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6 Foods That Might Help Prevent Dementia

Dementia is a term for a significant decline in mental ability, causing symptoms such as memory loss, behavior changes and loss of language skills. There are many different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and vascular dementia. 

Preventing dementia can be difficult, but studies show that staying active, drinking less, quitting smoking and keeping your mind sharp can all help. There’s also promising research that indicates one day, klotho proteins may help fight dementia, too. 

Here are a handful of healthy foods with a reputation for keeping our minds sharp:

  1. Coffee

That’s right! Your morning cup of joe isn’t a crutch, after all. Caffeine is loaded with brain-boosting benefits, and has been shown to benefit spatial memory, working memory and memory in general. 

Most research indicates that drinking anywhere from three to five cups of coffee a day is a healthy habit. Your healthcare provider can suggest what amount is most appropriate for you.

  1. Chocolate

Does this list feel too good to be true? It’s not! 

Dark chocolate has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Just keep in mind that when most physicians recommend dark chocolate, they don’t mean as much as you want. Your doctor can help you decide if and how much dark chocolate is right for you, as some people’s bodies don’t handle sugar the same as others. 

  1. Cinnamon 

Cinnamon is a common and delicious seasonings that will add depth to your cooking while helping prevent dementia, too. 

Several studies conducted on mice have shown that cinnamon breaks down the protein buildup in the brain that’s linked to Alzheimer’s disease. It also improves memory and other cognitive function. You can add cinnamon to your coffee, your fruit, your oatmeal and even your soups, stews and marinades. 

  1. Leafy Greens

Every week, try to pack in six or more hearty servings of leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, collards or broccoli. While eating these vitamin A- and C-rich foods once or twice a week is good, eating them daily unlocks their brain-boosting powers. 

  1. Berries

Berries are delicious, nutritious and great for the brain. Blueberries and strawberries in particular are high on our list, as they may help fight the cognitive decline that occurs as we age. These flavonoid-packed fruits feature both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, allowing them to fight stress and inflammation. 

  1. Fish

As you plan your weekly meals, strive to include a few servings of omega-3 fatty acid rich fish like salmon, tuna, halibut, trout and even sardines. These types of fish are great for your brain and your overall health, too. 

There are a variety of things that can help prevent dementia, including exercise, brain training and healthy eating. Researchers are looking at the properties of klotho proteins in order to develop therapies that can help prevent dementia in the future. For now, keeping these helpful diet tips in mind can go a long way in helping your brain stay active and alert. 

See our many resources to help with Dementia Care. 

Six Key Lessons in Starting a Home Care Agency

A considerable number of people need constant care and nurturing. These are elderly people, disabled people, and seriously sick patients. Due to employment or remote residence, relatives cannot take on all the worries and concerns. For this reason, they apply to special services whose duty is to provide professional care for their patients. This business is promising, as public health facilities cannot provide long-term care during the recovery period, and private clinics are way too expensive. So, how do you open a homecare agency, and what steps do you have to take? Compiling a business plan is not as easy as writing a college essay. Today, we are going to share with you some useful pieces of advice.

source:unsplash.com

Explore the territories

What should you start with? First of all, you need to evaluate the market potential of your city. To do this, divide the number of residents by four. That’s how we get an approximate number of families. After that, we divide it by 30 and get the number of families living in the city that have relatives who need assistance. Finally, we divide it by four again. At least a quarter of these people have thought about paying for these services and have money to cover the expenses. Even with all these calculations, the number is going to be huge. In the meanwhile, you will need to have at least fifty long-standing clients for business to be successful in the first year after its launch. Fifty people are a drop in the ocean for a large city. While assessing the market, you should also examine your competitors if there are any. Try to find their strengths and weaknesses, analyze their approach, and try to offer something extra that will make your agency different.

