or anything that boosts your feelings of well-being. Get enough sleep.

A healthy attitude is the best antidote for any ailment.

Exercise

If you can still do it, consult your doctor for a doable exercise program. You can start a daily walking routine, or swim, or yoga. These are not so stressful, yet invaluable to strengthening your body.

Focus on what you can control

You may not be able to control its spread, but you can control your reaction to it. Yes, you may feel sad, angry, or grieve over how it had changed your life, but negative feelings are not going to make it go away.

Rather, focus on things you can do to make you forget about it even for short moments of the day. Reach out to supportive family and friends, visit your local church and, talk to your priest or pastor. Get involved in charity work or volunteerism.

Keep away from people who will feed your negativism. Even experts don’t profess to know everything about the disease.

Focus on the positive. It may not cure you, but it will put a smile on your face all the way.

Nothing is more scary than to face the unknown. It stops you dead on your tracks, freezes your brain – like cancer does to most people.

I once faced it. Timely medical intervention and the desire to get through it saved me from the worse. Now you know it, what it does, the treatment options available to you and how to cope with it.

It is no longer an unknown. So why fear it?

Image:https://bit.ly/2OC3eel

~oOo~

The post How to Beat the Fear of the Dreaded Cancer first appeared on Age With Charm.

Elderly poverty – shocking but true!Do you know how it is to be broke?

A few years after retirement, I was down on my luck. I mean really down. All my business ventures failed, my retirement pension was almost depleted and I still had two kids in college.

It was horrible, to say the least, and thinking about those years gives me the chills.

That was several years ago. Though I am not completely out of the woods, I can see rays of sunshine filtering through the foliage around me. Now I have hope.

But what about those seniors who face grinding poverty, who can barely eat a square meal a day?

Oh yes, there are many. They are all around you and me. But we don’t notice them, even ignore them in a bit of self-denial.

Unbelievable but true facts about elderly poverty:

Over 25 million Americans aged 60 and above are living at or below the federal poverty line, according to the National Commission on Aging (NCOA). They are those who did not set aside sufficient funds while still actively employed. And the number is growing as more and more baby boomers retire each year – roughly 75 million a year.

A study done in 2006 by the Center for American Progress, showed that 9.4% of seniors were receiving a retirement income of $ 9,669.00’yr – way below the poverty threshold in the U.S.

Across ethnic lines, Afro-Americans bear the brunt of elderly poverty. Though they comprise 9% of the total elderly population in the U.S., 21% live below the poverty line; Hispanics come in next at 17%, and Asian-Americans, third – thanks to strong familial ties which make things a little bit easy, financially.

Regardless of ethnicity, to be poor is tough. It is to be deprived of healthy and nutritious foods, proper medical attention, a roof over one’s head, and many other disadvantages and needs.

To be poor is to be ignored by society, treated like an outcast. If you are poor, you don’t have a voice and influence; you lose your self-worth. You become dependent on dole-outs from people who take pity on you.

I know how it feels. I was there. It is traumatic not knowing where and when the next meal would come, and from whom.

If you are fortunate enough to never scrounge for food, or get behind soup lines, or beg, don’t be so smug about it. Instead, consider it a  moral obligation to keep yourself above water, financially, and help those who are drowning.

Here are practical ways of doing it:

1.  Don’t be a part of the problem:

The saying, “You can’t give what you don’t have,” is very appropriate in dealing with the elderly poverty in society.

To help others cope with money problems, be sure you have the capacity to help without risking your own financial well-being.

You can do this by sticking to your budget, making sure your obligations are current, and not spending more than you have to. Stick to your needs, not wants. 

Any extra after all your expense and little savings, share it with those who have less.

Charity begins at home, in a manner of speaking. Besides, there are so many non-monetary ways of helping them, such as the following…

2.  Empathize:

It is not easy to be old and poor. But they don’t want your pity and sorrow for their misfortunes. They need your understanding, your empathy.

It would ease their burden if you show that you care and understand their situation, not pity them for the mess they are in.

Help them in any way you can because you care, not because you pity them.

3.  Help:

The most concrete way of showing empathy is to help by giving your time, money, and other resources such as food, medicines, and old clothes and belongings to ease the plight of needy seniors.

To avoid being misinterpreted, course your help or donations through organizations actively involved in helping elderly people in need.

I am sure there are such organizations in your place. Spend some of your spare time tending to soup kitchens or shelters for the homeless.

These acts of selflessness not only keeps you busy but also boosts your social consciousness standing in the community.

4.  Join a fund-raising drive:

Join a fund-raising group, or initiate one within your circle of friends. Brainstorm ideas on how to help the needy elderly in your midst.

It can be a fun run, a cultural show, a per plate dinner, or anything that will provide value to the community and help those who are in need.

Not only will you be helping the needy, but you will earn feel-good dividends from such activities.

5.  Use social media:

Social media has become the favorite and best way of disseminating information and awareness among its members. Put it to good use by taking the cause of elderly poverty.

