Things You Did to Make Seniors Years Better

Devi said:
Ah, I see what @Chris21E has posted re food. We're pretty careful about having quality food (mostly organic or "natural"), which ā€” well, I can tell the difference between that and "regular" food which may be GMO and may have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, etc. I can definitely feel the difference when I eat "regular" food.
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That is for sure, I get sick instantly...
 
Devi said:
We do too! It usually takes us a few days to recover from eating "regular" food. And that's with taking acidophilus to help the process.
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Acidophilus is part of my regiment along with apple cider vinegar if good to combat fungus. It can be a bit much on an empty stomach.
 
I have accepted the fact that I have aged. I think I am doing pretty well compared to others I have seen. I get physical checkups including eyes to head off any problems. I keep physically active with yard work in summer and walking in winter including weights. I eat in moderation making sure there is a variety in my diet to cover all the nutritional needs. Mentally, I try not to sweat the small stuff. I don't push myself to get things done and allow myself breaks. I try to avoid risky activities which could lead to injury.
 
Chet said:
I have accepted the fact that I have aged. I think I am doing pretty well compared to others I have seen. I get physical checkups including eyes to head off any problems. I keep physically active with yard work in summer and walking in winter including weights. I eat in moderation making sure there is a variety in my diet to cover all the nutritional needs. Mentally, I try not to sweat the small stuff. I don't push myself to get things done and allow myself breaks. I try to avoid risky activities which could lead to injury.
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Same here as well, not in a hurry nothing to prove, just comfortable and making sure I can maintain what is still working.
 
Chet said:
I have accepted the fact that I have aged. I think I am doing pretty well compared to others I have seen. I get physical checkups including eyes to head off any problems. I keep physically active with yard work in summer and walking in winter including weights. I eat in moderation making sure there is a variety in my diet to cover all the nutritional needs. Mentally, I try not to sweat the small stuff. I don't push myself to get things done and allow myself breaks. I try to avoid risky activities which could lead to injury.
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You are working on Mind Body and Soul.. that is KEY!!!!! PRICELESS!!!!!
 
I'm making little changes around the house to make things a bit easier and keep me doing the things I've been doing all my life.
I have a kneeler I drag around that helps me get into my lower cabinets and makes it easy to get up and down.

Just recently I bought a laundry basket on wheels. Now I roll it down the hall to the laundry room.
I've purged this house of things I haven't used in years. Makes a big difference in cleaning and finding things.

There is a step stool in just about every room. Cleaning supplies in both bathrooms.

I have reading glasses now and don't rely on my tri focals to read or sew. It made a big difference, my eyes don't get so tired.

When I cook, I make double or triple the amount and freeze meals.

Outside I have hoses in the front and back of the house as well as watering cans. I cut down on bushes that need constant trimming,

My object is to stay out of the doctors office, not depend on medications to survive and most of all stay out of the recliner for most of the day and evening.
 
Chris21E said:
Or at less bad.
I took a chance and had cataract surgery, worth it not to be blind.

I try to eat fresh fruit and avoid overeating. Take a few supplements like magnesium because when low I ended up in the ER.

Having an air filter also helps. I noticed that those who have my condition can live beyond 80 with heart failure. Will not even think about a transplant.
I hurt still manage to get through it.

This also works

How do you ease the effects of getting older? Thank you
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I take supplements and take a long walk daily with my dog. I also keep physically active with house and yard work. I used to go for hours at a time until the job was done, these days I do what I can and continue another day. I definitely don't want to hurt myself, and realize that a fall in my late 60s can have me laid up for quite a while. Still get careless sometimes, but I try to be mindful.

I try to appreciate and enjoy life. We still go camping a couple of times a year, and being out in nature and away from TV, computer, etc. is very healing for emotional well being. I try not to let little things upset me, and look at the bigger picture, there are a lot of people in this world who are dealing with much more pain and sorrow than I may ever experience.