Create a strategy

Either you open everything from scratch or use franchising, coming up with a business strategy is a vital component that holds everything in order. Make sure this document includes agency start-up costs, initial staff costs, marketing, operational strategy, taxes, and advertising campaigns. It is beneficial to have your business plan reviewed by a qualified finance professional to avoid errors and delinquencies. Do not hesitate to add even the tiniest expenses into the budget. It is also essential to create a business development path: set the desired material goals and ways of achieving them. Make sure you prepare agreements both for your employees and future customers. It is best to seek assistance from a local lawyer so that these documents take into account all legal requirements. Make sure you understand each wording to avoid problems in the future. In other words, you have to take care of all the paperwork and make sure you are ready to start your entrepreneurial adventure.

Seed funding

In theory, you can start your own business in social services without a penny in your pocket. The only couple of things you need are a computer with Internet access, the employer ID number, business entity, and registration. In the beginning, it is possible to work without an office, from home, with a minimum (1-2 people) number of full-time employees. In the future, of course, you will need an office (maybe 2-3 offices, if we are talking about a large city). Why would you need an office? That’s the place where your future clients will come to sign contracts, where you train your future employees.

In practice, it is better to start with at least 40 thousand dollars. If you have a more substantial amount, you can open two or three offices at once. The advantage of this business model is that it adapts to a variety of formats.

High income, however, should not be expected, especially in the first couple of months. But in any case, most likely, you will not lose what you have invested: the investment will return to you in about a year. As we have already mentioned, you will need at least 50 regular service agreements for this business to be profitable. In the future, you can consider selling franchise yourself.

Look for the right people

You can have several models of recruitment. You can either cooperate with independent caregivers and pay an hourly rate or employ people full-time. However, you have to make sure you will have enough customers to cover their wages. In addition to checking the background and experience of your future workers, you have to make sure they suit your agency’s requirements in terms of personal traits of character. It’s vital to check the criminal record of the people you interview. The geographical availability of the staff is also an important factor. Your agency must have an extensive database of qualified people who are willing and able to provide social care services. Then, when an order comes in, you always have the opportunity to find someone who lives nearby.

Keep it under control

As you can see, it’s quite easy to start this kind of business. But as the number of customers and employees grows, the administrative tasks become more complicated. Consider purchasing special software or automated systems that allow keeping accurate records, simplify the work with agreements, and store everything in one space.

Establish partnerships

It’s vital to establish excellent relations with local clinics, hospitals, and private doctors as they may recommend you to your potential customers. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing instruments in this sphere. Make sure you work on your reputation and maintain a good relationship with your partners.

How to Make Your Home More Wheelchair-Accessible

If you or the senior you love with uses a wheelchair, you’ll need to make sure your space is livable and accessible to the wheelchair-user. Here’s a brief guide on how to make your home more wheelchair accessible.

Find a solution for stairs

Stairs may be difficult or even impossible for some wheelchair-users, so if your living space has stairs in it, you need to find a solution. You can install a stair lift—some allow the wheelchair-user to simply roll onto the lift and raise or lower themselves, and other kinds require the person to get out of their chair and sit on a lifting chair, which will then raise or lower them. You can also replace stairs with a ramp if the stairs are at an agreeable angle; this often works for outdoor stairs to a porch or deck.

Fix the doors and windows

A small way to make a home more wheelchair-friendly is to update features many people forget about. Make sure light switches are within reach, or create another way to illuminate the room without the need to reach up to a light fixture such as a tall lamp. You should also replace door handles with automatic doors, which you can easily install on all inside and outside doors so that the wheelchair user can open doors with ease. You can also motorize window treatments so that the wheelchair user can raise and lower their window coverings without aid. Motorized window treatments have a slew of other home benefits, too.

Make the bathroom usable

Invest in a lower toilet that’s easier to access, and remove barriers by adding an easy-to-enter tub or shower. You should also make sure the sink in the bathroom is reachable from the wheelchair and that the mirror or vanity is lower than the standard height. Many home bathrooms feature rugs and other floor décor, but in a wheelchair-friendly home, it’s best to forego these types of decorations.

These and other updates will make a home much safer for those using a wheelchair. For more help staying in your home, consider home care for help with daily activities and companionship.

