In my daily work with seniors, I often see individuals who are in their nineties. Yet, right now I have three amazing clients who are over 100 years old! This is certainly not unusual, but a wonderful experience nonetheless. While the US has the most centenarians overall, when ranked per capita we don’t even crack the top ten. The top four places with the most centenarians are all island nations…
The problem: Cars have gotten infinitely safer with each passing decade and yet, more than 35,000 people die each year on American roads. Since most cars don’t crash themselves, the problem is not the vehicle, but the person behind the wheel. Driving a car is one of the most complex things a human can do. To do it effectively requires unwavering attention and the ability to make split second, sound decisions. Those decisions require eyes, ears, brain, hands and feet working in concert and at their optimum.
Did you know 25% of Baby Boomers have no children? Based on the most recent census count, that translates to nearly 19 million Americans. Additionally, 33% of Americans aged 45-62 are single.
For these two groups of people, proactive planning for aging is even more important than for those with children and spouses or partners. Not knowing who will help with decision-making, care, or other important age-related concerns often leads to no planning at all. This situation effects so many more people than we might think.
As the seniors in your life age, it is especially important for family members or legal representatives to keep a close eye on their finances.
The slow progression of dementia can manifest early on with poor judgment surrounding financial matters including allowing insurance policies to lapse, or forgetting to manage certain investments correctly. It can also become apparent in more obvious ways such as not paying bills on time or overpaying, or difficulty with simple math, and struggling to pay at a check-out counter. Older adults are also vulnerable to financial abuse and scams and should be reminded of red-flags.
It was fantastic news when vaccines to protect against Covid-19 were developed in record time. Being highly-effective made the announcements even more welcoming. We are all in debt to the scientists and researchers who worked tirelessly to find the solutions. Creating the vaccines should have been the hard part.
The global pandemic has affected us all, in ways both big and small. Among all the disruptions, no group has been more impacted than our seniors. Due to their increased vulnerability to the disease and the much higher mortality rates amongst older individuals, our elderly have become even more isolated in this strange time.
During the holiday season you might be thinking of bringing your elderly loved ones home for family celebrations. If they are active and living independently, then go right ahead. But if they are facing physical or mental challenges, there are some things to consider to make your visits with elders a success:
For many New Englanders, autumn is our favorite time of year. And for many seniors, even those with dementia, the sights and flavors of autumn can still bring joy…
As we get into our senior years, we become more isolated which can lead to loneliness, depression, and increased health risks which are all connected.