Use it to increase people’s awareness about the plight of these marginalized members of society. Make them realize that it is not just about poor old people, but the entire community, as well.

Society is a microcosm of tiny little parts, with every bit affecting the whole in one way or the other, sooner or later. No matter how high you may be in the pecking order, ultimately the problem will get under your skin in the most unexpected and unpleasant ways.

Please share to make other seniors realize that there are other old people out there who can barely have a decent square meal a day.

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/people-homeless-male-street-850097/

The post Poverty: A Major Worry among the Elderly first appeared on Age With Charm.

Otherwise, these days no one, especially seniors, can do without the use of computers or any of its derivatives.

A reader of this blog wrote that her elderly mother does not like computers. She even hates them, she said. But she also admits that her mom’s life has been saved several times by the emergency warning device – a computer derivate – she wears around her neck.

I can’t get by for long without my computer. My old friends find it unbelievable that I can sit in front of my laptop for hours on end. Yet, unknowingly, they spend more hours with their smartphones.

The computer has become an indispensable tool in our daily lives. It is here to stay and will continue to do so long after you are dead. You cannot do without them or any of its cousins if you want to keep up with other seniors (and the rest of the world)

In fact, seniors are very much into it as the charts below show.

These days elderly people are more tech-savvy than their predecessors. They go online for the latest trends and news, gadgets, weather reports, book airline ticket or restaurant and hotel reservations. They buy stuff online or find romance from dating sites.

Other than its practical uses, here are ten other reasons why you should keep up:

1.  Connect with family members and friends:

Getting in touch with family members and friends has never been so easy, fast, and cheap. You can send messages through text, voice, and/or video.

And you can do them in the comfort of your home or anywhere in the world. All you need is an Internet connection. No frills, no hassle, just log in and you get connected.

Getting connected helps remove loneliness and feelings of isolation. It also allows you to get immediate help in case of emergencies.

2.  Slow down age-related decline:

Computers allow you to get information online. This exercises your mind and helps you stay sharp, informed, mentally alert, and physically active.

These activities may be simple and easy but they slow down cognitive decline – one of the natural consequences of aging.

3.  Enhance your life:

Some studies show that people who regularly use the computer have lesser depression symptoms than those who don’t.

This is because going online is as enriching as going on a trip or an adventure. You get to know places, people, and culture without actually being there. It expands your knowledge and boosts your self-worth.

4.  Increase your self-confidence:

The knowledge you get from browsing the Internet increases your knowledge base, allowing you to interact with your social circle with ease and finesse.

Other than becoming more socially adept, computers and computer-based products like fall detectors, health monitors, wrist instruments, locators, and emergency dialing capabilities, give you the self-confidence of going about your daily activities without anxiety or fear of something going wrong.

5.  Better bonding with grandchildren:

What do most children do these days Play computer games! They are in front of computer game consoles at home, glued to their smartphones or tablets outside, or hang out in arcades shooting down virtual monsters or aliens.

And what’s to stop you from joining them Cool, huh!

Speaking the language of your grandchildren and playing with them promotes bonding. It is also good for your physical and mental health.

Just don’t overdo it. Overexcitement may not be good for your old heart.

6.  Help solve mobility problems:

Computers, unexpectedly, have made life easier, faster, and cheaper.

They allow you to pay bills online, do bank transactions, buy groceries or personal stuff, make hotel, restaurant, or flight reservations, to name a few.

This is a kind of basket-full of goods if you suffer from mobility or driving problems.

7.  Automate records keeping:

You can get rid of those handwritten notes, i.e., your health history, your bank transactions, your next doctor’s appointment, drugs you are taking, and when to take them, by using computers.
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There are apps (electronic applications) in the market that can do all these, ether from desktops or portable, like laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

All you have to do is encode all your important information into your computer and the apps will do the rest. They will even beep you a reminder.

8.  Get connected with other people or groups:

You can easily reach people or groups with similar interests, idealism, political color, sexual orientation, etc., online.

They are found in FB, Twitter, Instagram, and many other social sites. Joining is easy and interacting with them even easier. All you have to do is take part in the group’s discussion

What makes this kind of getting-to-know-you setup great is that you can voice out your thoughts and opinions over a wide range of issues, yet remain anonymous.

9.  Find a new romance:

If you are looking for another chance at romance but are a bit shy about it, join dating sites.

They are so popular among people looking for another shot at love and relationship. Millions of men and women gather around these sites looking for the same thing as you.

They provide all kinds of women of various sizes, colors, ethnicity, nationality, and needs. All you have to do is send a “friendship request.” If they accept, then you are off to a possible wonderful ride.

Beware,  however of scammers. Where millions of sheep gather, there the wolves are on the prowl for unsuspecting victims.

10.  Earn supplemental income:

Computers have redefined work. Whereas it was a home-to-office-and- back routine before, now you can do it at home or anywhere.

You can now “work” while basking on a tropical beach or flying from one country to the next. You can work while having a bus ride, a train, or at home in your pajamas.

There are thousands of ways to earn a living through your computer.