Top 5 Home Improvements for Seniors to Age in Place Comfortably

Just about everyone knows that as you age so does your mind and body. Whether you’ve done a good job of caring for your health or not, there may come a point when you’re unable to get around as efficiently as you could in years past. For some aging adults, their health and wellness have become so challenging that they have no choice but to move in with family or transition to a nursing home or senior living development. For others, however, the option to “age in place” (age in their homes) is possible. 

Aging in place, however, cannot be done without some changes to their routines, health habits, and, in this case, their living environment. By creating a safe and comfortable environment at home, seniors are able to stay in the spaces that mean most to them. Below, are the top 5 home improvements to consider making to help aging adults age in place comfortably. 

#1 Convert Or increase Outdated Household Lighting

Seniors are at a higher risk of slipping, falling, or injuring themselves for a number of reasons. One of those factors is impaired vision. As you get older, your eyes don’t work as well as they once did, it leaves you at risk for a number of issues. To protect yourself or a loved one from hurting themselves and to make life at home more comfortable you should improve the lighting, such as converting recessed lighting to track lights, pendant lights or other fixtures in dark areas like hallways or basements. Luckily there are senior-friendly tools that make this process seamless and easy.  Our #1 suggestion would be to use a recessed light conversion kit to update and improve the lighting. 

#2 Place Grab Bars in the Bathroom

The bathroom can become a dangerous place for a senior that isn’t as mobile as they used to be. One wrong move could cause them to slip and fall and hurt themselves pretty badly. To reduce the likelihood of this happening, it is recommended that you install grab bars in the bathroom. Grab bars are metal bars installed typically near the tub and toilet to provide seniors with extra support when using the restroom or taking a shower/bath. 

#3 Install a Wheelchair Ramp

While you or your aging relative may not be wheelchair-bound at the moment, ramps provide a lot more convenience, comfort, and safety. This is especially true if they suffer from medical conditions like arthritis where moving joints up and down is painful. Ramps eliminate the need to climb stairs and allow them to get into and out of their homes with ease. They can also make it easier for them when transporting things like groceries into the home. 

#4 Invest in a Stair Lift

As stated above, getting up and down the stairs after a certain age can be difficult. If an aging adult is going to live in their homes comfortably, it is imperative that you take the stairs into consideration. One trip up or down the stairs could leave a senior with broken bones and chronic pain that is difficult to recover from. To eliminate the need to climb the stairs, it may be worth it to have an electric stair lift installed in the home. This is an electrical device that safely transports seniors up and down the stairs. Though they are expensive, there are grants available that could be used to help cover some of the costs. 

#5 New Flooring May Be Necessary

The flooring is another element of the home you want to pay attention to when it comes to seniors. Flooring that is too hard, could lead to serious injuries if they slip and fall. Also, flooring that is damaged can easily increase their chances of falling. Not to mention, if you or your loved one does use a wheelchair, getting around on certain floor types can prove difficult. For this reason, it may be necessary to remove any old carpeting, damaged tiles, or hardwood floors from the home. As you decide which flooring is best for the home, look at factors that include softness, slip-resistance, ease of maintenance, shock resistance (in case of a fall), and ease of travel (for wheelchairs). 

Aging in place is something that all seniors hope to do as they age. While sometimes this isn’t possible, there are other instances in which living at home can be the best thing for their health and well being. To ensure that they are able to do so comfortably, however, it is necessary to make some of the changes mentioned above such as converting older lighting fixtures, installing safety features, and improving flooring to ensure their safety.

Three Benefits of a Walk-In Tub

As many of us grow older, we often encounter various difficulties associated with aging. These
difficulties can pose a particular challenge for seniors who still care for themselves in their own
home, and wish to maintain their independence. For many seniors, the ability to perform
normally routine tasks can be impacted by an increasing lack of mobility. One such task is the
ability to bathe, as standard tubs and showers can pose unique safety and mobility challenges
for those who wish to age in place. Fortunately, the option of installing a walk-in tub can serve
as a solution to many of these problems. In the following article, you will learn about some of the
many benefits a Walk-In Tub can offer, and see if now is the right time to get a quote for
installing one in your home.

