ELDER HINT # 1 – LIVE WELL AND HAVE SOMETHING TO HANG ON TO – Grab Bars

Posted: December 25, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: AGING, geezer hints, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment »
Grab Bar and Towel Bar

Old people are stupid! Including me. I think I am the same person I was 20 years ago, even though my daily visit to the  mirror tells me different. I think I can do the same things that I did 20 years ago, and that there will be no consequences. The worst thing is I think I am as competent and as smart as I was 20 years ago. WRONG!

Old people need hints to make life easier and more convenient, not to mention safer. The idea is not to live long, but to live well for as long as you can. Living in rehab is NOT living well. There are a few steps you can take. I will post them as I think of them and you can do with them as you please.

REMEMBER: Don’t focus on longevity, focus on living the best life that you can, while you can.

# 1 Grab Bar as Towel Rack

Why are grab bars important to old people?

Falls are one of the greatest causes of  a miserable life. Think about it:

  1. You are prone to falling after a certain age.
  2. Grab bars are usually only in the tub or shower. Towel racks are not changed out. Yet, if you get out of a tub, the first thing you will grab for is a towel rack. So, why not replace the towel rack with a grab bar. One time grabbing hold of your old towel rack will convince you. Look at your towel rack. It sort of hangs on to a couple of screws. How many times has it come apart when you tried to hang a towel on it?
  3. You usually don’t wear your alert button in the shower.
  4. You usually shower alone; unlike years ago, a dim memory, if you even remember. Consider showering with a friend – for your own well-being, but two old people trying not to fall gives rise to a whole new blog idea.
  5. The bottom of the tub or shower tends to be slippery, thanks to soap.
  6. If you fall:
    1. It may take hours, or days, to find you if you live alone; or if your spouse is of questionable competency.
    2. If you break something, it is a trip to the hospital; then to rehab; then to assisted living: then ……….
  7. Breaks are painful.
  8. You may have locked the bathroom door.
  9. You don’t have your cell phone handy; and, it is usually not charged. And, you may not be any good at using it.
  10. You will feel like a fool lying naked on the bathroom floor when the para-medics break down the door to get you; or, when a friend who hasn’t heard from you for a few days comes to check on you.

THINK OLD!

 

 

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TEN SIMPLE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO MAXIMIZE YOUR OLD AGE!

Posted: September 29, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: AGING, Aging-in-place, geezer hints, geezerTips, Life Style, SIMPLICITY, Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

In this day and age there is too much information; and too much of it is false. I am buffeted by ads, politics, etc. At 77, I decided to take a look at what I really needed to know. There are 10 things, not perfect, but that will at least make my present life better and protect me from the stress of old age.

You are going to die anyway, so why worry about that. Figure out how to make today as comfortable and as interesting as possible.

Here is my list:

  1. Walk – Almost anyone can do this and it keeps you fit physically, mentally and socially.
  2. “Eat food, mostly vegetables, not too much.”  Michael Pollan
  3. Wine with friends. Not too much.
  4. Index your investments. Unless you are too  smart to be reading this blog, you can’t beat the market, so go with Index Funds, which beat most investment advisors and most funds. Set them to pay out the IRS Required Minimum Distribution each year on your birthday.
  5. Have a mentor. Mentors, or advisors, younger than you, are more important in old age than when you are young. You need someone to keep an eye on you. Think scams, illness, long-term care, etc.
  6. Socialize – if nothing else, sit out on your front porch and wave at people going by. Become a fixture. Most of us can at least get to  the front porch; and, there are free shuttles to take you to church, clubs and the senior centers.
  7. Simplify – Life is way to complex for an old person. Reduce everything to its simplest form.
  8. Follow the money – In any situation, where is the money going. Check charities, investments, etc. Most things you don’t need and most investments are too good to be true. Old people are a target of scammers.
  9. Weights and exercise bands. – Do a bit while you are watching TV, etc. You need to be fit and you need muscles.
  10. Simple default protective devises.  You should automatically grab for the grab bar when you get out of the shower; the rail on the stairs; your glasses when you drive. Default solutions can protect you. Some need to be learned like the new devices on cars; but, maybe you should not be driving anyway.

THINK OLD!