Living Alone and Isolation

It's been 5 years since I've lived alone and while looking forward to it, I'm aware it can be lonesome. 

Feelings of loneliness, depression, and social isolation are key risks to seniors aging successfully. As we age we not only lose spouses, family members, and friends, we also lose our ability to drive and get out of the house on our own. The difficulty of maintaining and making new relationships and being actively involved in the community often causes loneliness and sadness.*.

Living alone can be lonesome or not.

What?

If there is no regular connection with others, it can be a lonesome time. Also, if handicapped and unable to get out and about, or quarantined, as we older folks are now, and without friends or family stopping by, it can be lonesome.

I'm fortunate in that I have a large family and someone is in touch with me, especially if they don't see me online. Then I get a call or text, more often text because they work, have families, and busy lives.

But what about those who are without family or in a situation where a family can't check on them every day to be sure they are okay?

A friend of mine tripped over a cord and fell, broke her shoulder, unable to get up or get near her phone she lay there for hours until her daughter just happened to drop by after her nursing job at a hospital.

“I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

– Henry David Thoreau

My neighbor downstairs at my old apartment also fell. Lay there for almost 24 hours. I had noticed there was no sound coming from his apartment, saw his truck parked, knocked on his door, no answer so went to complex manager. The police came and said my noticing him not moving about probably saved his life.

Do you sometimes misplace your keys, your purse, the TV remote? With this tracker, you can find whatever is misplaced even in the dark.

                                             

“Booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the numbers of books that were written because authors couldn’t find anyone to talk to.”– 
Alain de Botton

Do you know someone who lives alone, may have no contact with family or friends? Can you take a few moments to call them and chat, let them know they can call you if they have a problem, or just need to talk to someone?

That is a way you can help them and keep yourself from being lonely.

* https://www.seniorsafetyreviews.com/the-dangers-of-senior-isolation-and-loneliness/  

Never misplace your keys, remote, or anything that likes to move itself around when you least expect it.

                                      

My Aging

I know I am not what I used to be, but I am better than I thought I'd be at 83.

                                 

I believe I'm blessed to have come this far considering my years of poor lifestyle habits.    

•  Smoked 40 years
• Alcohol user
• High-stress life as
• Mom of 6
• Military lifestyle
• Divorce
• Stress filled travel career

Health issues 

• Early age heart disease, first heart attack at 47;
• 6 stents from 2003 to 2009
• Osteoporosis
• Auto-immune disease
• Scoliosis
• Acute Inflammation
•  High Blood Pressure
• Arteriosclerosis 
•  Sciatica 

"Don't worry about avoiding temptation... as you grow older, it will avoid you."

Winston Churchill

The posts on this blog will be about easy aging based on researched articles, many from the US Government publications on aging and health. 

Example:

•         Age and sexuality

•         Age and Health

•         Age and Modern Technology

•         Age and Relationships

•         Age and family ties

•         Age and Loneliness

                              

Imagine looking & feeling youthful,

vital, and 10 years younger!

This blog is for anyone older than they ever thought they would be, and those who hope to be there someday.  

It's never, ever too late to be the best you can be.

 ©2017-2020

M. Bradley McCauley - All rights reserved

Live In Your Own Home Safely Part 2

A dear friend tripped over an extension cord and broke her shoulder. She lay on the floor for a few hours before a family member casually stopped by.

I was concerned about the neighbor in the apartment below mine when I couldn't hear his TV or any noise from his apartment. In the afternoon I contacted the apartment supervisor who called the police. They went in and found him on the floor with a broken leg. He had been there all night and most of the day. One policeman told me I probably saved his life. He tripped on a throw rug in the hall.

I have a life alert device that gives me a sense of security. If I fall, it automatically connects with a 5Star agent. If I feel threatened or concerned about my safety, I press a button and am connected.

Suggestions to make your home safe to live in as you age.

First-'de-clutter'.

Check entryways to your home. Amazing how something as simple as a pebble or stone can throw you off balance or cause a twisted ankle. Also repair cracks or holes in the walkway, garage, or other entrance.

Throw rugs can be taped to the floor to keep from slipping or you tripping. You can get double sticky rug tape at most hardware stores.