Safety

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four Americans over the age of 65 will take
a fall over the course of a year. These types of falls can put one at serious risk for senior
citizens, as over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often
because of a head injury or hip fracture. In fact, four in five TBI-related emergency room visits
were caused by falling for persons aged 65 or older in 2014. Fortunately, walk-in tubs have
safety as a top priority in their design. Anti-slip tub floor and seat coating helps insure a user will
not fall from a slippery surface, while built-in grab bars give occupants an extra way to steady
themselves. Click here to receive a FREE quote on a Walk-In Tub!

Mobility Solutions

As reported by the CDC, over 61 million Americans live with some kind of disability. Of those 61
million, 13.7% have a mobility disability that gives them serious difficulty walking or climbing
stairs. It’s also been reported that 2 in 5 adults aged 65 years and older have a disability.
However, a walk-in tub could be the right bathing solution. With optional features such as low
step-ins allows users to easily enter and exit, while wide door entries ensures that even those
confined to a wheelchair can have smooth access. See if a Walk-In Tub is right for you by
getting a FREE quote!

Hydrotherapy

From a study conducted by the CDC and the National Health Interview Survey, it has been
reported that 22.7% (54.4 million) of American adults had doctor-diagnosed arthritis, while about
43.5% of those 54.4 million adults felt limited in their usual activities due to their arthritis. Warm
water bathing has been scientifically proven to allow your muscles to relax and ease the pain in
your joints. A tub with hydro jets could maximize your relief from pain, and be particularly helpful
to those recently recovering from a joint replacement surgery, or suffer from chronic arthritis.
If you think now is the right time for a Walk-In Tub, click here to receive your FREE quote!

When requesting a quote be sure to ask about these and any other features that would best fit
your needs!

The Importance of Winter Exercise for Seniors

When the weather gets cooler, it’s easy to find excuses to stay inside. All of a sudden, the blustery wind, icy sidewalks, and contagious illnesses make not venturing outside much more appealing, particularly for seniors. But, as a result, physical activity decreases, especially with age.

Staying active as a senior in winter can be a challenge, but consistent, year-round exercise can not only boost their physical well being, but mental health as well. Despite the challenges of exercising during the winter, its benefits are vital to maintaining overall senior well-being.

Maintained Fitness

Keeping a healthy level of fitness is a common (and smart) goal for seniors. As metabolisms slow down with age, maintaining an active lifestyle can help keep a healthy weight and ward off heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and other chronic conditions that seniors are most at risk for. Regular exercise can also help in boosting immunity, feeling younger and keeping seniors independent longer thanks to increased functional strength. But, these benefits only happen when the exercise is maintained year-round. If seniors allow their physical fitness to fall off in the wintertime and they become sedentary, their heart health and fitness levels will likely decline. Therefore, it’s critical that they maintain a fitness routine in every season.

Staying Mentally Healthy

Mental health and disease prevention are equally important aspects of a senior’s wellness. Yet, the short days and cold weather can negatively impact senior mental health. One common mental health struggle this time of year is SAD, or seasonal affective disorder– commonly referred to as seasonal depression. SAD plagues its victims during late fall when the weather starts to worsen and the days shorten, and manifests itself in a number of symptoms including:

  • Anxiety
  • Loneliness
  • Mood swings
  • Sadness
  • Fatigue
  • Appetite changes

Because SAD is often caused by lowered levels of socialization and outdoor activity in the winter, seniors are often most at risk of developing it. Experts suggest combating the seasonal disease by maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Physical exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day, five days a week can help seniors make strides in improving their cardiovascular health. Exercise can also protect against Alzheimer’s by reducing a senior’s risk by up to 50%, and ward off Dementia.

Getting Outside

Seniors are the population that spends the most time indoors during bad weather. While people naturally absorb vitamin D through the sun, the winter months’ shortened days and cold outdoor temperatures may make it a bit tougher to catch some rays. However, this may cause a Vitamin D deficiency which can, in turn, lead to several health issues in older populations. Be on the lookout for signs of hair loss and bone loss, as both can be side effects of low vitamin D levels. Take them as signs that’s it’s time to get outside, enjoy some sunlight and stay healthy during the winter.

