If you live with someone who is experiencing mind challenging issues, i.e. forgetfulness, it becomes a big time adjustment to exercise patience, demonstrate calm compassion, recognize the cognitive reality in which your loved one exists and to create as normal an environment as possible.

Discovering the decline in my father’s in law memory has enabled me to raise my sensitivity level when in conversation and things go south. During an hour’s or so visit, it is not uncommon to be in a situation to repeat several times over what has been said before, what is being referenced at the moment, what everyone else understood, but one of the number didn’t, couldn’t comprehend at all.

Another review necessary in the shaky times we experience is evaluating our estate, its size, legal issues, and intentions as we increase in age. Those who have consulted appropriate legal and accountant advice will know what their options are. Depending upon age, health, number of persons in the family, wishes for charitable contributions, the process can be quick and quite simple. The more complicated the estate, of course, the more complex the need for advice.

Dispositions regarding real estate and investments require careful perusal. Depending upon the distribution, these assets will likely amount to the largest part of an estate. Trusts are often arranged for to equitably divide the resources among family, charitable institutions, even friends, but will need to be specific and trustee(s) arranged for.

The swine flu pandemic was officially announced early last June (2009) by WHO, the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.  Here are the basic questions most senior citizens are asking, and the simple-to-understand answers: What is Swine Flu? This flu is one of many varieties of flu that have crossed the globe over the past [...]

Unfortunately, Senior Citizen Journal has no way to track the age of those who visit here. Eventually, those who are baby boomers will need to examine their goals after 70. Others of us, already there, need to do so with some frequency, perhaps annually. Our situations, covering every aspect of our lives, change year by year. Necessity suggests that goals set for ourselves just a year or so ago may no longer apply. Both because there are factors beyond our control and influences we did not predict, we are met with reevaluation.

The financial tsunami through which we are passing has beset many with great and frightening financial set backs. Congress continues to hassle over the outcome of health insurance, its shape and implications for everyone. The escalating debt and loss of the value of the dollar has its own impact on our individual economics. Unemployment has struck many, far too many. Younger and older are the victims of major

With increasing numbers of airlines looking for more and more ways to create discomfort for the flyer, the senior has to be on the look out for any methods which may eliminate hassle .

Travel has long been one of the most sought after forms of pleasure for the senior. unless you are in a position to travel First or Business Class, you, like most of us,will undergo increasing inconvenience as we ready to board a plane. New fees for everything from luggage to pillows have been attached to the traveler. The science of going through security, getting your seat and an overhead bin almost requires running a marathon. If you are unfortunate enough to get a middle seat, good luck on the rest of the trip. Delays and even unanticipated last minute cancellations have become as frequent as frequent flyers.

Recent numbers out on the effects of dementia on the American and global population leave one with pause and reflection. According to the projections, by 2010, there will be 35.6 million dementia victims in the United States. That figure is made more graphic when you consider that that means one in eight persons over 65 will be affected and a frightening one in two for persons over 85. This is tsunami of a serious condition which debilitates and renders victims almost helpless.

Care needs will burgeon. Already in numerous communties, there are what is now labeled as Memory Care Centers, which is a means for housing and caring for persons whose inability to be cared for privately will require 24/7 attention in a facility with staff, housing and other essential care.

It is not an encouraging picture. The limits of capable staff already create major voids in adequate care for persons who are constantly unpredictable in their needs. Lack of oversight can create major problems necessitating immediate attention. If

An octogenerian was asked by a reporter, “to what he attributed his old age.” His reply: “to having been born so long ago.”

Ah, were it so simple. Yet, I posed the same question to my 90 year old mother the other day and her answer was as profound, “I really don’t know.” My father in law who is 94, professes that hard work, a good life, a good home and his four daughters have been his influences.

So from where does the influence come of being able to not only sustain life for so many years, but to have one that is worth “hanging around” for?

Conflict is about as regular as the monthly electric bill, changing the oil in your car, or getting up the courage to mow the lawn. It is one of those things that slip into our lives, often without permission and expectation, but shows up anyway. It isn’t fun. It serves usually a very limited, if any, purpose. It creates hurt and heartache. It is as mean as the neighbor’s dog or cat. It is usually loud and rude. Some are less overwhelming than others. Some lack drama, others have too much.

So, what is it that is characterized in your life that ends up creating the most tension for you? What needs to be done to head it off? When do maturity and good judgment replace emotional tirades? What about the relationship seems to prompt tension? When does it seem to occur most? Have you sought intervention on the part of someone who may be able to deal with you and it objectively?

Inevitably, as you age, move, change lifestyles, kick out the kids, experience a death or divorce it will be necessary to eliminate stuff. Not necessarily a happy thought, but a real one. Stuff has a way of worming its way into our lives. Sometimes it even feels like it has taken over. For those who rent storage units, it very well may already be in charge of your life.

Stuff comes in several definitions: “Stuff I will need someday.” “Stuff that I just can’t let go of yet.” “Stuff we are keeping for the kids.” “Stuff from my side of the family.” “Stuff and collections that are valuable.” “Stuff she won’t get rid of.” “Stuff he won’t part with.” And so it goes.

Every shift and change that occurs in a person’s life brings unpredictability. Because we change not only physically, but emotionally and intellectually, we need to be aware of how those changes affect interaction among members of our own family.

It begins to become most clear when, if there are children in the family, some challenges to authority, to insight and discipline are made by the child with his/her parent. That experience sees considerable repetition, until one day, the child usually, and sometimes the parent, recognizes there has been another change.

At whatever period one finds these experiences occurring, there are often exclamations, angers, outbursts, regretful acts