Slowed-down Aging Parents--What I never realized

"I'm late, I'm late........"*

TIME MATTERS--POKEY PARENTS
(Joints stiffen. Less agility. More wisdom. More Caution.
Does slowing down begin earlier than we realize?)

Think about stiff joints and arthritis...and vision. Then think about buttons, zippers, or--for women--the clasp on a necklace or fastening a bra (which some do from the front before turning it around to the back), or the physical act of slipping something over one's head.  How much additional time does it take to differentiate dark blue from black? (Try sorting those socks.) Have you ever seen an older man wearing one black sock and one dark blue sock?

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                                                 "What's the Goal?"

I've written about how important it is to ask ourselves this question in several past posts. It's true for caregiving. It's true for handling problems in life. And I'm taking my own advice. Thankfully it has become second nature when things seem impossible and/or overwhelming.  Asking "What's the Goal?" untangles some of the minutiae, helps focus, and makes the goal stand out. We then need only figure out how to attain it.

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Help Aging Parents: Easter and Passover Treats--A Very Quick Outing

Holidays provide endless opportunities to help parents age well. Taking elders out for a change of scenery is one--especially for those who are basically housebound, mobility challenged, or don't venture forth except for essentials like doctors' appointments. It's uplifting, muscles are exercised, and it can be exciting--like those field trips we went on in grade school.

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Aging Parents--Research: Wisdom's Importance in Successful Aging

For satisfaction in later life--to age well, research has told us that maintaining physical and mental health, volunteering and having connections with others are necessary.

One researcher, Dr. Monika Ardelt, an associate sociology professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, wondered could people in poor health, those who'd suffered losses, and those "whose social roles were diminished"--age successfully or would they just have to "give up." Her recent findings:"Wisdom is the ace in the hole that can help even severely impaired people find meaning, contentment and acceptance in later life."

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When Aging Parents Can No Longer "Do." Ways To Empower So They Can Continue to "Do."

 "No one likes to see a lessening of themself"

Julia

Normal age-related changes cause a lessening: ie. vision, hearing, energy, flexibility, strength-- not a literal taking away. However, as we try to help parents age well and we become aware of the "lessening," (which parents may have tried to cover up--think driving), doesn't it make sense to look for ways to support or replace so elders can continue to "do?" This probably means empower or substitute.

But how? While we know one size doesn't fit all, we can do some of the leg-work and perhaps partner in the final "doing."

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Aging Parents: Stark Reality–When Eyesight Fails

Letting Go–Preparing The Last Income Tax at 100

This is the last time Sr. Advisor R is doing her income tax preparation for the accountants. Yes, she’s 100. Yes, she still lives independently, alone in her home of over 60 years. Yes, she has a blood clot that has greatly diminished vision in one eye. Yes, she uses not 1, but 2 magnifying glasses when the normal print is too small. And yes, all of this is pretty amazing, but it has been extremely arduous and overly time-consuming this winter and has been a source of stress.

That said, R has worked at simplifying everything in her life as age has slowed her down. Giving up income tax preparation  (still using legal pad and adding machine), is a big concession. As Julia, another independent elder referred to in past posts, said many years ago “No one likes to see a lessening of themself.”

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Aging Parents: Older Women’s Hair Revisited

We’ve written about aging women’s hair care, hair loss, hair styles, and hair enhancement quoting tricologists, MD’s and other hair experts and stylists (see RELATED below). As Time Goes By has a series of very good posts (below). In September Grandparents.com offered “7 Secrets to the Haircut that Will Make You Look Younger.”

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