If, despite spending time outside, they still experience the effects of vitamin D deficiency, seniors can supplement their workouts with aids to improve symptoms. To ward off the effects of hair thinning or bone loss, seniors should include a hair loss treatment and calcium supplement in their daily routine. This, paired with regular exercise in the sun, should help seniors maintain a well-rounded health routine in the winter.

How Seniors Can Get Active in the Winter

This certainly doesn’t mean that seniors should be hitting the slopes or running marathons in difficult, wintry conditions. There are plenty of low impact activities for seniors to perform indoors or outdoors that promote a healthy lifestyle:

  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Dancing
  • Swimming
  • Yoga

As mentioned above, the cooler, darker and shorter days of winter can be a challenge to stay motivated to live an active lifestyle. While the ease of staying in is tempting, the tremendous upside of staying active and moving can improve health in seniors in a physical, mental, and social way!

Advantages and Drawbacks to Continuing Care Communities

Continuing care today often means residence at a site which offers varying degrees of services from independent living, to assisted living, to round the clock nursing home care. Continuing care communities are the best choice for many. They offer the option of convenient transfer into a full time nursing facility with consistent mealtimes, entertainment, opportunities for socialization, when more services become required than can be provided in an assisted living facility.

But while some people thrive in a communal setting, others suffer from the stress of relocation. Homesickness and the necessity of waiting for needed attention can be a problem.

Space for personal effects is limited in a small units at some communities. Laundry may be misplaced, and menus are limited, as residents cannot plan their own meals or have easy access to favorite snacks. Some residents may cause disruptions at all hours, creating sleeping difficulties for others.

At one time, if a person could no longer care for him or herself, or move in with a family member, the only option was admittance to a nursing home, but today, if a senior community isn’t an attractive option for you or your loved one, it is often possible to remain comfortably at home, with a little help from a local business specializing in home care services.

In Home Care Options

Many of us are strongly attached to our place of residence, be it a large house or a tiny apartment, it’s the place where we feel most comfortable, the place where we hope to live out our entire life, surrounded by treasured possessions, making most of our own daily living decisions.

Today, most communities contain several home care companies, each with various levels of staff members, some available twenty four hours a day. These types of service businesses can solve the problems of home maintenance and health care, offering clients the ability to choose the comfort of familiar surroundings over the stress of moving to a long term care facility.

Health care at home can be much more personalized than the care received at some multi-resident long term care centers. One on one staffing presents the opportunity for caregivers to establish a friendship with their clients.

If a home care worker is present at all times, clients receive whatever attention is needed without an extended wait.

But is the option of home care more or less affordable than residence in a long term care facility?

Comparing the Cost of Care: In Home Versus Long Term

At NewLifeStyles, you will find helpful guidelines for evaluating various types of housing, assisted living, and home health care services available for seniors in need of assistance in your area.

There is no simple answer to the question of which is more affordable: receiving home health care services or becoming a resident of a continuing care facility.

The conclusion will differ for each situation. Several factors must be considered including the amount of care needed, the number of hours assistance is required, and the rate charged by each specific agency. In some cases requiring 24/7 services, a long term facility may be less expensive, but other considerations may enter into the decision, such as proximity to family and to preferred medical professionals.

The website: Paying for Senior Care can be quite helpful in assessing your personal requirements and determining the best solution for you or your family member, at a cost that is manageable.

Choose Carefully

Should you decide to opt for home care service, asking the right questions is key to signing with the business that’s the best fit for your situation. The AARP provides an excellent checklist that can be of assistance when interviewing each agency. Continuing care has it’s benefits, but for those who prefer personalized care in an environment that’s familiar, home care services are lessening the stress for a growing number of seniors as well as younger individuals suffering from restrictions due to illness or injury.

As you consider your options, remember to consult the New LifeStyles website for helpful information about all types of senior living sites and services in your area.

How Learning New Skills Can Affect Seniors’ Life Quality

Seniors are often encouraged to be active, but being out and about doesn’t cut it. Only certain activities are likely to yield benefits for senior citizens. Science tells us learning new mentally demanding skills keeps an ageing mind sharp and thus improves quality of life.

