Old So What

  You know you’re old when you trip over your own cane.  Something which is not that funny when you actually do it, so go to YouTube’s video on how to properly use a cane. It’s well worth knowing if only for your own survival!

  You know that you’re old when… o   you start having difficulty cutting toast. o   people who are older than you…are now dead. o   you keep misplacing your cane.

  Taking out the garbage and recyclables! I am not kidding. I’s a big production.   It’s downright scary if you think about it. First, I pray that I won’t fall down. Next, I wait till there is enough light outside. Then, I put my cell phone and its carry purse around my neck, so should something actually occur I can call my cousin (to come and gather me off the pavement). Then, I set out slowly, aware of my surroundings. I use a lightweight walker for this that has a life of its own and tries to speed up at the end of my slightly slanted driveway. Sometimes this turns into a social event with people on the sidewalk, at the end of the driveway, with dog leashes, or children’s little hands in their hands. But usually not, unfortunately. I’m always glad when this is a fait accompli! Then, later, I have to strategize the trip back. It would almost be worth getting re-married so I would have a good solution to this.

  When you use a cane or a walker that you know what you’re doing.  I can tell you that you don’t from personal experience.  BUT there are videos out there (try YouTube) that can help. They can give you tips that will keep you from tripping all over yourself, as I almost did until I watched the demonstration.  Still, it is easy to trip.  So, take your time in this and everything you do.  After all, what's the rush?  You have all the time in your world.

  How is it possibly fair for a person to have arthritis AND acne at the same time?  I ask you!

Let's face it, at some point we will all be faced with a doctor's appointment that will change our lives. This can be scary and completely overwhelming, but this tip can and will make things easier. Choose a close friend or family member to go to the doctor's office with you and be in the room when you hear the news. This "second set of ears" matters! While you are focused on the questions, "will I be okay," and "what do I do now," the other person can focus on what the doctor or nurse is saying. They can even take notes! While explaining the next steps in the course of action, most medical professionals will use examples of how others patients adapted to their new way of life, and those examples are important too and will not appear in the visit summary. "What did they say could help?" "What foods should I avoid specifically?" The other person can help you fill in the blanks of any parts you missed. Together you will have a...

  I had a brilliant idea the other day. But you’ll never see it. Why… Because I didn’t write it down, and forgot it. This has happened annoyingly often to me. That’s why I urge you to keep pen and paper near by both during the day and at night. Don’t lose those pearls of your wisdom.

 Here are a few of the words of advice I tell my elderly cousin often. Take your time . When you are rushing to finish a task and your mind is drifting, you are more likely to loose your balance or drop something. Focus on one thing at a time. If you are easily distracted or trying to do too much at once, try to focus on the just one thing at a time. This will lead to better outcomes and less trouble. Tell yourself "good job!" If you don't have someone around to compliment you, then you have to compliment yourself. A simple reminder that you can do something regardless of how simple, will boost your confidence and independence. 

  No! What seems to be growth is actually a comparison:   As we age our cheeks and lips lose volume and make everything else look larger. And the fact that gravity makes our noses and ears sag adds to the overall aging effect. But, so what?!   (Unless you’re thinking of entering a beautiful Ears and Nose Contest.)

  About 36,000,000 older adults fall every year. Well, this didn’t just happen. And I think that the brain tries to eliminate the memory of pain, but to be honest, it actually wasn’t as painful as I would have expected. Now having said that… After I fell down the cellar steps, not because something in my body snapped or through lack of calcium, but simply because I reached for a banister that wasn’t as long as I thought, and I had at the time lost my sense of balance due to dehydration. I laid there thinking that I hope I could get up again quickly so I could forget the whole unfortunate event.   But no such luck because any movement on my part led to an unexpected sharp pain. I looked up and saw this spider looking back from near the stairs, surveying the scene and looking as if it was considering the possibilities. Before it got too far into its plans, I decided to get up. I couldn’t.   So, sitting up was the next option. No one was coming back to my house for...

  All I can say is:   get this if you’re tired of your walker making a lot of embarrassing noise. They work! They come in different sizes to fit the width of the shaft of the walker. The box says that these optimize walker performance & stability. You’re going to have to measure the shaft; order this from Amazon OR wherever you choose; and then when they arrive, attach the set of two to the rear legs of the walker. It’s really easy.   If I can do it, so can you! Please Note:   The curved end of the skis should face forward to keep any rugs down. And, of course, the skis replace the plastic tips that originally came on the walker itself. No, I don’t get anything for this recommendation to you except that the gentleman who stopped me outside the post office to tell me, would be glad that I’m passing this tip along to you. Now go out and tell someone else.

  I am definitely NOT a therapist or medical technician of ANY kind. The advice I offer is simply what works for me—coming from a past history of falling many times (including down the cellar steps [and breaking my hip in the process]). How I Try NOT To Fall: C lear the area around your bed so that it’s a No-Fall zone. Do not turn around in any way that is not SLOW, this includes full and half circles. Use a bed rail for adults (secured by your mattress).    When getting out of bed at all times, hold on to the bed rail, rise then wait   Wait to get your balance, your equilibrium, your sense of where you are and where you are going. Put all pet toys in one corner of every room (away from where you walk) OR if your pet moves them around, put them away at night. Be aware of where you cat or dog, or whatever, is.   (Under your feet or about to trip you is not a good location.) Have night lights as you go.   Remove small rugs.   It’s either them or you....