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Health Tips

3 Super Useful Summer Tips for Seniors

by My Senior Health Plan
written by My Senior Health Plan

Summer tips for seniors can be a practical reminder for staying safe, healthy, and happy as the temperatures soar. Whether you like to stay active, enjoy local tourist activities, or take a road trip, the following tips will help you enjoy the hotter months.

1. Hydrate (with personalized flavors)

You’ve probably heard this before: During the summer months, make sure you drink extra water. It’s sound advice, as the human body must stay hydrated to stay healthy. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already in a state of dehydration.

Your fluid intake does not have to be extreme—just consistent. People often forget to take in fluids throughout the day while some don’t care for the taste of water.

You can create a simple plan for the type of fluids to take in and when. For example, decide how you like to drink water. Room temperature or cold? Whatever your personal preference, take some time to set up your water source (e.g., bottled water in the fridge or a filter pitcher on the counter).

Need a little flavor? Try adding a slice of lemon or cucumber or a few mint leaves to give your water a flavor lift.

Cold-brewed caffeine-free teas (such as lemongrass, peppermint, and ginger) will make water appealing and delicious. Drop a couple of tea bags in a pitcher of room-temperature or cold water and put it in the fridge overnight. By morning, you’ll have a refreshing beverage to enjoy throughout the day.

2. Stay indoors during the hottest hours (Mediterranean-style)

There are times of the day during summer when it’s better (and safer) to get away from the searing sun and high temperatures by staying indoors.

For Italians living in the Mediterranean region (e.g., Sardinia and Sicily), riposo (the middle-of-the-day hours spent at home) is a way to beat the summer heat!

People get up early to take care of errands and food preparation. Late morning to early afternoon, shops close, and everyone heads indoors to eat and relax where it’s cool and comfortable. As the sun lowers, people start moving about again, rested, and ready for the evening.

It may take a little planning, but creating your own riposo during the summer months will get you through the hottest hours of the day—safely. Additionally, you can enjoy a routine of working (and playing) in the cooler hours while relaxing indoors as temperatures soar.

3. Make your road trip safe, comfortable, and fun

If you’re looking to make a road trip during the summer months, you can set up your vehicle for safety, comfort, and fun.

Safety: Your car will work harder during the higher summer temperatures. Therefore, before you take to the open road, make sure your vehicle is in top working condition (that may include having your car serviced). Before you hit the road:

Check all your car’s fluids: Top up your engine coolant and motor oil, as well as transmission, power steering, and brake fluids.

Inspect tires: replace worn tires and check tire pressure levels.

Test your car’s air conditioning: Efficient air conditioning is essential for summer driving. Have a certified mechanic check the refrigerant levels to ensure you stay cool throughout your travels.

Update your car emergency kit: Even a well-maintained vehicle can experience problems. Ensure you have everything you need in the event of a breakdown: jumper cables, a working flashlight, and road flares or emergency warning triangles (and plenty of bottled water should you have to wait for assistance).

Comfort: You’ll spend many hours in your car. Create a plan for what you will need to keep you comfortable. Pack a small cooler with drinks and healthy snacks. Also, you can put heat-sensitive items in a cooler (with cold packs). During times when the car is parked, your sunscreen, lotions, lip balm, and medications will be cool and protected.

Additionally, make sure you have easy access to essential items. For example, keep your water bottle within reach. Before you leave, make sure it fits the cup holder securely (it shouldn’t wobble and be easy to remove and replace).

Fun: Load your smartphone with your favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Depending on where you’re traveling, you may experience service interruptions (e.g., through mountain ranges or sparsely populated areas). Download what you’ll need before you leave.

Alternatively, if you use your car’s CD player for entertainment, you can stock up on music and audiobooks from your local library.

Whether using a smartphone or CD player, test the sound and system’s functions before you start driving.

Summer tips for seniors matter

The hotter months and higher temperatures can be a challenge at any age. However, older populations tend to be at greater risk for heat-related health complications. With some simple precautions, you can enjoy all the fantastic social and travel opportunities that summer brings.

The long summer days create the opportunity to revisit and assess your retirement strategy.

MySeniorHealthPlan.com’s Retirement Specialist Aaron can help you design or adjust your retirement plans.

Schedule a FREE consultation today!