By learning how to preserve a healthy mind, you’ll be able to make the most of your retirement days. Some things never change. Getting out of your comfort zone leads to improvement, even when you’re older.

Defying Myths Through Learning New Skills as a Senior

Despite popular belief, memory loss is not an inevitable part of being old. People will cut you some slack when you’re older. “It slipped my mind” is a convenient excuse for many things.

But, it’s not grounded in reality. Yes, seniors may take a while to retrieve old memories and you may notice you don’t remember things as easily as you used to. Still, you have all it takes to keep your memory sharp.

Ageing Through Art

Creativity can be a remedy for certain problems. According to a research-focused platform, createquity.com, artistic activities help older adults maintain quality of life, as well as health.

Art-related activities can help with life transitions, social isolation, deteriorating health, and loss of loved ones. But, it’s important to learn and take part. Let’s get into the specifics:

  • Older adults report gaining a stronger sense of identity from artistic activities
  • Arts and humanities help seniors improve self-esteem, and reduce boredom. they also help reduce boredom and signs of anxiety and depression.
  • Singing helps improve self-esteem and mental health
  • Sculpting, drawing, and painting can increase self-esteem and social engagement.
  • Art helps people relax!

Jamming and Dancing Towards a Better Life

National Geographic claims music may improve brain function. Musicians stay sharper as they age. Playing instruments helps improve hand-eye coordination. That can make you better at a variety of manual skills.

And, learning to play an instrument doesn’t cost much. It’s something you can learn by watching online tutorials. You can practice on your own or even start a seniors’ band. Learning to jam stimulates more parts of the brain. That way, it helps you get better at other skills, too.

How about a bit of ballroom dancing? It can increase serotonin levels and is great for heart health. Dancing also helps improve cognition and motor skills. You get to learn something new and interact with others.

More Learning Activities

Perhaps you’ve done enough jamming and partying back in the day. There are plenty of other options you can explore. What activities does your senior community offer?

Gardening is a low-impact way of staying active. It helps you build endurance in a relaxing way. It may be trickier than it seems, so it’s sure to improve your problem-solving skills.

Cooking healthy is fun and can save you lots of money. You still get to look after yourself when you are retired. Perhaps you could be in charge of Sunday dinner? Meals are much more enjoyable when you’re the one deciding which ingredients will go into the pot.

Crafting is a lovely way of relieving stress and anxiety. Knitting is popular among elderly folks, so you are sure to find a good teacher. It can give you an edge in strategic thinking and keep your memory sharp.

Lifelong education means you get to learn whenever you want. You can sign up for online classes at the local university or start learning a new language.

Journaling allows you to express yourself. It’s also a good way of blowing off some steam. Through journaling, you may identify what makes you happier and stay mentally active.

Reading helps you stay sharp. It can be a social activity. Join a book club and build your social circle. In fact, when you’re a member of a book club, you’ll feel obliged to read a novel you started so that you wouldn’t disappoint your new buddies. Group activities can make you more accountable and motivate you to finish what you started.

Martial arts improve concentration and physical strength. They will also increase your stamina. According to a Wall Street Journal report, senior Americans can be quite good at kicking and punching.

Tips for Learning Better

There are a lot of mnemonic devices (fancy word for memory tricks) that can help optimize your memory. A basic trick would be repeating info to retrieve it easier later. It’s simple, yet boosts your mind’s chances of remembering the information.

Mental associations are another good way to improve memory. For instance, you can create a story about the thing you want to remember. Break down complex things into smaller pieces to make it easier on yourself.

Conclusion

An idle mind is the devil’s playground. It’s never too late to discover new talents. The golden age isn’t golden because you get to rest and relax. It’s golden because you get to do what you couldn’t before retirement. Learning new things will make sure you continue to lead a rich, fulfilling life.

Social Successful Senior Living Advice To Memorize

The socially-active seniors are much more likely to live a longer life than seniors that live in complete isolation. This is why it is really important for both your mind and your body to remain social, no matter how long life is.

The problem is usually that people are used to the fact that they are going to be seniors and what society says about it. This always leads to the situation in which they just remain comfortable with the idea that they are old and there is nothing they can do about it. This is not how things work. You can always be more active from a social point of view.

