Sixty-year-old Ester Kurz does a lot of things, but taking prescribed medicine isn’t one of them. While most people her age take a pill for one thing or another, Kurz, from Baltimore, self-prescribes exercise for healthy aging.

She says “while most people take a pill”, I would even go further.  Most people take multiple pills.  Just look at the evening news, it’s inundated with ads for drugs of one kind or another.  Ever take the time to listen to all the side effects and the disclaimers.  You’d have to be crazy to take most of that stuff.  We are so conditioned that there is a pill for everything.

[...] “I have had almost no injuries and very few aches and pains other than when I push myself too hard,” Kurz says. [...]

[...] Firmly in the second half of her life, Kurz is certain she has never been healthier or felt stronger. Life Time Fitness is part of her health aging program, but the facilities, programming and events cater to all ages and abilities, from those new to an exercise routine to those who are emphatic believers in exercise as good medicine, like Kurz. [...]

Read Original Article: Exercise For Healthy Aging

Suzanne Somers has a new book out called Bombshell – Explosive Medical Secrets That Will Redefine Aging.  If you haven’t read any of Suzanne’s books, you need to. She has had her medical challenges, but her books are goldmines of information.  There’s other ways to be healthy without taking pills.

You can read the first chapter for free by clicking on either of the book covers below.  See if Suzanne’s books are for you.  She’s an expert on healthy aging.

Hardcover

Kindle

Maybe you aren’t this way, but as I’m learning, you are crazy if you aren’t taking advantage of senior discounts.  I didn’t realize how many of these discounts are available. Here’s a couple of discounts I have been missing out on, Village Inn,  and Jiffy Lube.  Recently had a hot water heater replaced and when talking to the installer, something came up that let him figure out I was a senior.  He said, “Oh, we have a 10% senior discount for you!”.  Don’t know about you but $80 sounded good to me.

Look what Gift Card Granny says:

Despite what those “age defying” wrinkle creams might tell you, getting older needn’t be a negative. Grandchildren, social security checks and lots of awesome mail from the AARP are all perks of our “golden years.” Plus you can nod off at any family gathering you choose, and nobody will wake you up! But perhaps the biggest bonus of all for frugal seniors like Gift Card Granny is an onslaught of discounts for everything from groceries and clothing to travel and, of course, restaurants. (And no, not just for the early bird special.)

Additional Reading:

• Where To Find The Best Senior Discounts
• SeniorDiscounts
• Senior Citizens Discounts

Matchmaker dating online was a whole new ballgame for me. As a widowed senior, it felt strange to go online and search for a new mate. Having hundreds of single suitors at my fingertips was a far cry from the dating scene of my youth, when young women were courted by flesh and bone young men. Still, I was lonely and determined to give it a fair shot. To my surprise, I enjoyed several dates with a variety of people I would never have met without the help of online dating websites.

Companionship is something everyone desires. Being a senior citizen does not diminish this want. Although opportunities still exist to meet potential suitors in the real world, the convenience of online dating is nothing short of fantastic. The benefits of online dating include safety, security, and the opportunity to read a profile before deciding to contact a potential mate.

Online dating takes a bit of internet know-how, but is in no way prohibitive for those who are not tech-savvy. A standard computer and a basic internet connection are the only hardware required, and the navigation of an online dating site can be easily learned in a day. Many senior centers and community colleges offer internet and email classes. These may be beneficial if you are hesitant about your computer skills.

Although there are online dating sites specifically tailored to seniors, I have had great results on some of the more popular mainstream dating sites. You will be instructed to complete a detailed profile for yourself. This will generally consist of your likes and dislikes, what you are searching for in a potential mate, and any other life details you would like others to see. After your profile is complete, you will be able to see “matches.” These are the profiles of others with qualities you may find attractive.

Online dating sites are generally very safe if you abide by a few common sense rules. I make it a point never to reveal personal information about myself online. If you choose to go on a date with a match, be sure the first meeting is in a well lit, public place. Use your best instincts. Do not let good manners get in the way of a bad feeling. Senior matchmaker dating is growing in popularity, and it doesn’t hurt to give it a shot. I did, and I couldn’t be happier!