 

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Senior woman talking on phone
Seniors & Covid

10+ Ways to Connect and Care During COVID-19

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

As our elders stay inside their homes, their apartments and their residential communities, we search for ways to connect with them as well as to make their lives and their care better. Here are 10+ ways to connect and care for your elders during this unprecedented time.

Some are simple, but simple works right now.

Engage with Them:

  • Send a note or card in the mail. Include a photo, a drawing, or news clipping that you want to share. Elders love getting snail mail.
  • Ask them to write you a story that they’ve never told you before.
  • If your elder has FaceTime or their community has a tablet that they are using for family connections, use this means to have some virtual face-to-face time.
  • Set up a daily or weekly chat time. Stick to it.
  • Send them magazines, puzzles, books, craft supplies. You can order online and have them delivered.
  • Some floral companies are doing contact-free deliveries. Order balloons or flowers to brighten your elder’s day. Springtime is great for blooming plants.
  • Send your elder a box of blank cards and a book of stamps. They can use them to write to loved ones and friends. Send addresses or suggestions so they don’t have to search.
  • Offer to do their spring yard work. You can visit from a distance that way.
  • If you live nearby, order food delivery for them and the same one for you. Then call them while you enjoy the same meal.

Make Sure Your Elders Are Getting Consistently Good Care:

  • Check to see if your elder’s doctor or care provider is offering telehealth visits. Sign your elder up for telehealth instead of their next in-person visit, if appropriate.
  • Set up a Care Conference with your elder’s care providers via video or phone. Ask about physical, cognitive and mental health.
  • If your elder lives in a care community or retirement community, call the Activities Director and ask if you can order or send something for their residents to enjoy. Trivia books to use? Puzzle books? Individual crafts?
  • Now is a great time to set up mail order Rx deliveries for maintenance meds. If your elder is using a retail pharmacy, set up delivery with them (or move to a retail pharmacy that does do delivery).
  • Staff members at retirement and care communities are running ragged right now. Order delivery of meals, snacks or gift cards. Call and ask what they need.
  • Check with your local Area Agency on Aging to see what resources are available at low or no cost to assist your elder right now.

More than anything, find ways to stay connected. Isolation is not a good place for anyone, but especially not elders.

Stay well, friends. Know we’ll work our way through this time and find some very special connections along the way.

By Suzanne Blankenship at TheElderCareNavigator.com

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Senior woman standing alone at home
Healthy Living

How Online Support Can Help with Social Distancing

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Social distancing is when individuals maintain an increased physical distance from one another. It is used to help communities minimize contagious diseases by reducing the possibility of infection. This is important to our physical health.

The problem is maintaining one’s mental health while social distancing. Humans are social animals, so it feels unnatural to stay away from others. It can underscore feelings of loneliness.

Reach out for personal online support if you feel a lack of social connections is impacting your wellbeing.

Ways People Feel When Isolated

People are unique and they can have different emotional responses to social distancing. But, we are all human. There are common themes connecting how people feel during difficult times. Talking through these emotions with a professional can help to alleviate some of the emotional strain.

  • Anxiety. There can be a lot of fear around a situation that prompts social distancing. If an individual is worried about their health, and the health of loved ones and others in their community, it is natural for a person to have feelings of anxiousness or fear. The situation itself can create anxiety and then, too often, individuals find they have nobody to talk over their fears with.
  • Anger. When people feel a lack of control in their lives, it can lead to frustration and anger. These feelings can bubble up within a person. Then, they may find themselves lashing out at others, family members who call or a stranger at the grocery store. There are healthy ways to cope with irritability. Erupting at others can result in further isolation.
  • Depression. Daily routines can help people who suffer from depression. In many instances, social distancing disrupts those routines. For instance, if someone finds joy from regular breakfast outings with friends, they might find that as they stay home dark feelings grow. Shedding light on these feelings with online support can be helpful.

How to Cope with Social Distancing

Recognize you are not alone, many feel unsettled by social distancing. Once you acknowledge the problem you can seek solutions, from phone calls to online chats.

When you connect with an online counselor, you can find healing through conversation. They can also help you discover ways to improve your life throughout a period of social distance. Suggestions could including breathing exercises or activities such as keeping a gratitude journal or fostering a hobby to boost your mood.

