This is becoming more and more a struggle.  After more than 500 columns, my bucket is beginning to drop to dangerous levels.  I await inspiration, but increasingly I am met with exasperation.  I read profusely, searching for that rare tidbit of unique insight.  There are so many writers out there that trying to be one who [...]

Almost for as long as I can remember, there has been a pet or pets in our home. After I moved away from my parents and settled in my own home, they have always been house pets. They have been the kind who claim their space, declare their importance, nuzzle their way into your heart and take over much of the control and management of the household.

For Seniors, they are of particular worth. Companionship is, of course, principle among their qualities. Folk who have had pets discover the emptiness of loneliness when living without them. We live in a multi-generational area where there are many pets, mostly dogs, and where people take them for daily walks or runs or to specially

In recent days, our column focused on issues of death and dying. While an important and essential issue to review, it does not have to dominate a senior’s attention or focus. As we have pointed out, it is important to deal with and make decisions regarding both issues, it does not have to be a topic for daily discussion.

So, let’s move on. One of the important lessons in aging is not to put too much emphasis on subjects of health, disability, aches, pains and having a four page answer to the question, every time you are asked it, of “how are you?”

Health is important to seniors. Wellness is as well. But dwelling on aches and pains and unusual

We left each other yesterday after having reviewed three choices that are imminent in the lives of seniors. We addressed Long Term Care insurance, Moving into a Care Facility, and Estate Planning.

Today, we look at some other of the issues which require our attention.

*The first is Eliminating Stuff. This topic has been addressed before, but reminders never hurt. Accumulations are easy to acquire and keep and allow control over you. Before energy is dissipated or someone in the family is forced to the task, perhaps it would be wise to begin your own sorting and distributing. All of the things someone else would enjoy can now be theirs. All of the stuff that seemed once so important can be relegated to wherever would be appropriate. Then, when/if you choose to live elsewhere a major part of the tedious work will have been done. Congratulations, you are in charge again.

There is a whole series of choices to make in post retirement years. These are choices which need to be made before making them compromises and limits your choices. Today and Tomorrow we will deal with seven of those issues.

Examples are Long Term Care Insurance, Moving into a Care Facility, Working Out your Estate Plan, Eliminating Accumulated Stuff, Deciding where you can Live, Keeping Up with Annual Physicals, and Working out Issues which affect Mobility

After 40-plus years in the ministry, I have developed a sense of what I think should be considered at the time of death. And as a member of a large extended family, there are several instructions I want to leave with my family before I die. Some people cringe at the thought of having to deal with such matters, but deal with it we must. It is easy enough to say that I will leave all the particulars to my family after my death, after all I won’t be around to protest if I don’t like their choices. My 40-plus years suggest that is a major cop-out.

It seems to me that each individual has the right to cast his/her proxy about the matters related to his/her passing and the details that will surround whatever ceremony, if any, accompanies it.

Most seniors these days are in one of two camps. Either we are facing the variety of tough struggles in dealing with our own parents and their welfare, living accommodations, and safety or we are facing some of the decisions which are rearing their presence and importance in our own lives. In some cases, it can be that we are faced with both simultaneously.

During the period post 70, seniors find themselves dealing with increased demands for coping with care issues. It is not unusual for persons in their 70’s, and some in their 80’s, to find themselves working out care taking issues for their parents. The phenomenon of increasing longevity has presented a whole series of simultaneous issues affecting both parent and child.

In our family, we are blessed with a parent from either side who is now past 90. While, for the most part health is good and care is excellent, there are creeping signs of deterioration. Some have to do with

Falls are a number one fear for older persons. There is something about balance that seems to offer more and more of a challenge as age catches us unawares. The moral is: choose a safe living environment.

Steps, stepping stones, stairs, rugs, obstacles that are placed in a pathway, vision issues, when there appear to be less steps than one thought, all can impede your safety when making it from one place to another. Making your home a danger free zone will take some thought, planning and maybe renovation. Bath rooms are a must for ungrading safety. Hallways that are dark and often covered in throw rugs need to be examined. One step stairways out the back door, a step up in the garage all offer potential for a very dangerous fall.

When I grow up, my first and principle concern is to be a person of honor, integrity and grace. From all the descriptions I could list, these three are surely my top of the list ideals. There are many more. Try making your list to see what you come up with. I’ll bet that you can’t bring them down to three. I only do so because that was my goal in undertaking this column.

But, just think of all the ideals that you would like to squeeze into your own life before it is over. I would like to be respected, kind, generous, understanding, incisive, considerate, thoughtful. And when that list is exhausted and I’ve accomplished all of that I would like to go on to address things like: optimistic, courageous, principled, curious, and contented

Most indicators seem to be putting emphasis on frugality, spend thriftiness, conscientious awareness of economic conditions and downright stinginess. It is more than a little scary to read the daily downturns affecting the economy of our nation and world. If, like me, you are looking for an island paradise where the threats are not so grave, I wish you good luck. My search has only led to more despair and tightening of the belt.

One of the features of my daily routine is to review the goings on in our world via the Internet. It carries with it all kinds of good stuff, admittedly, but it also is overcome with all of the downsides of our financial, political, international and social interdependence. There are no longer any major easy solutions, answers or encouragements it would seem. I look for a Ben Franklin now and then to offer some of his simplistic counsel: “a