This was a guest post – Author requested name withheld

Elder abuse can consist of bullying too.  Seems like bullying has been making a lot of headlines lately.

First, what is elder abuse?  It can mean different things.  As explained  in fnnc.org,

Abuse rendered on a senior citizen can include: physical, psychological, neglect or financial exploitation. Abuse can also include self-neglect, a person that does not take care of himself properly. Although physical abuse may be readily detectable by bruises, scars, broken bones, or cuts, the other forms of abuse may be harder to detect and harder to cure.

Senior-to-senior bullying can take place in senior centers, assisted living centers and nursing homes.  But how can you tell when this is happening to your loved one?  Again this article says…

If the senior is suddenly acting differently — pay close attention. Some other things to look for:

• Withdrawn
• Depressed
• Overly medicated
• Unexplained bruises and broken bones
• Never any money
• Overly protective child
• Fearful of child
• Verbalizes abusive situations
• Never leaving the home in which they live

Lauren Searson  in a different article goes further to explain

[...] It is estimated that 10-20% of seniors have experienced some type of senior-to-senior aggression in an institutional setting, much of it verbal abuse. Men and women are equally likely to be the victim and the aggressor. Women tend towards passive-aggressive behavior like gossiping and whispering about people when they enter a room, while men are more direct and “in your face”. [...]

]…] Features to be alert to include the following:

-Repetitive, negative behavior towards another person which violates standards of appropriate conduct
-Negative behavior occurring over a period of time, typically becoming more extreme
-Behavior which may be consciously or unconsciously committed by the bully
-Behavior which is unsolicited by the victim
-The effects on the victim are lasting and harmful [...]

Read complete article here – Senior Bullying

 Elder Abuse Video – Break The Silence

This is an eye opening video that gives some insight on the subject.  While this video was made in 2009, it still applies today.

So what now?  Well first of all be aware of senior bullying or elder abuse.  Keep your eyes open and pay attention to the warning signs listed in this post.  The first step is to identify if it is happening.  If you have any suspicions at all, take action.

If know or have suspicions, go to National Center on Elder Abuse.  There you will find State Directories of Helplines, Hotlines and Elder Abuse Prevention Resources.

Further Reading:

• National Center on Elder Abuse
• Senior Bullying
• Senior Abuse

If you found this post helpful, please share with other senior citizens, families of senior citizens and senior caregivers.

If you are a senior citizen and are looking for a computer for senior citizens, then read on.  If you don’t know how to use a computer, there are some obstacles to overcome.  As pointed out in this article,

But the most interesting thing I learned was that older people – those born before 1950, primarily – learn technology differently from those of us who have more or less grown up with computers. As an older population, they also have different physical issues; and as a completely different generation, they have very different learning styles.

Issues For Senior Citizens To Learn Computers

There are some very important issues that you must be aware of and address.  as discussed in the article, they are:

• Lack of technological background
• Mobility – arthritic hands
• Difference in learning style
• Senility and mental acuity problems
• Vision
• Resistance to learning new things

What kind of computer should you use?  The author of the referenced article states:

If you’re teaching older people in the US, always use Microsoft products. That’s not because Microsoft is better – it’s not – but rather because most of what they will get out of the box on a computer or run into at the library will be Microsoft. (Outside the US, visit a library to see what’s most commonly used in your locality – Linux and Corel are more common as close as Canada.)

I’m afraid I have to take issue with her there, but then again the article was written in 2007 and a lot of things have changed since then.  I began using computers and always used Microsoft products.  I was always against Apple Macintosh, I don’t know why.  Sometimes what you don’t know can hurt you.

Several years ago I got an Apple iPhone and that began my conversion.  I liked it so well I bought a used Mac laptop.  So my personal preference would be a Mac because they are so easy to use.

That being said, things are moving rapidly.  Now there are a plethora of tablets, iPads, small laptops and smart phones.

What it boils down to is what are you the senior citizen going to be doing with the computer? Only reading and sending emails?  Maybe you just want to use Facebook with your family.  Maybe they just want to be able to receive digital pictures from their kids and grand kids.

So figure out what they want.  They don’t necessarily need to be able to use Word and Excel, know how to cut and paste and all that techie stuff.  Keep it easy for them.