Be kind to yourself and others. Recognize things that are exacerbating any personal stresses. For example, managing the amount of news you watch or read can be helpful. Yes, it can be beneficial to stay informed, but obsessively loading news websites or watching television news channels continually can lead to fearful feelings.

Some people are more prone to having problems with social distancing. This could include individuals who have experienced past trauma or people who have had issues with loneliness in their past.

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Seniors & Covid

How to Help Seniors in the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

COVID-19, coronavirus, plain old ‘corona’ – whatever you want to call it, it’s a pandemic with serious ramifications. However, there is already a lot of misinformation out there – good-natured or otherwise – spanning topics ranging from kitchen remedies to home testing.

As you may have heard, older adults are among the groups most at-risk of both catching the virus, and suffering fatally. That’s why we’ve written this article about the best ways to help them.

With all these suggestions and instructions flying around, it can be hard to get a grip on the best course of action. That’s why we’re giving you a crash course on the best things to do to help older people, or those with otherwise compromised immune systems. These tips have less to do with the disease, and more with the conditions of quarantine.

Clear Living

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senior sportswoman exercising and doing lunges on lawn in park
Exercise & Fitness

Physiotherapy For Elders: 7 Powerful Balance Exercises For Seniors

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Increasing balance and developing strength are two things that we should all be concerned about. However, we are many times too busy to consider including these activities into our schedules. As time passes, we realize that we need to be strong to take care of our own bodies and – well, health. To avoid injury, we need to feel confident when walking and be used to working out regularly. This is why we developed a list of seven powerful balance exercises for seniors. Check them out and let’s talk about it!

  1. Walking heel to toe

If you’re wondering how ‘walking heel to toe’ might improve your balance, here’s the answer. It will make your legs stronger and then, your chances are falling won’t be as high anymore. I know you might think that falling is not an option, but in case that happens, you need to be prepared. Here’s how you’ll do it.

Your right foot steps in front of your left foot. When they touch, the heel of your right foot must be touched by the top of your left foot. Then, the opposite thing follows. The heel of your left foot must touch the top of the right foot, and so on. This helps you improve your balance and keeps you in shape. Repeat for at least 15 steps per day.

  1. Rocking the boat

To rock the boat right and help you improve your balance, here’s what you have to do. Stand with both feet looking in the same direction. The space between your feet must be as wide as your hips, don’t forget that. Now level up your head and look up front. Place your entire body weight on the left foot and keep it there for 30 seconds or less. Slowly switch your weight to your right foot and keep it there for 30 seconds or less again. Repeat at least six times per day, recommends assignment help coordinator and former physical therapist, John Butler.

  1. Back or side leg raises

This will give you back the strength you need to start performing even more challenging exercises. Here’s what you have to do. For the back leg raise, use a chair and stand right behind it. Lift your left leg back up without bending or pointing any of your toes. Hold this for about 2-3 seconds and then, switch to your leg. Lift your right leg up, etc. Repeat 10 times per leg. This exercise will strengthen your lower back muscles and bottom.

For your side leg raises, lift your legs sideways instead of backways. Use the chair to help you stay balanced. Repeat at least 15 times per leg. This exercise is mostly for balance, but it might also help you strengthen your side muscles.

  1. Wall sits

Having worked for an assignment help company for so long, my sciatica couldn’t function properly anymore. I sat down way too much completing all the work that I was assigned. This is when I discovered that wall pushups can really strengthen your legs and diminish sciatica pain. Wall sits are the way to go. Get yourself a fitness ball and push it all the way to the wall. Now slowly sit on it. As soon as you touch it, get back up, normal position, feet in hip-width position. Repeat at least 15 times.

  1. Hands and fingers

You must also improve your flexibility! Here’s what follows. You don’t have to stand up; simply pretend that there is a wall right in front of you and start wiggling your fingers. Keep going for 30 seconds. Next, touch your right hand with your left hand behind your back. Stretch for 5-10 seconds, then bring them back to normal position.

  1. Your regular calf stretches

Another good strengthening exercise is the calf stretch. Find a clear wall, face it, and then place both of your hands at eye level. Your right leg goes behind your left leg and your heel stays on the floor. Your left knee bends. Stretch like this for about 15-30 seconds per leg.

