Welcoming the new year has been special for me this particular year. I have had a few difficult years, 1997-98, and survived. This year, I have been thrust into a caretaker role for the first time since my three children grew up and entered professions that were self-sustaining. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer.…
Category: Health
California Living: Highlights and Challenges to Consider
California Eureka (I Have Found It) Moving here to warm weather has been a life gift. I had lived here in the 70s and forgotten the appeal of summer wear almost year-round. I moved back to the East in 1978 to take care of my parents. In 2011, I retired and moved to the ocean.…
Social Connections and Aging: The Super Ager Lifestyle
In the last three years, I have been so fortunate to have developed a friendship with a neighbor who qualifies as a “super ager,” which is a specific category for the aging population. She is 99 1/2 years young and has the cognitive functioning of a person in their 50s. “Super agers” is a term…
Retirement Bliss: Adapting to Life in the Desert
Living in the desert brings many challenges, some too stressful, while life is getting better (hahaha). The heat in the summer is 100-124 degrees. This summer, the average has been about 109, easier to manage. We do outside activities in the early AM and run errands. Midday is time for paperwork, reading, puzzles, writing, online…
The Evolution of Medicare: Changes Over the Years
As a senior how much do you know about Medicare? Medicare, a national health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the Social Security Act. The history dates back further, with earlier proposals and discussions surrounding national health insurance going back to the…
Why Surgery for Pinched Nerves May Not Be the Best Option
Aging brings with it a series of physical and mental challenges. Yesterday, my very best friend went to the last of three doctors, up the medical chain, to obtain relief from a pinched nerve. She was shocked when he prescribed Tramadol and refused her surgery, without explanation. I asked AI why? “It points out that…
What Now?
Life is at a crucial point for older Americans. Will we continue to get Social Security? Will Medicare still exist to provide quality health care for citizens over 65? These past 100-plus days have taken a toll on older Americans, instilling a pervasive fear of watching the news or reading our papers. When texting about…
In-law Rant
This is a rant that is realistically due only to having kids in their early 40s, married, and having in-laws. One of my children’s mother-in-law subtly and pointedly insults me, even when she is having dinner at my house. After 11 years, last night finally got to me and hurt my feelings to the point…
Embracing the Gifts of Aging: A Journey Through Life’s Surprises
Aging brings many visionary moments; the most shocking is that we are going to die and we don’t have an idea when. Intellectually the knowledge of our universal fate is known from an early age. Fully understanding the process of living while dying too, creeps up on us engaging an appreciation of life. Then, before…
Aging and Relationships: Embracing Harmony for Peaceful Coexistence
Aging brings a subtle but growing need for harmony in relationships. Relatives and friends are still who they are, but peaceful coexistence in life is the primary goal for me. It is easy to accumulate stressful moments and life-changing events instigated by the most important people in our lives. The challenge is what to store…
Life Gets Better 