And if you are a senior citizen reading this post, same goes for you.  What do you really want from your computer?  What will you be using it for?  Get with someone that can guide you.  Let them show you what is available, and what the different computers, tablets and iPads can do.  Then you decide on the route to take to get a computer for senior citizens.

Read original article: Teaching Senior Citizens About Computers

Additional Reading:

Kiwi PC – The Perfect Computer for Senior Citizens

If you are planning to take a single senior cruise,  you need to carefully look into it. You will find there is a method to traveling alone. Make your experience a happy one by considering some of the following ideas presented below.

So you are a single senior and are contemplating taking a cruise on your own. First, what are some of your reasons? Are you planning to cruise alone to get away from people? Are you a loner and want to be alone? Do you just want to travel and don’t really want to make new friends? Maybe you are outgoing and want to meet some new friends and therefore want to socialize.

Large cruise ships have thousands of guests and finding solo passengers is more difficult. Even if you meet them while on a shore visit, it can be difficult to reunite with them when back on the cruise ship.

On the other hand, smaller cruise ships can make it easier to make friends with fellow solo travelers. Small ships are more social and you will find yourself seeing the same people over and over again.

So before deciding if a cruise is for you, take some time and figure out what you want from your cruise. Do you want to make some new friends or do you want to be left alone and enjoy your thoughts and take pictures. Remember big ships more anonymity, small ships more social interaction. Keep in mind, smaller ships are more expensive and have more older travelers.

Another problem if you are traveling alone is that accommodations for single travelers is limited. There are fewer cabins for singles. Most newer ships feature cabins for two. There are fewer single cabins and as might be expected, they are more expensive.

This brings up a new term you will run see, “single supplement”, which is a fancy way of saying you will be paying more if you book a cabin for two but occupying it as a single. This fee can be anywhere from 10 percent of the fare to 100 percent, or in other words you are paying the same price as a couple.

One of the ways you might be able to get around this is be flexible. If you can be very flexible on when you take your cruise and can pick up and go at a moments notice, some cruise ship lines will offer solo discounts at the last minute. Always check with your agent for any last minute solo deals.

You might consider sharing a cabin. Some cruise lines offer roommate matching. While there are fewer lines offering this service, you might check into it. They will attempt to pair you with a fellow traveller of the same sex. If this works out, you won’t have to pay the dreaded “supplement”. There are travel related message boards that are used to help match up traveller looking to share expenses.

To summarize, you can have a fun, eventful, single senior  cruise by traveling alone, but it requires some planning. Take your time and look into it.

Safe Senior Single Dating

Losing a mate is a difficult loss to adjust to as you know, but adjusting to the task of looking for another mate or just companionship is also difficult. It can be a bit risky, and I need to put that out up front. However, I can show you how to avoid or minimize the risks arising from attempts to swindle you, and I can show you how to minimize the risks of heartbreak.

Seniors who are alone for the first time in many years find the loneliness to be very painful, and their attempts to escape this pain is often based on clouded judgment. So, how do we form the right mental attitude and develop the best judgment?

Start with a mental exercise in which you work through the process of deciding what kind of person you want to meet. Avoid the natural temptation to describe your former mate. There was only one of them and you will not find another, and probably won’t even come close.

This is good though, because you do not want to try creating your former mate out of another person. It may be a good idea to discuss your ideas with a close friend and see if they think you are being reasonable. Don’t be afraid to talk with a professional counselor about your thoughts.

Now you can start searching the web for dating sites, but be careful to check out the legitimacy of the sites. Once you have found an appealing person, they will have listed information on how to contact them. It may be a meeting in a coffee shop, or it may be a phone chat. I recommend a throw-away phone for making these calls. You can usually tell within 15 minutes if the person is serious about a relationship or more serious about your resources.

I would spend some time talking with them on the phone before meeting them. Discuss yourself, your job, hobbies, and things you enjoy doing, but avoid discussing money. If they keep coming back to money and resources, end the call.

Often, introductory conversations begin by email so it is best that you learn that process. Most online dating begins with email; not all, but most. It is always a good idea to have a recent photo taken when you are dressed nicely, and have that available to attach to an email. Friends can show you how to do this.

My general advice is do not let your heart rule your mind.