Leslie Newlife

An Ultimate Preparation Checklist for Retirement

The average American retires at the age of 63, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says the full retirement age is between 65 and 67. Regardless of your age, you can retire whenever you want—what matters is how you prepare for your retirement.

You need a relaxing retirement that allows you to enjoy a day out on the boat, take a vacation, or enjoy the fruits of your investments. While retirement planning, it’s important to understand how much money you’ll need, make sound investment decisions, and identify your priorities. You should also start planning early—at least 2 to 5 years before your retirement, depending on your financial situation.

Settle Your Debts

Retirement means you’re starting a new life, and you shouldn’t do it with a lingering debt. Having debts will deny you the financially sound life you want after retirement. You should, therefore, strive to pay off your debts while still working.

While it’s tempting to pay off your debt using an IRA, you shouldn’t do it. It’s essentially stealing from yourself, plus it comes with taxes and penalties, costing you even more. As such, you should focus on paying off your car payments, mortgage, or student loans with your income and return on investments.

Many people stop using credit cards after retirement. This prevents you from overspending by accident. The sooner you clear your debts, the easier it will be to make your retirement plans.

Plan for Medical Coverage

Health care needs are very unpredictable. Plus, as we age, we tend to be more vulnerable to different health conditions. As such, it’s vital to plan for medical coverage after retirement since your employer’s health benefits will stop.

As a retiree, you’ll automatically qualify for Medicare if you meet all the requirements. Still, you can apply for Medicaid for dual coverage. Medicare has four parts: A, B, C, and D. The federal government funds parts A and B, while parts C and D are provided by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.

Part C combines Parts A and B into a single plan, allowing you to get the benefits of both plans. It is also the most popular route for retirees. Be sure to find more information on Medicare Part C here to learn more about its benefits and features.

While Medicaid is designed for people with limited income and resources, it also covers those aged 65 and above. You must be a resident of the state in which you live to qualify for Medicaid. Your income should also be less than $2,382 per month.

Explore Downsizing

Moving into a smaller and cheaper home is always a wise decision for retirees. It will reduce your mortgage payments, home insurance, and property taxes. This will give you a greater quality of life with the money you have.

However, if your house is paid off, downsizing may not be worth it. You can still keep the home but take into account maintenance costs. Or, you can still sell it and buy a summer home as an investment option.

Save Funds

The best time to start saving for retirement is now, and try to save as much as you can. You can consider different retirement accounts, including Solo 401(k), Roth IRA., 457, IRA, and a 401(k).

Most employers offer 401(k) retirement plans, allowing you to start saving as early as possible. Still, you can sign up for the plan at any time—not just when you get employed. You should have backup funds in case of emergency or delay Social Security benefits, increasing your monthly benefit.

Find Other Opportunities

Retirement doesn’t mean you can no longer work. In fact, it allows you to explore your passions. Finding volunteer opportunities or part-time work allows you to stay active and enjoy your retirement. For example, you can teach at local education institutions or give tours of your town or city.

You should also join social groups or community organizations to stay connected. This is particularly important if you relocate to another area after retirement. Maintaining a good social life can help keep you lively and motivated.

Take the Time to Prepare for Retirement

Retirement is bound to come at some point. That means your monthly paycheck comes to an end, but your financial responsibilities don’t end there. You have bills, probably a mortgage, and other miscellaneous expenses. Start retirement planning as early as possible and help make the transition seamless.

5 Reasons Why Creative Writing Is a Great Activity For Dementia Patients

Let’s admit it: just like most people, you probably think of creative writing as an activity for young budding writers or students who have to do it to get higher grades. However, creative writing is proven to be a great activity even for elderly people who suffer from dementia. In today’s world, a lot of healthcare providers and professionals encourage dementia patients to write memoirs and participate in other creative activities. Becoming a specialist dementia nurse requires nursing school (a good nursing entrance essay will help you easily get into such a school) and additional post-registration training in the condition. The nurse should also, ideally, have at least two years practice experience in dementia care. Usually, people working as a specialist dementia nurse will also hold a registered mental health nursing qualification.