Another major falling object is---

Shoes can be major fall hazards. Backless, slip-on, poorly fitted shoes can cause serious falls. 

I stopped wearing backless slippers---miss them but they had to go.

I had to return a pair of shoes because they were too wide at the heel and easy to walk out of. :-(  I really liked them.

        

Wear shoes with a non-slip sole and flat or low wide heel.

Darkness or dim lighting is Dangerous!


When in doubt if your home is well lighted, think about adding track lighting, floor, and table lamps. I like the Aukey table lamp--just touch to turn it on. Nice for a bedside lamp.

         

Our next post will be kitchen and bath safety measures.

 Click here for updates

Your comments below or on my Facebook page are welcome. 

This alert system also notifies someone you designate for emergencies. My daughter was alerted instantly by a representative.

Click here if you missed part 1

Live in Your Own Home as You Age

By 2030, every last Baby Boomer will finally reach the landmark age of 65…

I am 83 and preparing to move into an apartment on my own for the first time in 5 years. I rented a room in a friend's house for 4 years and have lived with a daughter. I'm excited about being on my own again but also concerned.

There are things to check and take care of before I move in. 

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard suggests home accessibility and safety for aging in place and considers five accessibility and safety modifications for a home intended as a haven for aging in place:

The following are things to check in your home and fix if needed to remain living there as you age easily and safely.

• Entryways with no steps
• Single-floor living
• Doorways and hallways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs
• Lever-style door handles rather than knobs
• Light switches and electrical outlets within reach from a wheelchair

The Center determined only 1% of American homes meet all 5 safety features.

In addition to following the suggestions, I have a life alert device that eases my mind about an accident or if I feel threatened. It goes directly to a 5Star responsive agent and I can speak directly to that agent if I feel the need for emergency assistance. I can use it if I need medical or police service. It gives me great peace of mind.

 

Next Post - room to room inspection for making your home safe for aging easy.

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Eating Healthier for Easy Aging

Choosing Healthy Meals As You Get Older

Making healthy food choices is a smart thing to do—no matter how old you are! Your body changes through your 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Food provides nutrients you need as you age. Use these tips to choose foods and beverages for better health at each stage of life.

1. Drink plenty of liquids

With age, you may lose some of your sense of thirst. Drink water often. Low-fat or fat-free milk or 100% juice also helps you stay hydrated. Limit beverages that have lots of added sugars or salt. Learn which liquids are healthier choices.

2. Make eating a social event

Meals are more enjoyable when you eat with others. Invite a friend to join you or take part in a potluck at least twice a week. A senior center or place of worship may offer meals that are shared with others. There are many ways to make mealtimes pleasing.

3. Plan healthy meals

Find trusted nutrition information from ChooseMyPlate.gov and the National Institute on Aging. Get advice on what to eat, how much to eat, and which foods to choose, all based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Find sensible, flexible ways to choose and prepare tasty meals so you can eat foods you need.

4. Know how much to eat

Learn to recognize how much to eat so you can control portion size. When eating out, pack part of your meal to eat later. One restaurant dish might be enough for two meals or more.

5. Vary your vegetables

Include a variety of different colored, flavored, and textured vegetables. Most vegetables are a low-calorie source of nutrients. Vegetables are also a good source of fiber.

6. Eat for your teeth and gums

Many people find that their teeth and gums change as they age. People with dental problems sometimes find it hard to chew fruits, vegetables, or meats. Don’t miss out on the needed nutrients! Eating softer foods can help. Try cooked or canned foods like unsweetened fruit, low-sodium soups, or canned tuna.

7. Use herbs and spices

Foods may seem to lose their flavor as you age. If favorite dishes taste different, it may not be the cook! Maybe your sense of smell, sense of taste, or both have changed. Medicines may also change how foods taste. Add flavor to your meals with herbs and spices.

8. Keep food safe

Don’t take a chance with your health. A food-related illness can be life-threatening for an older person. Throw out food that might not be safe. Avoid certain foods that are always risky for an older person, such as unpasteurized dairy foods. Other foods can be harmful to you when they are raw or undercooked, such as eggs, sprouts, fish, shellfish, meat, or poultry.

