Surviving the Senior Citizen Years

Why is balance important? Balance is one of the most important functions that our bodies have. Without it, walking and any movement would be difficult, if not impossible. Many things can harm the body’s balance, like illnesses and disorders. Vertigo is a well-known disorder that throws your balance off, and Meniere’s less well-known disease also plays havoc with your vestibular system.   How does your balance work? Your balance is controlled by a labyrinth, which is made up of semicircular canals on one side and a structure called a cochlea on the other. The labyrinth works with your eyes and your feet to determine your balance. Signals sent to the brain from the labyrinth inform the brain about our movement or lack of movement, which defines our balance. What causes problems with your balance? viral infections in the ear can cause problems with your balance A head injury Certain medications   Exercises to improve your balance Always check with your doctor ...

  If you are retired and don’t have a pension or much of a 401(k) pension, you might need help besides Social Security Retirement benefits. C an the government help you out? 1.     Social Security and Medicare are the most significant government help you’ll probably get. The earliest you can get social security benefits is age 62. Of course, it will be at a considerably lower rate than if you reached your full retirement age, which is usually after 67. And that may change soon. Medicare is 65, and the cost of that will be taken out of your SS check.   Numerous programs in each state offer Medicare Advantage Programs. 2.     Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program—Energy costs always go up. The government has a program called LIHEAP that helps with the cost of keeping warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | The Administration for Children and Families 3.     Medicaid...

  Living alone in your later years after your spouse has passed away can be a real challenge. Death, unfortunately, comes for us all. While it can be sad and lonesome, you must carry on.   My mother was 53 when my father had his last heart attack. It was especially difficult for her because my sister and I were moving away simultaneously. I was a sophomore in college, and my sister was studying to be a medical tech where she would reside for a year.   Mom went from having a whole house to being all alone. It was difficult for her, but she carried on. My father had kept all the financial information, and Mom didn’t know where to start.   But she did it.   She paid the bills and balanced the checkbox. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was all new to her.   Her investments prospered, and she met new friends and lived a fulfilled life.   Not everyone is so fortunate.   Other folks living alone haven’t had it so easy. They ...

   At what age are you feeling old? Is it 55 because some restaurants and retailers give you a discount, and you see a lot of apartment complexes advertising 55-and-up residency? No, that’s not right; 55 is way too young. You are still a kid. How about 62 when you can get Social Security?   Of course, you will take a big hit on your benefits, but many folks do it anyway. My wife is turning 62 next month and has already applied for her Social Security benefits. No, 62 is still too young. A lot of people still work at that age. 65? Now, 65 is supposedly the sweet spot because you qualify for Medicare. Maybe that’s it. I don’t know; I’m over 65 and on full retirement benefits. So, the point is, do you feel old? I know my body feels old. I have Parkinson’s and Meniere’s, and I’m almost deaf. My body feels like it's worn out. But in my mind, I think the same way I felt when I was a teenager. I t’s hard to explain. I guess it’s a mindset where your body may be ...

  Eating right should be a requirement for anyone of any age, but it becomes more critical as one age. Are you eating right? Examine your present eating habits. The first place to start is by looking at what you typically eat over a week or month. Do you fry everything? Do you put salt on everything? What exactly do you eat? Weight problems in the elderly years You probably know you aren’t eating right if you are overweight. Some folks have always had eating disorders, and it's understandable. You probably picked up bad eating habits when you were young and continued them into your later years. It’s hard to break old habits, I know. Fad diets that promise quick weight loss never work. The consequences of being overweight Overall, your health can be poor or downright nasty if you are overweight. Heart problems can be one of the worst, along with diabetes. I’ll never lose the weight The first step is to talk to your doctor. He can connect you with a dietician who can ...

  I know if you have health and mobility problems, it is easy to feel like you should give up. Quality of life, or lack thereof, can be a sore spot for all of us. I am doing everything I can to improve my life. Healthy eating You are eating right, which is so important. But when you do eat all the right things, you might feel like you are missing out. I have a problem with snacks. I should not eat them, but putting them down is hard, so I’ll keep trying to cut back. What else can I do? Getting regular checkups is so important. Nobody likes going to the doctor. Especially if you have an ailment that bothers you. Taking another medication isn’t what you want either. You could always get another opinion, but they may tell you the same thing. Take the medication! Yearly physicals are essential as well. Bloodwork can show the doctor and you where you stand health-wise. Blood work can sometimes detect something early, and that is important. Exercise I need to walk more, t...