But why would a dementia patient need to write a memoir or story when college essay writing service can do that faster and with ease? Well, in this article, we will show you why creative writing is a great activity for dementia patients of all ages. Ready? Read on.

Writing boosts self-esteem

According to a recent psychological study, suffering from dementia may cause the patients to lose confidence in themselves and their abilities, thereby resulting in a huge blow to their self-esteem. Dementia patients tend not to trust their own judgment as they feel like they are no longer in control.

However, engaging in creative writing or other artistic activities can give this feeling a sharp turnaround. Here’s why: typically, engaging in creative writing on a regular basis brings about a deep sense of personal satisfaction. Subsequently, this feeling of satisfaction will have a positive impact on their self-esteem, especially when they read a story that they crafted from their own imagination.

It can significantly lower anxiety and emotional stress

Usually, dementia in combination with old age can cause a patient’s anxiety and stress levels to shoot through the roof. This can be very dangerous for their health and well-being, especially if they have other pre-existing health conditions. As such, it’s important to help them find a solid distraction from all the stress and worries they may be dealing with. This is where creative writing comes in.

Creative writing, just like any other creative activity, causes endorphins and other feel-good hormones to be released into the body. In turn, this will help them feel relaxed and happy.

This explains why modern care homes often encourage patients to engage in meaningful activities and games.

Writing stimulates cognitive function and keeps memories alive

The human brain mainly relies on stimulation and exercise to keep it alert, and creative activities such as writing have been known to help in this regard. This is because during the creative process of writing, the patient’s brain is cognitively engaged, involving a part of the brain that may not be used during other routine activities.

As such, writing can greatly improve a person’s mental processing speed, making them sharper and more alert. It can also improve one’s memory of their loved ones and past events. For instance, when a dementia patient has to write about themselves, this can trigger a core memory and enhance remembrance.

It can boost social interaction

It is quite common and easy for advanced dementia patients to become isolated or withdrawn from everyone else. Since they are struggling with memory loss, they may find it harder to create and maintain social bonds with other people around them.

Organizing joint, interactive creative writing classes can help them engage with others and socialize through shared interests. This, in turn, can have a significant positive impact on their psychological health and overall well-being.

Stabilizes emotions

Believe it or not, dementia patients may have a lot of negative emotions such as unhappiness, fear and anger bottled up. They typically find it difficult to express their feelings coherently to their caregivers or loved ones.

Fortunately, creative writing can be used as an outlet of expression. With this activity, they can experience freedom of expression by writing based on their mood and feelings.

Pro Tip: Your patients or loved ones don’t necessarily have to write depressing dementia poems. You can encourage them to write a creative piece about anything that makes them happy, like flowers or even a ray of sunshine.

How to Encourage Dementia Patients to Participate in Creative Writing

Whether your loved one is living independently or in a care home, there are subtle ways to encourage them to try out creative dementia activities like writing.

The best way to spark their interest is by making it an interactive session. Let them know that you’re going to write too so that they feel more secure and safe. In some cases, you could even make it a contest of sorts.

Pro Tip: Dementia patients may feel a lot of anxiety when it comes to participating in any cognitive activity like writing. As such, you need to be as patient and encouraging as possible.

Final Thoughts

Creative writing is one of the most widely encouraged free activities for dementia patients. Apart from its psychological benefits, it can also serve as a form of distraction and keep them relaxed. If you’re trying to encourage your loved one to try out writing, start off slowly and patiently. Eventually, they will feel comfortable enough to write more.

About the Author: Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and creative writer with a Ph.D in History from Stanford University. She works as an essay writer with EssayUSA, where she delivers excellent academic essays, term papers and dissertations to students who need them.

The Best Hospice Care for Your Parents: Home Away From Home


The idea that death is the only thing 100% promised to us in life makes living every day to its fullest more encouraging. So by the time you reach old age and cannot move around as actively as you used to, you would have hopefully lived a full life because you knew one day your time would come.

The fact of death makes people uncomfortable about discussing hospice, but death gives life meaning. So when discussing and searching for hospice care, you should do so with the mindset of giving that meaningful life a great closing instead of mourning how little time is left.