I eat healthier than I did when I was younger and still working, and I try to unwind before bed and get a good night's sleep. We sometimes watch some stand up comedy before turning in, always good to share some laughs before going to dreamland.

My eyesight is getting worse with age, and I'm using sunglasses more than I did when young, also wear a ballcap on really sunny days to cut the sun a bit more. I use CBD balm when I have back or neck pain, and will take an epsom salt bath once a year or so when needed. Also use magnesium oil for foot and leg cramps, etc.

B1defdKCYAErRRR.jpg
 
SeaBreeze said:
I take supplements and take a long walk daily with my dog. I also keep physically active with house and yard work. I used to go for hours at a time until the job was done, these days I do what I can and continue another day. I definitely don't want to hurt myself, and realize that a fall in my late 60s can have me laid up for quite a while. Still get careless sometimes, but I try to be mindful.

I try to appreciate and enjoy life. We still go camping a couple of times a year, and being out in nature and away from TV, computer, etc. is very healing for emotional well being. I try not to let little things upset me, and look at the bigger picture, there are a lot of people in this world who are dealing with much more pain and sorrow than I may ever experience.

I eat healthier than I did when I was younger and still working, and I try to unwind before bed and get a good night's sleep. We sometimes watch some stand up comedy before turning in, always good to share some laughs before going to dreamland.

My eyesight is getting worse with age, and I'm using sunglasses more than I did when young, also wear a ballcap on really sunny days to cut the sun a bit more. I use CBD balm when I have back or neck pain, and will take an epsom salt bath once a year or so when needed. Also use magnesium oil for foot and leg cramps, etc.

B1defdKCYAErRRR.jpg
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That is wonderful and well balance, holding on to abilities no yet age is key.

The worse that I saw was a handsome guy with a wheel strap to his lower half, it is one thing to suffer an accident, but to joke around is not cool.

Life was not boring, never push to the extreme, as life goes on more chances for a small slip up to ruin everything, it can be food or the wrong activities.

I've visited a nursing home, it is so sad, the screams, do not want to end up like that if one can...
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I'm making little changes around the house to make things a bit easier and keep me doing the things I've been doing all my life.
I have a kneeler I drag around that helps me get into my lower cabinets and makes it easy to get up and down.

Just recently I bought a laundry basket on wheels. Now I roll it down the hall to the laundry room.
I've purged this house of things I haven't used in years. Makes a big difference in cleaning and finding things.

There is a step stool in just about every room. Cleaning supplies in both bathrooms.

I have reading glasses now and don't rely on my tri focals to read or sew. It made a big difference, my eyes don't get so tired.

When I cook, I make double or triple the amount and freeze meals.

Outside I have hoses in the front and back of the house as well as watering cans. I cut down on bushes that need constant trimming,

My object is to stay out of the doctor's office, not depend on medications to survive and most of all stay out of the recliner for most of the day and evening.
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Love the little adjustment along the way of senior life. When visiting an independent senior living,

met a two purple hearts veteran 98 still driving his car and he would volunteer at the VA hospital.

Man living there were in their 90 and few 100, sharp, a few with physical mobility issues...We could last hat long you never know, or at least not be sick...
 
Another discovery is Blue block light readers My old readers I felt tired.
Glasses with blue light filtering technology can enhance your focus and reduce eye strain, resulting in making your eyes feel less tired and improving productivity. Another way to reduce eye strain is to make sure you take regular breaks from the screen. Go a few at hsn
 
I've been trying for a coupla days to find the source, but no luck yet. Anyway, here it is, I read a few years back that the best way that you can assure that your senior years are good financially is to go into a line of work where you can keep working 'till you die, i.e. a line of work that is mostly sedentary but uses your brain, such as an accountant, writer (a successful one, of course), teacher, preacher, librarian, attorney, computer coder, etc. Because no matter how well you try to keep in physical shape (exercise, diet, never touch cigarettes or alcohol or sugar or salt), if your job is a very physical one, your joints are going to wear out, be affected by regular arthritis, etc. and make it too hard to keep working at too young an age. The writer said that this isn't of course fair because some people would rather do a physical job, they enjoy being outdoors all the time or whatever but that unfortunately, the way things are and will continue to worsen is that most elderly won't be able to afford to live on their retirement and social security and from a financial standpoint have to keep working. The writer even said that if she had had children and knowing what she knows now, she would've told them to go into some line of work that isn't physical.
 