  1. Marching in place

Balance is one of the benefits of the marching in place exercise. Stand upright and lift one of your knees high. Then slowly lower it and slowly start lifting the other leg. Lift and lower, lift and lower, lift and lower at least 20-30 times.

Wrapping Up

These exercises will help you stay in shape, take care of your body and overall health. Ensure that you stay strong and going. Good luck, you got this!

Author Bio:

Jennifer Holland is a professional essay writer with 3 years of experience who has been working for SuperiorPapers. While working for the best essay writer service, she writes about education, student life, and career development. She helps students get their dream job by offering them her excellent writing skills and knowledge.

 

 

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Cheerful seniors exercising on mats at park
Healthy Living

How to Increase Your Self-Motivation

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Motivation occurs under many circumstances, but when you experience natural inspiration as a result of energy from your spirit, that’s when you’ll feel exuberant and eager to willingly devote time to your interests. Self-motivation helps when you’re trying to lose weight, become more invested in a goal for your future, quit an addiction, or even something as simple as getting your chores done.

Boost Your Positive Thinking

When you’re driven by daily goals and routines, motivation can be challenging if it doesn’t come naturally. You need a positive mental outlook. Train yourself to avoid negative thinking. Also, create a list of reasons to pursue your goal.

Did you know that internal self-motivation is best developed in environments where external motivation is decreased? It’s one thing to motivate when someone else is cracking the whip and asking you to perform. It’s another thing to be internally motivated. Then, you are totally in charge of the outcome.

When I need to motivate myself to do something, it’s almost impossible when I am procrastinating or filling my time with long phone conversations or watching movies. Let’s take a look at a couple of hypothetical goals so that you can see how positive or negative self-motivation can assist you in achieving your objectives.

Suggestions for Improving Your Self-Motivation

An important aspect of self-motivation is allowing yourself to dream about your goal. At the beginning of any goal, motivation tends to feel painless. In fact, inspiration often strikes when you decide to do something positive toward reaching your goal. For example, I have always wanted to put a daily routine in place that would allow me to walk for fifteen minutes. That’s all…just fifteen minutes. It doesn’t sound that difficult, does it?

On the first day, I arose thirty minutes earlier than normal. The sun was just beginning to show on the horizon, and there I was, out the door wearing my sweats and a new pair of walking shoes.

On the second day, I was looking forward to my new routine, but about five minutes into my walk, it started raining. I turned around and ran home. I was disgusted and drenched, but content that my self-motivation was still intact. It was then that I decided to come up with an alternate plan in case rain threatened to sabotage my walking goals.

One key factor for increasing your self-motivation is focusing on the now. So, when a challenge meets you face to face, you won’t dwell on the past. You can come up with an alternate plan that will keep you on course. For me, that meant exercising in my home on rainy days. This keeps my daily activity goal intact.

Certainly, there are hundreds of ways to motivate yourself, and each method depends on the goal you’re going after, talking through your goals can help you pave the path to motivation.

 

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senior woman is using smartphone
Exercise & Fitness

7 Mind Stimulating Activities for Seniors

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Worried about your forgetfulness? If you’re a senior or you have elderly loved ones then this article is worth your time. Aging comes with a lot of challenges.

As people grow older, their bodily systems start to slow down, the brain declines gradually. Sometimes memory slips can be due to impaired memory or Alzheimer’s disease.

Fortunately, there is a way to work around memory slips associated with the normal aging process. In this article, you’re going to learn about seven mind-stimulating activities for elderly loved ones.

But before that, let’s understand a few things.

What happens to the brain during the aging process?

With normal aging, elderly people start to experience hearing loss that’s followed by the decline of vision. Their reflexes begin to slow and memories start to decline.

Studies have shown that the brain shrinks as we age. The shrinking of the brain impairs mental processing. Unfortunately, aging is inevitable.

Thankfully, you can improve or maintain brain power through simple mind-stimulating exercises- that we’re about to share with you here.

The idea is to do different brain-stimulating activities regularly.

Memory changes related to normal aging

  • Challenges learning something new. It takes longer to new information to memory.
  • Constantly forgetting where you left your things- car keys, glasses, etc.
  • Forgetting names of acquaintances or calling the wrong person the wrong name.
  • Getting into a room and forgetting why you entered.
  • Occasionally forgetting appointments.
  • Taking longer to retrieve the information you have.