With that in mind, there are many factors to consider when looking for the best hospice care for your aging relatives. You may have to figure out life insurance for seniors and if it covers hospice care, consider the sort of meals provided during hospice, research if the service is reputable, and search for facilities with the shortest commute time. 

Even with understanding how death is inevitable and brings life meaning, planning for it can be overwhelming. With the right guidance, finding the best hospice care for your parents can run smoother.

What is hospice care?

When chosen properly, hospice care is a fantastic service for those who would benefit from pain management and a heightened sense of focus on symptoms that hinder their quality of life. 

Not only does hospice care focus on the individual in need of extra assistance, but it also focuses on their caregivers. The point of hospice care is to provide compassionate care to people who are at an age where they are naturally going to rest or for those who are in the last phases of an incurable disease. 

The goal of hospice care is to help them live out the rest of their days as comfortably as possible and for their caregivers (their children or other relatives) to spend this time with them without worrying about the pain they could be experiencing during that time.

Hospice offers a variety of services to make this process easier. For example, families can receive spiritual and emotional support with 24/7 on-call help from certain hospice care providers. Some provide the option of having visiting nurses to prevent the need of driving to doctors’ offices and to help with bathing and other personal care.

Being that this form of care is so personal, who you hire to provide this service is crucial. Not all hospice care providers are the same, and some families have negative experiences because of poor quality of service.

Ways to Find Hospice Care

To find the best hospice care for your parents and any other relatives, start by collecting a list of hospice companies. An ideal way of building a decent list is by asking for recommendations. 

You should talk to doctors, nurses, other family members, and anyone else who may be knowledgeable about hospice care. A medical professional will more than likely give you the best recommendations.

After you formulate your list, you can go through each company to investigate whether it is ideal for your family’s needs. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when exploring each company:

  • Check for accreditation: Hospices do not have to be accredited, but those that are have a third party reviewing their services regularly. Some hospice care options are accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). 
  • Length of operation: You can get a better understanding of the providers’ reputation based on how long they have operated. Having operated for three years or more shows the company is stable. 
  • Likability of provider: The care provider’s personality, people skills, and level of customer service play a huge determining factor. If you dislike the person providing the service, then you will more than likely have a negative experience with hospice care. 
  • Medicare certification: When a provider qualifies for Medicare certification, it means they offer 16 different core (doctors’ appointments, counseling, food preparation, etc.) and auxiliary services (home care, physical therapy, etc). Even if you are not a Medicare beneficiary, you know you will have a variety of options.

What to Look for in Hospice Care

Taking the time to learn about things to know about hospice care will make knowing what to look for more simple. Aside from providing general comfort like pain relief, they can offer a variety of services specific to you and your loved one’s needs, such as:

Family assistance: Some hospice care providers prepare food, clean the house, change bedpans, and administer medications if you cannot. However, some may not provide the same level of help as others. It is critical that you understand what you need help with and if the company provides that type of help.

Inpatient options: Though most hospice care happens at home, your parents may need more care than can be offered from home. Therefore, hiring a provider that leases beds in a nursing home or hospital would be more ideal.

Spiritual guidance: Finding someone who has the same religious and spiritual beliefs as your loved one can make the process more comforting. Your family may want certain customs observed, and every hospice care may not be able to provide that level of service.

Bereavement services: Dealing with death can take a huge emotional toll on yourself and your parents, so hospices offer standard counseling services and specialized bereavement services including advice for burial insurance. You can even find support groups for both the patient and their families within these hospices.

How to Prepare for Hospice Care

A good portion of individuals within the sandwich generation (a group of individuals who are raising children while also having parents heading into nursing homes or hospice care) must prepare for this stage in life.

Educating yourself on what to expect when a loved one enters hospice care before they actually go into it is an excellent way to prepare for this dynamic switch. 

The sandwich generation is stuck between having to care for their children and their parents, so they may not be in the position to deal with both the emotional and physical time that caring for ill individuals needs. This makes hospice care a great choice. 

However, when researching the hospice care provider, keep in mind that your parents’ comfort is most important.

Imani Francies writes and researches for the life insurance comparison site, EffortlessInsurance.com.