What did people do to make their senior years better? Great topic.

Work: In our late 60s, hubby and I mostly closed our small business five years ago because the physical work was getting to be too much. We got rid of most of that part but retained enough consulting and wholesale work to have part-time, seasonal business.
It's interesting work, keeps up our contacts and provides some income (we're not claiming DH's SS until he turns 70). Win/win/win.

Diet: After watching a couple of movies In February 2014, within a week we moved to a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) food plan and haven't looked back. My only regret is not having done this decades earlier. Lots of whole wheat, oats, beans, legumes, brown rice, quinoa, potatoes, vegetables, leafy greens and fruit. Almost no processed foods, very little added fats or oils, light on sweets, seeds and nuts.

Weight: With WFPB eating I quickly lost the 20 lbs I'd put on during menopause and then some. Lost another 7 lbs since adding more starches (how's that for counter-intuitive!). My BMI dropped from 26.3 to 21.3 with no changes other than the type of food I was eating. Since going plant based I eat larger portions and more snacks than at any time in my life.

Exercise: As a bow to age, I now intentionally exercise for at least half an hour a day now. Never had a formal exercise plan before.

Health: Had cataract surgery in one eye about 4 years ago. The other eye remains fine. I get an annual checkup including blood work. Triglycerides are high but other numbers are good, including blood glucose. (Big YAY on the glucose because extended family is loaded with diabetes.)

Financial: We paid our house off before semi retirement. As long as we're not foolish and SS continues as promised, we appear to have ample savings to carry us through to the end.

Relationships: I stay in close touch with my children, their spouses, my grands, and my friends, try to avoid unnecessary stress and aggravations (have all but ditched Facebook completely which helps a lot), and have a longstanding happy and extremely calm marriage.

Summary: Life is good right now. Hoping our good health holds out for a long time to come.
 
officerripley said:
I've been trying for a coupla days to find the source, but no luck yet. Anyway, here it is, I read a few years back that the best way that you can assure that your senior years are good financially is to go into a line of work where you can keep working 'till you die, i.e. a line of work that is mostly sedentary but uses your brain, such as an accountant, writer (a successful one, of course), teacher, preacher, librarian, attorney, computer coder, etc. Because no matter how well you try to keep in physical shape (exercise, diet, never touch cigarettes or alcohol or sugar or salt), if your job is a very physical one, your joints are going to wear out, be affected by regular arthritis, etc. and make it too hard to keep working at too young an age. The writer said that this isn't of course fair because some people would rather do a physical job, they enjoy being outdoors all the time or whatever but that unfortunately, the way things are and will continue to worsen is that most elderly won't be able to afford to live on their retirement and social security and from a financial standpoint have to keep working. The writer even said that if she had had children and knowing what she knows now, she would've told them to go into some line of work that isn't physical.
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That is exactly what happened to my dad. He did very heavy physical labor his whole entire life. In later years he had back and hip problems among many other ailments.
A few years before he died he told me he thought because he did such physical labor he would be in better condition in his retirement years.

On the other hand he loved his job and would have been extremely unhappy stuck behind a desk. These days physical labor isn't quite as hard as it was in my dads day. There are much more helpful tools and equipment to help get the job done eliminating heavy lifting and stress on the body.

I worry about my son who has his own cabinetry business. He can't find help and usually ends up dragging heavy cabinets, entertainment centers etc, up the stairs himself for installation.
When I mention it he admits this is a problem but he wouldn't be happy doing anything else.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
That is exactly what happened to my dad. He did very heavy physical labor his whole entire life. In later years he had back and hip problems among many other ailments.
A few years before he died he told me he thought because he did such physical labor he would be in better condition in his retirement years.