 

Common brain changes associated with aging according to scientists include:

Neurotransmitter systems– Researchers suggest that as the brain ages, it produces fewer chemical messengers which leads to declining cognition and memory and increasing depression.

Brain mass– Shrinking of the areas responsible for higher cognition function and encoding of new memories- the hippocampus and frontal lobe.

White matter– Shrinking of myelin (nerve fibers that carry signals between brain cells) hence leading to slower mental processing and reduced cognitive function.

To slow down or prevent brain deterioration, researchers recommend the following mind-stimulating activities.

1. Word Games

Word games act as brainteasers. They arouse many parts of the brain which helps to improve memory, thinking patterns and processes as well as recall.

Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords are just a few effective word games for older adults.

Seniors who enjoyed word games in the past may still play them.

Of course, they may experience challenges with the advanced wordplay exercises, unlike in the past, but they can enjoy simpler ones.

A home caregiver can be a good companion when it comes to playing word games for seniors.

At-home caregivers can encourage seniors to complete crossword puzzles printed in daily newspapers or buy from stores.

These games are a fun way of engaging the brain.

2. Reading

Reading is also a brain-stimulating activity for seniors.

Encouraging your elderly loved ones to read books and magazines can help engage them and keep their brain active.

Aside from books and magazines, encouraging older adults to read articles on the web, daily newspapers, or an entertaining novel could not only help to keep them stay informed and entertained but also helps to improve their cognitive functions.

Reading encourages imagination and stimulates the brain to create images that match those on paper. This makes reading an entertaining and effective way to engage the brain and keep it active.

Some seniors enjoy reading children’s books as they are easier to read and comprehend.

3. Computer Games

Computer games are entertaining and fun. They are also effective when it comes to stimulating the brain.

While they are known for entertaining and keeping the younger generation busy, computer games are also effective activities for stimulating the mind of older adults.

The good news is that there are tons of computer games aimed at seniors on the internet- you can also buy them at your local computer shops.

4. Exercising

Regular physical exercise can help to prevent age-related mental decline.

The idea is that physical exercise improves brain activity by increasing the circulation of essential nutrients and oxygen to the entire body- including brain cells and nerve impulses.

The good news is that you don’t need to put your elderly loved ones through hard exercising.

Walking, yoga, or a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise of moderate intensity for at least 20 t0 30 minutes regularly can help to improve brain power, focus, and promote relaxation for seniors.

Some studies have shown that older people aged over 50 years who don’t engage in physical exercise experience a decline in memory and thinking capacity.

Researchers say that physical activity can help to slow brain aging by 10 years.

Dancing is also an effective brain-stimulating activity to slow down age-related memory decline.

5. Playing Musical Instrument

Playing a musical instrument could also help to delay age-related cognitive decline and retain listening skills for older adults.

The process of learning how to play a sound on a musical instrument alters brain waves in a way that improves listening and hearing skills for older people.

The change in brain activity shows that the brain renews itself to improve an individual’s ability to perform tasks.

Typically, the act of playing a musical instrument requires coordination of multiple brain elements- the perception, hearing, motor, and other brain systems.

6. Craft Projects and Hobbies

The act of creating something engages our hands and minds to manufacture something unique.

An activity of this nature helps to flex mental muscles as the brain is required to stay focused and engaged.

It could be simple art-focused crafts like building model railway sets.

The activity improves mental focus.

Hobbies like scrapbooking, stamp collecting, and many others also help to improve mental focus.

7. Gardening

Vitamin D deficiencies could impair neuroglial systems beneficial for the brain.

Gardening is an activity that involves spending time outdoors and could help seniors get fresh air and exposure to sunlight, a natural source of vitamin D.

You could accompany your elderly loved ones to plant a few seedlings in a container or weeding a flowerbed.

8. Board and Card Games

Board games are enjoyable and fun for most seniors. Playing board games involves engaging with other players which require thought and planning. Card games are also another effective brain-stimulating activity for seniors.

Playing simple card games such as Solitaire, Memory Match, and Poker can help to boost cognitive function in seniors.

They help to trigger parts of the brain responsible for rational problem-solving and memory retention.

Caregivers can play card games with seniors after dinner to sharpen their minds.