Three Ways You Can Budget for a Senior Living Community

If you decide that you want to spend retirement in a senior living community, or if you have medical problems that require care, finding the right place is only a part of the process. The next step involves having the money to live there. Depending on your wants or needs, senior living communities can be expensive. Unless you have a retirement fund or receive government assistance, you need a way to pay for it. Here is how you can budget for senior housing.

Review Your Expenses

Even as a senior, you still have financial responsibilities. As you begin making your budget, start by going over each and every expense you have. Expenses can range from pretty much anything including:

  • Rent
  • Mortgage or rent payments
  • Insurance payments
  • Utility bills
  • Gas for your car
  • Groceries
  • Medication
  • Entertainment expenses

As a senior, chances are you’re in retirement, which means you have no monthly or bi-weekly paycheck to fall back on. But just because you’re not in the workforce anymore doesn’t mean you can’t make any money. You can do side gigs or part-time jobs to earn money. That money you make can go toward moving to your senior living facility.

You’d be surprised at how you can make money these days. Online surveys, selling on eBay, or even starting an Etsy shop are easy ways to make a fast buck. You may even be tempted to sell your life insurance policy, but before you do, it’s best if you take the time to think about planning for the end of your life. Although bringing up the end of your life is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, everyone passes away. Even as a senior, life can find new ways to surprise you whether it’s for the better or for the worse.

Get your family involved and ask them to help make an end-of-life planning checklist. This ensures your last wishes are fulfilled. Something you need to make clear is your medical and financial history. When the time does come, your family and other people involved have an easier time finalizing your wishes.

Find Ways to Cut Corners

In addition to finding other ways to earn money, you should also eliminate any unnecessary expenses. For example, any unused apps, digital services, or programs that you keep saying you’ll use, but never get around to it, must go. It doesn’t matter if it only costs a few dollars. At first glance, a few dollars every month seems harmless, right? Well, that few dollars can accumulate fast. And when you add up the total of how long you’ve been paying for it, it’s well past its original price. This also applies to buying drinks out, eating at restaurants or splurging at the grocery store. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself here and there, however, when you’re faced with a sudden financial issue or find yourself doing something more than usual, it’s time to start really reconsidering making the purchase.

The 7 Best Cities in the U.S. for Seniors


Ever wondered if where you’re living is the best place for you to live? What if there was somewhere else that you could go? 

Many of the older generations tend to live where they retired, but you don’t have to do that. There are so many great places for you to find your forever home. 

Maybe you’re looking for a home near the ocean or maybe you’re looking to live in a rural area. There are so many options it can be overwhelming to figure out which place is right for you. In this article, we’ll break down the top 7 cities for people ages 55 and up to live. 

#1 – Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is located off the Gulf Coast and is perfect for anyone looking to escape big city living. There’s a ton of things to do, including exploring beaches, experiencing the city’s diverse cuisine, and enjoying the art and culture.

A lot of attractions that are downtown are within walking distance, but if you need to drive, there is car insurance for seniors that is cheap and affordable in Sarasota.

Sarasota is the perfect place for folks who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is best known for its beaches, great foods, and fantastic art. This would be a great place for grandchildren to come and visit their grandparents. 

#2 – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster is a lot different than Sarasota but is just as beautiful. This town is located toward the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland. There’s an endless expanse of farmland, and the county is famous for being the home of the Amish. There’s a lot of history in this city and, as a result, a lot of museums and things to learn. 

The Amish market has amazing produce and goods for sale. You can go horseback riding or ride in buggies. There’s so much to do and explore. 

Just an FYI, Lancaster is hilly and it may make travel difficult for some. Here are some tips for traveling with a cane.

This is a great place for people who are interested in good food and history and are looking for a more rustic and rural lifestyle.

#3 – San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is the closest thing to a big city without actually being a big city. It’s best known for its many attractions. Located in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is a great place to do fun activities with grandchildren. The San Antonio Zoo is a great place for grandparents and their grandchildren to spend time together and make memories.

There are tons of restaurants from Mexican and barbecue to American and Italian. There are museums and parks to learn the history of San Antonio. There’s a lot of art as well. 

