|
|
By Bill May 17th, 2012
Retirement?
Retirement is working out pretty well. I have a part-time job I love. I am writing for this blog every week, a regular discipline that keeps me motivated. Carol and I just completed an eight week writing class at the Lighthouse, a Denver writer’s collective. I have even started a short story. I am using my history degree in my work and my writing, something I never did in thirty years of water treatment or eight years as a counselor.
I am more engaged now than when I was working full time. Most of those full time work years involved rotating twelve hour shifts. The longer I am away from those shifts the more I realize the toll they took. Shiftwork affected my health, my daily energy, my relationship with Carol, and …
Continue reading this post here
By Carol May 8th, 2012
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, the motherless among us–like Judi, Bill and me–can probably use a good dose of mother love and advice. And where better to turn than to a Jewish Mother. The following video is courtesy of our friends at the LA Jewish Home.
Congratulations to the LA Jewish home on their Centennial celebration. Social Bookmarking
Technorati Tags: aging, gerotranscendence, jewish mothers, LA Jewish Home, Mother’s Day, motherly advice, taking care of the elderly
By Carol May 1st, 2012
We’ve been hearing a lot about the recent research showing that elders are happier than twenty-somethings. In fact, it looks like they are happier than anyone—even at the very end of life.
Many are skeptical of this research. From an adult standpoint, an elder’s decline, frailty, pain and illness are quite depressing. How can my aging and ill parents be happy? We sure wouldn’t be in their shoes. The research must be flawed.
Our Ted-talk-tracking friend recently sent us a link to a talk by Laura Carstensen who explores the research in depth and is convinced that the research conclusions are correct. So when Dad told me “I’m fine” the day before he died, he very well might have meant it.
Here is Dr. Carstensen’s talk:
Social Bookmarking
Technorati Tags: aging, …
Continue reading this post here
By Carol April 24th, 2012
“The only way I am leaving this house is in a body bag,” asserted one of our new friends, a founder of the Denver virtual village now known as A Little Help. Along with Bill and me and 90% of those responding to a recent AARP survey, she prefers to age in place in her home rather than contemplate a move to a senior care community.
On the other hand, younger family members can become concerned about this trend which means more elders living alone and unsupervised. Are they safe? Are they happy? Are we doing enough for them?
The tension between these two viewpoints has given rise to many technological innovations designed to monitor an elder’s safety and daily activity from afar. These range from simple panic buttons that summon help in case …
Continue reading this post here
By Judi April 22nd, 2012
Bill’s concern about drug interactions is well founded. The potential for drug interaction is extensive. The more medications a person takes, the higher the risk for drug interaction. As Bill points out, this is a special concern for seniors and family caregivers.
It makes sense to use the same pharmacy to fill all or your prescriptions. At least if you use the same pharmacy, it is possible to ask the pharmacist about your concerns with drug interactions. After all, the pharmacist is the drug expert, not your doctor.
It is a good practice to carry a list of all of the medications you are taking, including over the counter meds, with you to the pharmacy and show it to the pharmacist when you pick up your prescription. At the very least, get in the …
Continue reading this post here
|
|