9. Learning a New Language

Our learning abilities start to decline as we grow older. However, learning a new language can be a great way of creating new mental connections.

You could help your older loved ones to brush up on some long-forgotten language or learn a new language from the start.

There is a ton of online resources for seniors out there.

10. Cooking Activities

Cooking classes can be powerful brain-stimulating activities for seniors as well.

The act of learning something is what’s important for older adults as it involves using the brain to mix certain ingredients in the right quantity.

First, there is planning then there is thinking required when following recipes and the entire cooking process.

11. Playing Chess Games

Chess games are used for educational purposes due to their brain-stimulating abilities.

For seniors, playing chess games could be beneficial in the following ways:

  • Increase creativity.
  • Increase individual’s IQ.
  • Stimulates the brain.
  • Improves concentration, memory, reading, problem-solving skills, and many more.

12. Chatting With Others

Having a conversation with others is also another powerful brain-stimulating activity for seniors.

Of course, chatting may not be an activity for most of us; however, for seniors who may be spending most of their time alone, encouraging them to chat with others could help them feel part of society.

Spend time discussing with your elderly loved ones and encourage them to share their experiences.

13. Using Brain Training Apps

From Lumosity to Happify and Braingle, the internet has no shortage of brain training apps that could help to train the brain and improve memory for seniors.

The good news is that these apps are easily accessible and seniors can use them when they are bored or on a long journey.

Some apps contain brain exercises that help to improve mental focus and memory while some present exercises that enhance reasoning, awareness, etc.

Last but not least, a healthy diet is a key component of brain health.

Researchers suggest that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can help provide healthy brain aging.

Conclusion

Keeping our brains healthy and stimulated is crucial as we grow older. As stated above, older people who exercise their brain cells regularly are less likely to lose cognitive functions than those who don’t exercise.

If you’re a senior or you have elderly loved ones then these mentally stimulating activities could help to improve mental focus and memory.

Author Bio
Nick van Migrot is a professional mental health expert who specializes in educating elder adults on how to improve their mental health at college paper writing services. Besides, Nick offers thesis writing services.

 

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selective focus of smiling senior woman typing on laptop at home
Tech Support

Become one of the Tech-Savvy Older Adults in 5 Steps

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Did you know you can become one of the tech-savvy older adults today?

Technology use is growing across people of all ages.

And while the obstacle to computer literacy among older adults has been the assumption that it’s best suited for the younger generation, technology use among adults is soaring.

According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Project, in 2014, only 11% of older adults owned a smartphone.

Today, middle-aged and older adults are embracing technology more than ever.

This is evident by a study that suggests that approximately 70% of seniors are now using the internet.

They use the internet to stay connected with their loved ones, stay informed, etc.

Of course, there is still a percentage of seniors who are yet to embrace the technology.

In this article, you’re going to learn some practical tips for seniors on how to become more tech-savvy.

But before that, let’s learn a few things.

Benefits of Being Tech-Savvy

Given how technology is deployed in all aspects of our lives across generations, there is no reason why seniors shouldn’t be more tech-savvy.

Besides, technology is more than Snapchat and Amazon shopping.

Tech-savvy older adults have an easier time staying connected to their loved ones.

Older adults who are tech-savvy also relieve caregivers of some hustles.

In case you’re wondering why older adults should be tech-savvy, here are the reasons to convince them.

Improved safety

With the advancement in technology, there comes improved safety.

These days, family members don’t need to worry about allowing their loved ones to stay alone at home thanks to the availability of personal monitoring devices.

These devices allow monitoring of the wearer from a distance and can help to detect any danger directed to older adults.

Tech-savvy seniors can seek assistance with just a press of a button.

If your loved one likes to walk around, have them carry a GPS-enabled device or get them a simple tracker to wear.

This way, you can tell where they are at any time and in case they need help.

For older adults who live at home alone, a home alert system could help to improve their safety.

Socialization

The greatest benefit of modern technology is the ability to allow us to communicate and socialize with the most minimal effort and cost-effectively or even free.

These days’ smartphones and tablets are programmed in a way that they can display larger buttons, icons, and brighter screens for older adults with impaired eyesight.

Some high-end devices also offer the option to have texts read out loud by the device instead of straining eyes to read tiny texts manually thanks to AI and machine learning technologies.