For those with adventurous grandchildren, there’s even a SeaWorld and a Six Flags. San Antonio is perfect for those who are retired and have the time to enjoy all of what this city has to offer. 

Need help figuring out how to retire? These four essential retirement planning tips might help you.

#4 – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids is a great place for seniors who are into the arts. This city is located close to Lake Michigan. It is best known for the Grand River and its furniture manufacturing. There are so many theaters and museums to choose from. 

This city is also a perfect place for people who are into boating, paddling, fishing, and golfing. There are beautiful parks to walk in and trails to trek on foot or on a bike. Staying active in Grand Rapids can help you stay healthy so you can find the best life insurance company for seniors.

For those who are not so active, there are plenty of places to eat and drink. Grand Rapids even has a food trail that you can either walk or drive, depending on your physical limitations. There’s also a wine tour available. 

#5 – El Paso, Texas

El Paso — not to be confused with El Paso County in Colorado — is located close to the border of Mexico. This city is known for its 302 days of sunshine and tasty Tex-Mex cuisine. 

Like the different cities listed above, this city has a lot of fun things to do. There’s a plethora of museums, a zoo, and some casinos. There are also a lot of vineyards to explore.

For when the grandchildren visit, there is an Adventure Zone, American Eagle Paintball, and so much more. You can also walk or bike along the Rio Grande. 

You’re not far at all from New Mexico, so you could also take the grandchildren to the White Sands National Monument. 

All in all, this is a great place for people who prefer sunshine and good food. For those of you who need help staying active after retirement, El Paso might just have what you need. . 

#6 – Charlotte, North Carolina

Nestled on the border of North and South Carolina, Charlotte is a great place for those who are looking to find a lower cost of living. Charlotte is best known for sports. Here you can find the Carolina Panthers Stadium and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

This is another great place for seniors to have their grandchildren come to visit. There’s the Billy Graham Library, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, and for more adventurous activity, there’s Carowinds, a fun amusement park. Charlotte might be a perfect place for you if you enjoy the above-mentioned attractions. 

#7 – Chattanooga, Tennessee

At the base of Tennessee, Chattanooga has a lot to offer people looking to retire and find their forever home. Best known for its high-speed internet, this town is great for older people who worked or are still working in the tech field. It’s also a great place to be outside and enjoy nature.

Some of the attractions include Ruby Falls, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the Hunter Museum of American Art. There’s also a lot to do by the Tennessee River. For example, you can go and enjoy a ride on the riverboat.

Chattanooga not only has great attractions, but it has delicious food as well. The city has a wide selection of food to choose from. It even has the Chattanooga Pints and Pedal where you can explore the hotspots of the town just by biking with friends or family. This town might just be right for you if any of these catch your eye.

 These cities are great places to live. Each one has its own character and charm. There are so many places that I didn’t mention that are great places to live if you’re 55 and up. 

Don’t be afraid to do your own research and see which location is best for you. This country is filled with a vast variety of places to live. My best wishes to you as you enjoy your forever home — wherever that might be.


Peyton Leonard writes and researches for the auto insurance site,  AutoInsuranceEZ.com. Peyton is passionate about traveling and seeing new places.

4 Things You Should Look For When Choosing Assisted Living

As the years go by and your parents grow older, they’ll undoubtedly have more needs on their plates. And though you may try your best to provide for them, you still fall short sometimes. After all, you have your responsibilities to take care of, so you might unknowingly neglect your parents’ needs. 

If this is your case, then you might want to consider an “assisted living” service for your parents. 

What is Assisted Living?

Simply put, assisted living is a choice for older adults who require assistance with essential daily activities, such as cooking meals, going to the bathroom, and cleaning the house. 

This service is generally in a residential facility, like a converted home or an apartment complex, and the facility provides 24-hour support and access to care. That said, assisted living facilities still encourage privacy and independence, and they will create a personalized plan for you that accommodates all your needs, both basic and special.

As of right now, the National Center for Assisted Living reports that there are about 28,900 assisted living facilities with nearly 1 million licensed beds in the United States. 