In 1973, roughly three years after the first computers were used in the office, an article titled, “Computers and Technology: Aiding Tomorrow’s Aged,” was published in a periodical called, The Gerontologist.

The article wrote in part…

“The powerless and helpless feeling of the aged is due not only to increasing infirmity but to society’s failure to set up institutions and systems that make it possible for the elderly to overcome the handicaps they have…An elderly person’s maximum amount of ability to care for himself/herself would save society huge sums of money.”

No doubt about that.

Please help other seniors by sharing this. 

~oOo~

The post Can Elderly People Do without Computers first appeared on Age With Charm.

Are you having money problems You are not alone. A lot of people, worldwide, have the same problem.

While younger adults can survive it, seniors often find it difficult to wiggle around the problem. Because of age, they have very few mitigation measures to rely on.

And it is ironic that it comes at a time for joy and relaxation; a time to travel or do something interesting, reflect, write a book, or simply put one’s feet on a chair and take things easy.

Instead, they are stressed out not knowing where to get the money to pay the bills, buy nutritious food, or much-needed medicines. They don’t go out to save on transportation money, nor socialize to avoid unnecessary expenses.

If you are one of them, you a pariah to your own self. Money problems shut you off from the world, make you want to dig a hole in the ground and disappear. It robs you of the freedom of choice.

I know how it feels because I was in a very grave financial situation a few years back. It was tough; it made me feel suicidal. What kept me going then was my wife who encouraged me never to give up.

And I did not.

In hindsight, I find it kind of funny that in the depth of your despair, that’s when you see the light.

I suddenly realized that agonizing over money will not make the problem disappear; money will not rain down from heaven even if you cry buckets of tears.

It made me realize that if you look at money problems from a different perspective, you will find valuable lessons from your misfortunes – the silver lining behind the dark clouds.

I still have money problems but not as serious as before. And that episode in my life made a better person of me. It helped me, and it can help you. I

Here they are:

1.  Have a good attitude about money:

Money is an instrument to sustain life, not life itself.

If you consider money the centerpiece of your life, you will forever be miserable because you will never be satisfied with what you have, no matter how large a fortune it is.

So use it to give meaning to your life. Use it wisely and prudently. It is hard to come by, and once it is gone for good. And if you are a retiree, replenishing it is next to impossible.

Howard Schultz said, “…I have never defined myself by my worth. I always try to define myself by my values.”

2.  Live humbly:

I have learned over the years that pride ultimately drags you down.

There’s nothing wrong with self-confidence. In fact, we should all be confident with ourselves. But beyond that, when it becomes egoism, it is unhealthy – especially if your ego cannot be sustained or supported.

Live humbly. Humility has its rewards. Besides, after having reached this far, there is nothing to prove anymore, is there?

Henry David Thoreau said, “I make myself rich by making my wants few.”

3.  Be practical in your purchases:

People often buy things due to peer pressure or because it is the “in thing.” They want to keep up with the Jones’s. Unwittingly, they get into serious money problems.

Don’t be like them. Buy things because they serve your needs and your budget. While some argue that expensive things last longer, you still have to balance the pros and cons before opening your wallet. There is no point in buying something that will outlive you.

4.  Learn from your mistakes:

They say that life is a good teacher. And it never makes a mistake – if only people heed its lessons.

Your financial problems are not caused by somebody else, or that you were born under an unlucky star. They are caused by the things you did in the past. So don’t ever do them again.

Heed Bill Gates’ advice when he said, “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it’s important to heed the lesson of failure.”

5.  Make a budget and stick to it:

Another experience I learned over the years is that the best way to get into money troubles is not having a budget.

No matter how small your financial resources are, have a budget. That is the only way to account for and control your expenses. Without it, you will never know where your scant resources went. You will never know if you’ve bought all you need.

If Thomas Boone Pickens, chairman of BP Capital Management, has a budget, shouldn’t you?

He carries a list when he buys his groceries and will only carry the amount to cover them all. He says, “You couldn’t spend money you don’t have.”

6.  Save:

It may soon foolish to talk about saving if you have barely enough to last a month.

If you keep to your budget and exercise restraint in your spending, you can. It may be difficult, but it is a smart thing to do to cover unseen emergencies.

Set aside for the rainy days any amount you can squeeze off your budget. Over time, it can buy a loaf of bread or a box of milk.

7.  Sell a service:

If you have reached this far and still healthy you can earn a few dollars by selling a service.

If you have money problems, it would not be a bad idea to sell your skills to people or organizations in need of it.

There is nothing to be shy about it. You need extra cash, then go out and earn it. Besides, a lot of people are already into it, they created the work-from-home industry.

Money problems among seniors cannot be taken lightly because of the magnitude of the problem and its consequences.

It can lead to physical and mental health problems, put a strain on your relationships, and can cause family breakups.

While it can be argued that your money problems have their roots way back, but it is up to you to stop them from spreading before they choke you to death.

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Image: //time.com/money/4258451/retirement-savings-survey/

~oOo~

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