9. Read the Nutrition Facts label

Make the right choices when buying food. Pay attention to important nutrients to know as well as calories, fats, sodium, and the rest of the Nutrition Facts label. Ask your doctor if there are ingredients and nutrients you might need to limit or to increase.

10. Ask your doctor about vitamins or supplements

Food is the best way to get the nutrients you need. Should you take vitamins or other pills or powders with herbs and minerals? These are called dietary supplements. Your doctor will know if you need them. More may not be better. Some can interfere with your medicines or affect your medical conditions.

National Institute on Aging

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3 Proven Tips for Slimming

Stash Snacks Sensibly -

Stash groceries with unhealthy foods like chips, sugary treats, sodas in the back of your pantry or frig.
Cornell U studies say arranging your groceries this way can help you drop pounds better than having temptations front and center.

Speed up Your Metabolism -

A German study recently found sipping water raises your metabolic rate by 30% for an hour or more. Plus sipping it cold uses more calories heating it to body Temperature

Slow Down You Eat Too Fast-

Rushing through your meal will cause you to eat more according to those who know. Pausing a few extra seconds after each bite, your mind registers feeling full sooner than and you will eat less. Some researchers say it works as good as or better than diet pills.

Shedding a few pounds can lengthen your life along with some lifestyle changes like exercise and less stress.

Check out these Aging Easy Posts:

Sexuality After Sixty

Easy Skin Care

Falling

Stop Falls at Home

National Institute on Aging

Some of the links in this Blog may be affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation from some of the links listed here for referrals as a thank you for me sending you their way.

  

Six Steps to Exercising Regularly

Step One:

Make it fun! If you don't love exercise, try to bring things you do love into the exercise experience. Watch TV, listen to music, or chat with a friend during your workout. By taking the focus off your effort and placing it on the more entertaining, social aspects of the activity, you'll be more likely to stick with it.

Step Two:

Make it convenient. If you want to exercise to become a habit, make it fit easily into your schedule. New research shows that a few short exercise sessions a day are as valuable as one extended session. If finding a 30-minute block of time seems too difficult, work in three 10-minute stints over the course of the day. "It's easier to spare the time for any given workout that way," says Annesi. And if you have to miss one, you'll still have had some exercise during the day.

Step Three:

Be realistic. Expect at least a couple of weeks to go by before you start to notice any changes in your body. Start slowly and carefully, pick an exercise "dosage" you can manage without pain, boredom or injury, and relish the changes you see occurring over time. At first, the changes may seem subtle, but Annesi's research shows that even very small amounts of exercise over a few days or weeks can reduce stress, depression, and fatigue, increase energy and boost body image.

Step Four:

Set reasonable goals. Instead of focusing on one large goal, set smaller incremental goals - you'll feel a sense of achievement more frequently. Establish goals that are more process-oriented than results-oriented. For example, completing three 20-minute walks per week is a quickly rewarding, observable goal; a long-term result, such as losing 30 pounds, may seem too distant to offer much immediate inspiration.

Step Five:

Be flexible. With work and family life tugging at you, it's easy to get bumped from your exercise routine. Don't toss up your hands as if all progress has been lost when this happens, cautions Annesi. Anticipate some unexpected interruptions will crop up (such as increased business travel or child-care responsibilities), and simply bend your routine to compensate. For example, if you normally schedule three weekly workouts and events get in the way, try the more flexible schedule of 12 times per month. That way, if you have a hectic week or two, you still have two weeks to meet your overall goal.

Step Six:

Find the right activity Experiment. Try different activities to see which you like best. Some of us prefer competitive sports such as tennis and golf, others like more solitary activities such as running or swimming, and others prefer the social atmosphere of an aerobics or spinning class. As you explore, ask yourself three simple questions: Do I look forward to this? Do I enjoy doing it? Do I feel good afterward? If you honestly answer yes to all three questions, it's an activity you'll probably keep doing.

My various Blogs: - Click any to go to the Blog

Romantic Short Stories

Cruise and Tour Free

Life After Death

Wentzel, Goodwin Family

Published Ezine Articles

Amazon Author's Bio