How Should You Pick the Assisted Living Facility that Suits Your Parents’ Needs?

Since an assisted living facility is your parents’ possible home in the future, you need to make sure that the facility you choose is outstanding. The last thing you want is to make your parents live in a facility that doesn’t treat them well. 

But how do you know that a facility is great for your parents? You should examine the four factors below. 

How Skilled and Trained the Staff is

An assisted living facility aims to help older people who can’t live by themselves anymore, so the staff has to be skilled and trained in caregiving. 

As such, when you visit facilities, you should inquire about the education and training of their employees. The staff could be trained at an actual nursing school, or they could have gotten their education with Lecturio. Whatever’s the case, just make sure that the employees know what they’re doing. 

The Staff-to-Patient Ratio

On a somewhat related note to the previous factor, you should also consider the facility’s staff-to-patient ratio. Are there enough employees to attend to all of the people living inside? Or are they understaffed, thus resulting in several employees exhausted every single day? 

You wouldn’t want an understaffed facility, so find a facility that has a reasonable staff-to-patient ratio. 

Fun and Social Activities

An assisted living facility may be a place for care and support first and foremost, but it is also a place for socializing and entertainment for older people.

For that reason, you should ask about what activities your assisted living facility of choice offers. Do these activities sound like fun to your parents? Additionally, does the facility offer time for their residents to do the things they like to do? 

If the answers to these questions are yes, then it’s a facility worth considering. 

The Residents

Your parents will be living in the assisted living facility for some time, so it’s crucial that they get along with their new neighbors.

To make sure this happens, you should bring along your parents when visiting a new facility and let them interact with the residents. See if they click or not. If they do, then the facility might be the right one for them. 

Price

Assisted living facilities are generally cheaper than a nursing home, and their prices can vary — from $25,000 or lower to more than $50,000 a year. You should choose one that fits within your budget — but you should make sure not to compromise the quality of the facility for a low price.  

The ideal facility should both be affordable and offer outstanding services.

Conclusion

At some point in their lives, your parents might have a difficult time living independently. Because of this, they might be better off taking residence at an assisted living facility. 

Looking for a suitable facility for your parents may seem incredibly daunting, but the four factors mentioned above should be able to help you narrow down your choices.

5 Insightful Sleep Tips for Older Adults

Getting adequate, quality sleep is critical for your overall health and well-being. This becomes even more critical as we age. Unfortunately, many senior adults experience changes and troubles with their sleeping patterns, and this affects their health in different ways. Some resort to taking drugs to overcome insomnia and related problems. Here, we will briefly discuss a few insightful tips that can help seniors enjoy sufficient sleep every night.

Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule

As you age, it will help to adopt a regular sleep schedule. This implies that you should learn to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This will take a lot of discipline, but the result will be worth it. You can also set your alarm to help you wake up at the right time. Once your sleep schedule becomes a habit, you will enjoy the full benefit of quality sleep.

Exercise During the Day

The importance of exercise for overall health can never be overemphasized. Regular exercise can help improve your daily life. Even as you become older, it is still very important that you engage in physical actvitiy. You should do this during the day to get your body in the right frame for a quality night rest. You shouldn’t exercise within three hours of bedtime, however.

Have an Early Dinner

Eating late will affect your sleep habit as well as the quality of sleep you get each night you sleep late. The negative consequences will even affect you further when you wake up. Try to eat early so that you will have enough time to rest before going to bed. This will also make the food to digest properly without upsetting your stomach while you are asleep.

Identify Underlying Causes of Sleep Disorders

There are different factors that can cause insomnia and other types of sleep disorders in older adults. Some of the major factors are medical issues that can be treated. If you have any of the problems, you can visit sleep specialists like Dr. Krueger Sleep & Sinus Clinic for proper diagnosis and treatment. Stress is another major factor that can cause sleep deprivation. There are different natural ways to combat stress, anxiety, and other problems that can interfere with sleep.

Sleep disorders can be treated by using oral machines. They’re designed to bring constant airflow through a person’s airways through the use of pressurized air. The constant air flow prevents throat collapse and blocks obstructions, paving the way for a good and long sleep. Be sure to consult a doctor before using these machines.