Volunteer

It is completely normal to feel restless after you retire. Fortunately, you do not have to give up on that. You can always give back to the community. Start the search by looking at local news so you can find volunteer organizations that can be joined.

You can even volunteer to do some work if this is what you want. Some seniors work as emergency plumbers in Melbourne. You can do something similar to fill your time. What trade do you know?

Adult Education Classes

Learning should not stop as we age. Many senior communities are close to colleges, just call and see if there are some classes available. You can also do this online. By taking courses you can easily meet new people and learn something at the same time. Actively participate in all the classes and keep your mind as stimulated as possible.

Go To Town Hall Meetings

Since you are retired, there is more than enough time to be actively and politically involved in the community. Every single week there are meetings where tax dollar expenditures are calculated right at the town hall. You can find something for absolutely everyone. This includes wildlife committees, education, public works, political committees, historical commissions and so much more. At these meetings, you can easily meet others that have similar interests so you can even make friends.

Don’t Forget About The Local Senior Centers

At senior centers, you can find different events that are specially tailored for the senior citizens. This can include options like knitting, field trips, crafts, arts, theater, movies, computer classes and foreign languages.

The activities can be paid or free. Just ask an associate at the senior center about the activities that are available. See if there are some that are great for you, based on your interests.

Always Stay Active

At the end of the day, this is the most important thing when you are a senior. You need to remain active during the golden years. Do not spend all your time at home or just sitting. Recreation centers exist and many actually have discounts available for seniors. See if there are some low-impact swimming pools or other options designed for your level of mobility. Just make sure that you remain active. You can even start a brand new sport if this is something that you want. After all, you have all the time in the world.

Tips for Travelling with a Cane

Travelling with a cane can often prove challenging, especially if you intend to take a plane, so you may wonder whether you can bring your cane with you without checking it. If you use a cane to assist with mobility, the answer is yes, but you should still consider these tips for travelling with a cane.

Does TSA Says Canes Are Mobility Aids?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) classifies canes as mobility aids, and they allow them on planes. Both you and your cane, however, will still have to undergo screening. It’s important to inform the TSA officer conducting the screening if you can’t stand and hold your arms above your head (required by the more advanced screening devices) for a few minutes, or if you can’t walk unassisted. When your cane is x-rayed or manually inspected, you’ll be separated from it for at least a few minutes. Even if you can manage standing and walking, you should still tell the security officer if you’ll need your cane returned to you right away. Don’t try to bring a novelty cane that conceals anything—security officers are well known to lack a sense of humor about such things.

Is a Cane a Carry-on?

Your airline most likely wouldn’t count a cane against your allowed number of carry-on items, but check in advance to be on the safe side. Different airlines may have different rules. A note from your doctor isn’t required, but having one with you isn’t a bad idea.

Once you make it through security, you may wonder what to do with the cane aboard the plane. Since you use a cane, you may have the ability to take advantage of early boarding if your airline offers it. Ask a flight attendant what to do about your cane. They may store it for you or explain the airline’s rules about where else to put it.

What if My Cane Doesn’t Fit in the Overhead or Under a Seat?

Collapsible or foldable canes provide a good solution if your cane won’t fit in an approved storage area. Some foldable canes collapse down enough to securely stow them underneath the seat in front of you. A carrying bag made especially for your type of cane can also help keep it clean and in good condition while in flight. Checking a cane with your bags is a last resort. If you must do it, secure the cane in a sturdy tube or shipping case. Don’t leave it vulnerable to damage in a soft-sided suitcase.

After you land, the flight attendant should return your cane or help you retrieve it. If it isn’t returned to you promptly, just ask. It’s in all passengers’ best interests for the flight crew to accommodate your needs quickly—everyone wants to get off the plane as soon as possible. Elbow and leg room are at a premium on planes (literally – people can pay extra for extra leg room), so while you should expect courtesy from your fellow passengers, you should afford it to them too. Remain mindful with your cane and stay conscious of what and who are around you. Planning ahead and considering these tips for travelling with a cane should help keep your travel free of cane-related hassles.