Kendall VanBlarcomCoping with the Emotions of Downsizing
Many older adults find themselves coping with the emotions of downsizing, these emotions may include anxiety, stress, and sadness. Take time to speak with a counselor and work through your emotions. Not so that you won’t feel the way do, but so you can understand why. Reasons You May Feel Sad Moving from a big house to a smaller house, an apartment, or into a relative’s home, can be a good solution for many older adults. Whether the shift is due to health concerns or financial constraints, know that a good decision can also come with feelings of sadness. Sometimes
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Carol MarakHow Technology is Disrupting Aging
A report by the Consumer Technology Association says the active aging industry which includes safety and smart-living technologies, health and remote care, and wellness and fitness technologies will triple over the next few years. It confirms that health and remote care lead the way. As boomers grow older, they gravitate to more activity, independence, and technology as the big disruptor allowing these goals. If you're an entrepreneur with tech development skills, here's your opportunity. Medicare Advantage Plan companies continue to sink revenue into technology as a big part of the puzzle of how they provide health care services that the
Continue readingIs Your Relationship Worth Saving?
Sometimes when one partner is rarely home it can be annoying or confusing for their mate, leading to one wondering if the relationship is worth saving. For example, if one partner spends most of their day caring children, there’s no personal time available to them, it’s all about taking care of the children. That partner looks anxiously at the clock, knowing that her significant other will be home before the children go to bed, and she can get some relief. Yet, for the partner who has spent 8-12 hours working at outside of the home, they are likely ready to
Continue readingDealing with Loneliness
Seniors face many challenges, they have financial constraints, difficulty finding work, have problems driving and getting around, deal with chronic illnesses, and if those weren't enough, so many older adults suffer from loneliness. For the issue of being alone and lonely--do we have more control of feeling isolated than we want to admit? In the elder orphan Facebook group, I hear some members say they are very lonely -- while others admit to being alone but rarely lonely. Dealing with Loneliness Even for me, where I live (in a highrise surrounded by close neighbors,) I experience few residents who never make
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Richard BitnerWhy Family Relationships are Important for Seniors
Family relationships are important at every stage of life. But they’re important for different reasons at different ages. As we grow older, our circumstances change and the things we need from our family change with them. Strong family relationships give seniors a much-needed support system as age makes them increasingly vulnerable. These relationships are often essential to seniors’ emotional and mental well-being. They’re also associated with positive health outcomes, meaning a strong relationship with family can literally extend a senior’s life. Why Family Relationships are Important for Seniors How Seniors Benefit from Family Relationships Aging comes with a number of unique
Continue readingThis Is Why Aging Alone Is Harder And How We Adapt
The lifestyle and concept of aging alone is not new, but in the U.S. more people experience aging at home without the support of family nearby (2010 Census.) In the rural area where I grew up, the older generations never worried about being left alone without help. Families saw to it that older members had a place to live, food on the table, received help with daily living, and a bed. Our elders shared in social activities and never felt left out. Even the local township and churches actively participated in caring for elders when they were alone. It gave
Continue readingHow to Celebrate Your Birthday When Alone
If you're one of the 30 percent of older adults living alone in the U.S., then you might be one who celebrates a birthday solo style. Many of members in the Elder Orphan Facebook group find themselves all alone on special events and even their birthday. Some members have no family at all, while others do have adult children who live at a distance. For the most part, rarely do individuals expect to be alone on such occasions. How to Celebrate Your Birthday When Alone Celebrating a special day alone doesn't sound appealing, but if you do find yourself all alone,
Continue readingHealth Benefits of Social Media for Seniors
When you think of social media, I doubt you picture grandma tapping away on her smartphone.You would be surprised by the benefits of social media for seniors. Just three years ago the number of social media users over the age of 65 was thought to be under 10%. Now, that number seems to be on the rise according to recent studies. The reasons for the recent rise in the popularity of social media with this generation is still up for debate. Some people speculate that it could be due to the unexpected health benefits older social media users are experiencing. With this in
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Guest BloggerHow to Cope with Empty Nest Syndrome
Well, here you are: The last kiddo has left home and you’re feeling pretty blue. Maybe you’re worrying all the time. You’re probably a little lonesome (or a lot). You may feel like it, but you are not alone. The Empty Nest Is Actually Full—of Emotions According to GoodTherapy.org, empty nesters may experience insomnia, anxiety and/or panic—as well as feelings of extreme grief, isolation/loneliness, guilt and purposelessness. They may even lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Psychology Today notes that “...parents often struggle with a profound sense of loss, not just because they miss their child, but because their very identities have
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