Watch your Diet

Eating right can also help you sleep better. There are food choices and diet habits that can interfere with your sleep habit. Drinking alcohol before bedtime, for instance, can disrupt sleep. Coffee, tea, soda, and anything that contains caffeine shouldn’t be taken late in the day. Eat healthy meals at all times, but avoid big meals at night. Spicy foods just before bedtime should also be avoided.

Endnote

Many older adults experience changes in sleep patterns. You shouldn’t let this become your reality. As a senior, ensure that you keep to a routine sleep schedule, perform regular exercise, take your dinner early, and treat underlying sleep issues. With these tips, you can enjoy a restorative and deep sleep every night.

3 Productive Things to Do in Retirement

Just like any other period in your life, retirement can present you with lots of emotionally rewarding experiences and beautiful moments. You just need to figure out how to get the most out of it.

Now that you’ve devoted so much of your life to your work and child-rearing, you can take coveted time out and indulge in your favorite activities. Different people have different perspectives on retirement. Some see it as a great opportunity to enjoy a new lease of life, while others may dread it, unable to decide what to do at this stage of life. If you also have some worries concerning your upcoming retirement, here are some effective ways to find fulfilling activities and stay productive.

#1 Travel and Photograph

Though this piece of advice may sound trite and somewhat unoriginal, lots of retirees start living their lives to the fullest exactly when they dive headfirst into traveling.

Working long hours to move up the career ladder, constant turmoil, and a hectic pace of life are not really conducive to traveling. But this is not the case anymore when you’re retired!

Note that retirement isn’t just the withdrawal from your working life. It’s an excellent chance to quench your wanderlust and learn lots of new things about people, cultures, and yourself. And you’ll definitely want to capture all the meaningful moments with your camera. You will find yourself captivated not only by your travels but also photography as a process. Such photo editing tools as Crello will help you enhance your images and immortalize your memories. Photography will help you unleash your creative potential and savor your travel experiences for much longer!

#2 Start a Business

It’s a common misconception that most seniors want to spend their retirement enjoying themselves somewhere in the Caribbean. If you’re not one of those guys whose retirement dreams are confined to growing orchids or reading magazines in their comfy rocking chairs, considering starting your own business. We’re not talking about some grandiose entrepreneurial ventures requiring considerable investments. Employ your imagination and interests to come up with a viable business idea that can eventually transform into a profitable undertaking. You can start a small firm helping people watch their houses or take care of their pets while they are away on vacation or business trips. People also need someone to fix their gadgets, repair and revamp their clothes, and drive their children to school. Perhaps you have always had an idea for a product or service. It’s about time you gave it a shot.

#3 Volunteer

There is nothing more rewarding and spiritually renewing than volunteering. Volunteering allows you to be civically engaged and feel needed. It’s also a great way to contribute to a noble cause and help drive needed changes in our world. You can assist at the hospital, mentor kids in child care facilities, or volunteer at animal sanctuaries. Figure out what’s close to you and reach the organization that might appreciate an extra pair of hands.

These are just some of the ideas that won’t let you get bored. You can explore other options and try other activities that will help you stay young, active, and energized in retirement.

Dental Care and Its Importance for Seniors

Dental health is critical regardless of your age, and this includes people who fall into the category of senior citizens. As we get older, keeping up with oral hygiene can become a bit more challenging due to conditions like arthritis making flossing and brushing difficult, as well as a variety of cognitive issues that can lead to forgetfulness. That being said, it’s critical to make your oral health a priority because as we get older, dental issues can begin to have more of a negative impact on our overall health. Here’s a quick look at a few examples of that.

Shifting Teeth

If you didn’t wear clear braces when you were younger, or you’ve lost a tooth or two and haven’t had them repaired with implants, your jawbone can actually begin to waste away. This can lead to the teeth surrounding open places to shift into those spots. This then leads to a jawbone that’s uneven, and can even cause appearance concerns and bite issues.