On the other hand he loved his job and would have been extremely unhappy stuck behind a desk. These days physical labor isn't quite as hard as it was in my dads day. There are much more helpful tools and equipment to help get the job done eliminating heavy lifting and stress on the body.

I worry about my son who has his own cabinetry business. He can't find help and usually ends up dragging heavy cabinets, entertainment centers etc, up the stairs himself for installation.
When I mention it he admits this is a problem but he wouldn't be happy doing anything else.
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I know, some people just are happier doing physical/outdoorsy/working with animals type things, but like the writer (I think it was either Susan Jacoby or Barbara Ehrenreich) said, she would've told her kids to do the stuff they loved and were happy doing on weekends and on vacations but learn how to endure and make $$ at something not so physical, that it's not fair but that's the way (here in the U.S. anyway) it is unless you won't mind living in your car and eating out of garbage cans in your old age.
 
officerripley said:
I've been trying for a coupla days to find the source, but no luck yet. Anyway, here it is, I read a few years back that the best way that you can assure that your senior years are good financially is to go into a line of work where you can keep working 'till you die, i.e. a line of work that is mostly sedentary but uses your brain, such as an accountant, writer (a successful one, of course), teacher, preacher, librarian, attorney, computer coder, etc. Because no matter how well you try to keep in physical shape (exercise, diet, never touch cigarettes or alcohol or sugar or salt), if your job is a very physical one, your joints are going to wear out, be affected by regular arthritis, etc. and make it too hard to keep working at too young an age. The writer said that this isn't of course fair because some people would rather do a physical job, they enjoy being outdoors all the time or whatever but that unfortunately, the way things are and will continue to worsen is that most elderly won't be able to afford to live on their retirement and social security and from a financial standpoint have to keep working. The writer even said that if she had had children and knowing what she knows now, she would've told them to go into some line of work that isn't physical.
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Wondering, if anyone bought insurance when younger and cash it out now, see commercial for that.
 
I'm gradually having myself rebuilt and overhauled. New lenses in both eyes, heel spurs removed and new metal components in both heels, new left hip, various new dental metal/ceramic thingies in my mouth, electronic gizmos that plug into my ears.......the list goes on. Now if I could only get a new brain to replace my WWII model.
 
Llynn said:
I'm gradually having myself rebuilt and overhauled. New lenses in both eyes, heel spurs removed and new metal components in both heels, new left hip, various new dental metal/ceramic thingies in my mouth, electronic gizmos that plug into my ears.......the list goes on. Now if I could only get a new brain to replace my WWII model.
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I got a lot of stuff myself I'd love to get replaced. šŸ˜„ Trouble is, though, a lot of stuff neither Medicare nor our supplemental insurance will pay for, they keep pushing physical therapy instead, sigh.
 
Mitch86 said:
I'm 86 and must be the oldest here. I get my endorphins up every day by playing chess at Chess.com and Civilization VI at Epic Games. I also come here so I know I am not alone and others suffer just like me. Misery loves company.

Finally, I play this music over 8 hours each day to give me hope even though I know it's all mythology:

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXlEVp8uHTXWQWfqT5eInJUe3C2TgrB6v&feature=share
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So true and you are not that much older. Love music I enjoy playing chess game against the computer, manage to get to level three, it has ten levels.

The trick is to avoid dwelling on illnesses or end of life, keep busy and rest, get it or find nature to view makes our issues not that big.

Having plants is a bit of life around to care for. I also have small šŸ¦ birds .

https://images.app.goo.gl/YunbHBpjmew5QnJ97
 
Llynn said:
I'm gradually having myself rebuilt and overhauled. New lenses in both eyes, heel spurs removed and new metal components in both heels, new left hip, various new dental metal/ceramic thingies in my mouth, electronic gizmos that plug into my ears.......the list goes on. Now if I could only get a new brain to replace my WWII model.
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You are wonderful, with a brain that is still awesome.
 

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