My husband and I are fast approaching our retirement years and that gave us pause to sit down and reevaluate our concerns, both financially and in health care. Our most pressing concerns have changed. This phase of life brings a new set of priorities from the concerns we had while raising our children. There are a variety of concerns that one might have when it comes to our aging health and well-being. As we grow older we become more vulnerable to many health problems more likely to occur - affecting our pocket books as well as our bodies.

I stumbled upon this one by accident but thought it was worth checking out. I am going to give it a try for Healthy Weight Awareness week the third week of January, starting January 20, 2019. After I get back from a two week vacation! This period of time was set aside to help people understand that health isn’t about dieting and trying to reach a particular number. It is more about pursuing a livable and sustainable healthy lifestyle through eating well, living an active life, and feeling good about ourselves.

What is the right thing to do? Mom and dad should really consider moving out of their home into something with less maintenance. They no longer have the ability to take care of a home on their own anymore.

Patience is not my best virtue - but I am learning.

It is not just the act of repeating myself (because he does not hear well). Although that type of thing can be frustrating, the stuff that is hard for me is the way they want to do things, their slowness, the physical challenges, the forgetfulness, the neediness, their reluctance to do something, and so much more. All of these things can add up over time - and lately they seem to be creating a lot of frustration for my family in taking care of mom and dad. Simple things can turn into monumental things when we forget to consider their mental state at this “age” of the game.

It goes without saying, the best gift is your time. Most elderly people do not want or need much. They are content as far as possessions - but are often lonely. My kids are asking me what they should get gram and pap for Christmas. My first answer is always the best gift you can give them is your time. Stop in for a visit, take them out to dinner, bake a pie, make extra for dinner some night and drop it off to them. If you live far away - just a phone call to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Pap loves when they stop in to play some cards. Create homemade gift certificates for yard work, housecleaning, or decluttering which not only allow you to spend some time with them but also accomplishes a task that may be hard for them.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are typically no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss or osteoporosis. However, once your bones have begun to weaken, you may then have signs that include:

• Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra

• Loss of height over time

• A stooped posture

• A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected

There is a lyric to a song that is sung by Taylor Swift that goes “Why you gotta be so mean”. I think of this lyric often as an elderly loved one’s attitude is changing as they get older. Actually it is a personality trait that is only getting worse. Their personally has never been a positive one but it is getting more and more brutal. This love one increasingly seems angry, short-tempered, intolerant, and simply nasty. So much so that people don’t like to visit any more. It even seems that there are family targets who receive most of the brutality.

As a family caregiver myself, I know what this year’s theme of National Caregiver’s month, “Supercharge Your Caregiving,” is recognizing. It is often a 24 hour, 7 day a week responsibility. Managing meals, transportation to appointments, groceries, bathing, dressing, incontinence issues, financial issues, cleaning the house, and managing medicine and health problems are just some of things we deal with daily. The month of November is set as National Family Caregivers Month to honor the millions of family and friends who give up their personal time to take care of a loved one, often without financial compensation.

One of the most important things an elderly person should have on their radar is the possibility of long term nursing care. This is actually something that should be considered long before we even reach retirement age. True, not all are going to end up in need of such services but some interesting information I just discovered gives pause to just how important this possibility is and should be put on a priority list. Many of us think about the possibility of needing long term care but few make any provisions for such care.

Why does getting accused of something you did not do bother one so much? My sister just told me something that has me seeing a little red right now. I am being accused of doing something to my parents the other day that I did not do. Since I was there earlier that day I guess I am guilty. Go figure!