Respiratory Disease

It’s important to improve dental health when at all possible because the bacteria that are inherent with gum disease can actually migrate to your lungs and create havoc within the respiratory system. This can cause any pre-existing respiratory issues to get worse or even lead to infections in the lungs and severe pneumonia. This is important because much of the time, these types of issues are more difficult for older people to recover from than for younger people.

Heart Disease

What do you think heart disease has to do with dental care? By the age of 65, millions of people in the US are suffering from gum disease. This happens when the tissues in the gums get infected, typically following a buildup of a substance known as plaque on the teeth and gums. People suffering from gum disease are significantly more likely to have to deal with heart disease, and it can even worsen heart disease already in existence while also increasing the risk of the development of clogged arteries.

Diabetes

Gum disease that’s advanced is known as periodontitis, and this can hamper the ability of the body to use insulin, and this is incredibly perilous for those suffering from diabetes. On top of that, blood sugar levels that are high can lead to infections in the gums, which creates a vicious cycle where gum disease leads to even more gum disease.

Preventative Oral Care

In spite of the serious complications to your health that can be the result of letting your dental hygiene slide, keeping up with your oral hygiene doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated. There are a few basic recommendations that can help. One of the easiest is to simply brush your teeth a minimum of two times each day using toothpaste that contains fluoride and a toothbrush that has soft bristles. If arthritis makes this difficult, try using an electric toothbrush. You should also floss on a daily basis or use one of the interdental brushes on the market to get in between your teeth. A Waterpik flosser is also recommended.

If you have any sort of dentures – full or partial – make sure you remove them each night to clean them. Drink water that’s fluoridated and eat a diet that’s well-balanced. Foods that are high in fiber and dairy products are both good for your teeth and gums. Try to avoid candy and sugary drinks. Quit smoking if you smoke.

Finally, a bit of common sense. Even for those with full dentures, it’s imperative to visit your dentist on a regular basis for both exams and cleanings.

Tips for Long-Distance Caregiving

It’s a day everyone knew was coming but nobody is ever ready for: taking care of aging relatives. On top of that—and depending on the direction life takes you—time and distance may add another challenge to looking after them. So, how do you look after a loved one who lives far away? With some planning and organizing, what seems like an impossible task can become more manageable with these tips for long-distance caregiving.

Get Organized

This doesn’t just mean finances, medical records, bills, and other documents—it goes for people as well. Organize a care team. Hold a family meeting with your elderly relatives, siblings (yours and theirs), and other family members—in person or virtually—to discuss a care plan going forward. Assess their needs and financial status. Determine when people can be with and look after them and the possibility of hiring caretakers to handle specific duties. Explore whether any organizations they belong to—social, religious, professional, or the like—offer services or individuals who can periodically check in on them and report on their condition. Develop a schedule everyone can access to know who’s with them and when. If it’s in your budget, consider consulting a credentialed care manager nearby to handle specific points of care and more.

Safety First

Before heading out to visit them, take your safety into consideration as well, especially if you’ll need to transport them. Is your vehicle equipped to handle someone infirm or otherwise disabled? Can they enter and exit the vehicle safely? Be sure your car is properly maintained with updated tires kept at their standard PSI, fluids that are clean, topped off, and have regular checkups. If they’re still driving, do the same for them and bring their vehicle in for an inspection and proper maintenance.

Take Over the Paperwork

One of the key tips for long-distance caregiving is this: even if you can’t be there in person, you can still watch over them. Offer to handle payment of their bills, deal with insurance, and maintain and protect their medical, legal, and other personal records. Stay in touch to ensure everything is updated and accurate, confirming the facts with doctors, caregivers, and other service providers.

Visits Are Vital

When you are able to visit them, every moment is precious. Precious, obviously, on an emotional level, but also in ways to assess and ensure they’re receiving the proper care. Use the time to observe their living conditions, speak with any caregivers about their mood and the quality of care, and acquaint yourself with any visitors they might have who you’ve yet to meet. Check on their finances and inspect the place where they live for any necessary repairs. Keep an eye out for signs of depression and abuse, missing funds, and potential scammers. Check if they need anything replaced, such as clothing, toiletries, and so forth. Above all, enjoy your time with them and spend more time listening than talking.