There is also an abundance of social media, texting, and video chatting apps that allow seniors to easily stay connected with friends and loved ones without having to travel.

This ability to stay in touch with others helps older adults in combating feelings of isolation and depression which are common problems faced by seniors living alone.

Entertainment

Older adults can download games, hobby apps, high-quality movies, or stream TV services on their smartphones.

There are mountains of games online that can keep older adults busy.

Seniors can also find puzzles and other types of games that stimulate their minds and keep their brains active.

Medication management

As we age, our brainpower starts to decline. We start to forget things easily. For seniors taking certain medications at particular times of the day, it’s easy to skip important medicines. Even caregivers can get busy and forget to give older adults some medicine.

Thankfully, medical experts working around the clock have created medication apps that send alerts when it’s time to take medicine.

Some apps are designed for monitoring general health so your doctor can use this information to administer the right medicine.

Convenience

With modern technology, shopping for groceries or other essential items online is a breeze.

Tech-savvy older adults can use their smartphones or tablets to order items online and have them delivered to their doorstep.

Learning is also a breeze thanks to modern technology.

If there is something new you want to learn more about, just open a browser on your mobile phone and Google it.

Older adults can also join online classes and learn a few things to keep their brains engaged and active.

As you can see, there are many benefits of technology for older adults.

Tips to Become Tech-Savvy

Follow the tips below:

1. Overcome your fear

Exploring something new in life can be intimidating and dreadful. You aren’t sure whether you’ll get things right or wrong.

But there is one thing you should remind yourself of:

If others made it, why not you?

The reality is that there are tens of thousands of older adults out there who became tech-savvy in their older ages.

And the good news is that the starting point is always the difficult one.

Besides, fear is what keeps us from trying something new.

Look at the things you were once afraid of trying that you’re currently good at. See how you conquered fear and apply the same.

2. Be positive

Your attitude determines your altitude. You must have learned or heard of this saying.

In simple terms, having a positive attitude will bring you up higher in life no matter the situation.

So first, begin with an “I can do it” attitude towards learning and embracing the technology.

It’s possible that your close friends have probably demoralized you before and perhaps this is keeping you from thinking you can make it.

Let go of all your friends’ opinions and find out your own.

Who knows, you might find it a lot more exciting than you may have thought.

3. Have a copy of your passwords

As one grows old, forgetfulness becomes a constant habit.

Older adults are known to forget even the most important things like car keys, glasses, etc.

This means that seniors can forget their passwords easily.

For that reason, it’s recommended to have a backup plan.

This includes writing down passwords in your journal (ensure no one but only you can access the journal).

In case you log out of your online accounts and you forget your passwords, you can easily retrieve them from your journal.

4. It takes time

Becoming tech-savvy at an older age is no easy task.

You learn a new concept today and tomorrow you’ve forgotten everything.

It can be frustrating and demoralizing.

But take your time. Explore new topics taking short breaks when you feel exhausted.

Give your brain the right information it can absorb and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Stay true to yourself and know that you cannot grasp everything in a day. After learning a new concept, spend some time practicing it continually so that it can stick in your mind.

5. Be reachable

While it is advisable to power off electronic gadgets we’re not using to save power, you can switch your computer when not in use but keep your mobile phone on so that people can reach you easily.

Join computer clubs

The internet has all sorts of organizations and clubs where older adults can learn almost everything from gardening to cooking, and technology.

The good news is that some of these clubs and organizations are free to join.

Head over to Google; you’ll find thousands of these clubs.

Befriend Google

In case you have no one to ask, Google is your close confidant.

As long as you’re connected to the internet, you can ask Google about anything and the search giant will provide you with exactly what you want.

Go to Google and search “how to type information on Microsoft word” and see the mountains of information you’ll get.

Use how-to online videos

YouTube is a goldmine when it comes to learning a new skill. You can find almost any video tutorial from farming to manufacturing and technology.

The good news is that all the tutorials on YouTube are free.

Just go to YouTube and enter the keywords related to the topic you want to learn with a “how-to” at the end of the keyword.

For instance, you could enter “save a Microsoft word document how-to”.

You can also buy professional video tutorials from Udemy.

Subscribe to tech-savvy publications

This is one of the best ways to get constant updates and knowledge relevant to the topics you want to master for free.

Explore as many websites and publications as you can that can offer you the right information then subscribe to their email list.

This way, you’ll be receiving planned emails with valuable information.

Follow their social media profiles to learn the information they post every day.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Having done all the above, and even during the entire learning process, keep on practicing.

They say practice makes perfect and there is no better place this mantra can be used than when you’re looking to become a tech-savvy older adult.

No matter the mountains of knowledge you learn, it doesn’t make sense if you’re not using it practically.

To get better at something, you have to learn and practice it.

Author Bio:
Nick van Migrot is a professional health expert for seniors. When he is free, he usually enjoys providing assignment help to high school and college students. Besides, he is the author of the best essay writing service review

 

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Senior Man Working at Home

8 Tips to Improve Your Health Working from Home

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Working from home has its ups and downs. Of course, it helps you disconnect from the world for a while and ensure that your health stays in check. On the other side, it can take away the social factor and leave you feeling lonely. If you’re wondering how to cope with remote work, stay sane, and be in shape, here are eight of the most important tips you might need. Let us know how they worked and which ones you chose.

Don’t forget to eat healthy – even if you’re at home

Eating healthy is important since it gives you the right energy to focus and accomplish your tasks. Focus on eating lots of fruits and veggies, enough protein, and otherwise nutritious meals. Avoid fast-food or frozen meals, replace those with whole grains and low-fat yogurt. I know that cooking at home can take more time, but it is totally worth it. Your breakfast is important and so is your lunch. If you’re tempted to snack, that’s okay. Just make sure that your snacks are healthy.

Stay hydrated

If you’re not hydrated enough, your moods can easily change, and your body might experience unpleasant sensations. Your best bet is drinking water and consuming coffee in moderation. Remember that coffee absorbs the water in your body, so you might have to drink even more water than usual. Tea is a good replacement for coffee, if you feel like you’ve reached your daily limit. Energy drinks work but they’re not the most suitable for your health.

Exercise regularly, even during the pandemic

Exercising is a must, even when working remotely. You cannot argue that there are not enough online workouts and programs that can help you stay in shape. The most important thing for you is to want it! You can start slowly – take a short walk, jog, or walk your dog more often. Next, increase the effort of your exercise to include more movement. Repeat, repeat, repeat, until you’re up to working out at least three to four hours per week.

Personalize your home office

Designing your personal home office is important as it helps you stay connected to your work. Personalize your workspace to make it look exactly how you want it. You must enjoy your office in order to be productive. Make it comfortable by buying an ideal ergonomic chair to support your back. Add an optimal-sized desk and have as much natural light as possible. You could add some plants if needed.

Know how to draw boundaries

When working from home, keeping boundaries is harder. Many people end up working 10-12 hours per day because they have no idea how to organize their time. Maintaining a good life-work balance is important, since it keeps you in shape and moving.

The best way to go about this is to separate your home office from the rest of the house. Try to develop a space only for your office. Don’t do anything else in there, just work. By doing this, your mind will automatically know that this space is relaxation-free. When you’re here working, you focus and keep all of your attention in one place.

Design a daily routine

When you’re working in an office, you’ve got a routine to follow – and for some reason, that works in your favor. You know exactly what you have to do and when you have to do it. A well-structured routine includes getting out of bed in the morning, working out, and planning your day, not to mention getting enough sleep and tracking your progress over the course of the week.

Keep making connections

Working from home takes away the social factor, so you might end up feeling disconnected from society. This is not good, so you should not let it affect you. You can find other ways to make connections, even if they’re online. One great way to do that is by reaching out to people on LinkedIn (for work) or Instagram (for fun). Also, keep in touch with your friends and co-workers! Zoom every other week and keep yourselves updated on each other’s life. The social factor is important!

Save time for yourself

Last but not least, save enough time to reconnect with yourself. This is a great way to decrease stress and become more mindful. You could start a regular yoga practice or meditation technique. You could read your favorite book. You could also draw or journal, as this will help you release any mental discomfort. Make sure you are taking care of yourself. If you are not, who will?

Author Bio:

John Peterson is an essay writer with 4 years’ experience working for Essay Geeks. He plans on starting his own professional writing services. John is a professional mini-tennis player, and he has written a novel “His heart”. You can find him on Facebook.

 

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