Posts with the label aging

Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts

Friday, August 11, 2023

MENTAL HEALTH BREAK

I have come to realize that I need a mental health break.

Most of my adult life has been filled with stress and I know that I need to finally take some time for myself and try to find some serenity.

When we are young it feels like life will go on forever, but as we get older we realize how quickly it has passed.

With that in mind, I am going to take some time for myself.

I need to stop and smell the roses.

Suddenly all of the things I thought were so important just don't seem that important any longer.

My Etsy shop has been put on an extended vacation and I am cutting down on my blog posts.

I want to look at the wonderful photos on Instagram without feeling like I need to compete.

I want to play Rummikub with new friends on Thursday night and just laugh.

I want to sit in my chair and spend hours reading great books.

Most of all I want to spend more time with my precious family.

I realize that I need to

You all are my precious friends and I appreciate your support so much.

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MENTAL HEALTH BREAK

Friday, August 11, 2023

Friday, August 4, 2023

WOMEN ARE RETIRING POOR IN AMERICA

This is a repost of a post I wrote two years ago.

It has been updated to reflect any changes I have made in my life.

My Story

If you have read my blog for a while you know that I am a former counselor, but what you may not know is that I was a stay-at-home mom for much of my adult life.

Like many women, I chose to devote my time to raising my children.

It was what I had always wanted to do and I don't regret a moment of that, but what I didn't know is what would happen to me when my husband became seriously mentally ill and how it would eventually affect me.

In my mid-forties, I went back to school completed my last two years of college, and did three years of graduate school in counseling psychology.

I worked for several years, but I found out it wasn't enough. When I reached the age of 62 I took social security because I had crippling knee pain. I had both of my knees replaced but found that ageism is alive and well and I was unemployable.

Here is what I discovered about Social Security and why I was left living in poverty.

How Social Security Is Determined

Social Security is based on your lifetime earnings.

Your actual earnings are adjusted or “indexed” to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received.

Then Social Security calculates your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most.

This is where the problem arises for women who spent much of their adult lives being caretakers for their children and then often of their elderly parents.

Being Out Of The Workforce

Being a caregiver is not seen as work by our government. Stay-at-home caregivers are basically free labor. (The government loves that. Free labor means no Social Security.)

For example, if a woman spends 25 years of her life working in her home, where she is unpaid, those years are indexed as zero income. They are then averaged with the ten years she worked outside the home.

For women, like myself, who are no longer in a stable marriage, those years of taking care of a family leave them living in poverty.

Women should not have to sit around like the grim reaper, waiting for ex-husbands to die in order to have enough money to survive.

Social Security Raises

The big talk last year was about the big increase that is expected for Social Security in 2022. They estimated 6%. Here is what that means. For someone who is making $2500 a year in Social Security that raise means an extra $150. For a woman who makes $800 a year in Social Security that raise is $48.

Out of that raise, there is usually an increase in Medicare, and if you are fortunate enough to have gotten into senior subsidized housing (of which there is an extreme shortage and long waitlists) 30% of that raise will go to the government as an increase in your rent.

There are approximately 30 million women over the age of 60 in this country and approximately 17.3% of them are living in poverty. That means that over 5 million older women in this country are living in poverty.

These women have to make decisions on whether to eat or pay for their medications.

As you can see it is not a small problem and it is one that needs to be addressed. We need Social Security reform.

I try to do my part by making phone calls to government officials, but I am just one person.

My Continuing Story

I am fortunate to have received a small inheritance from my mother which gives me a little cushion for emergencies, but every day is a worry.

Will my twelve-year-old car with 134,000 miles on it break down?

It did break down this year and cost 3100 dollars to repair.

How long will that money last? My family is long-lived and I will need to stretch it out.

In the past, I have supplemented my income by selling online, but I have found I no longer have the energy to keep that up the way I was doing.

I am not alone. There are millions of us. If you know an older woman who is struggling I hope that you will reach out a helping hand to them.

As I seem to have more time on my hands these days I intend to start advocating for reform for women and Social Security. Not sure how much effect I will have, but I will keep you informed.

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WOMEN ARE RETIRING POOR IN AMERICA

Friday, August 4, 2023

Friday, June 23, 2023

HOME ACCIDENT

I am cautious about trying not to fall because of my osteoporosis, but a couple of weeks ago I found that although the most common, falls are not the only type of home accident.

Two weeks ago I had a crazy accident.

I was cleaning and dropped something on the other side of my toilet.

Instead of just leaning over to pick it up I sat down on the toilet seat lid and that is when the craziness was.

I didn't realize the seat was loose and when I leaned over it slipped, threw me off, and slammed my back ribcage into the toilet paper holder.

Needless to say, it was very painful and produced a large bruise, but over the next few days, it was feeling much better.

Five days later I was back to riding the stationary bike and feeling great.

However, when I went to get up from my chair I heard a pop, the area that I had hit completely seized up, and I was unable to move.

When realized I was not going to be able to get up I called for an ambulance.

Long story short no ribs were cracked or broken, but the ER doctor said it was a muscle or tendon injury and would take a while to heal.

The best part was that I got to spend a couple of days at Cary's and be pampered.

Things are gradually getting back to normal but I am trying not to overdo it.

A bit hard when you live by yourself.

For now, I am ignoring the fact that I need to vacuum.

I got out yesterday, dropped off a package at UPS, and did my grocery shopping.

Home is the most common place for an accident to happen.

Here are some ways to help prevent accidents at home.

I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.

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HOME ACCIDENT

Friday, June 23, 2023

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

IT'S A DOCTOR KIND OF DAY

I didn't exactly get my normal blog post written for today.

While looking back at my calendar from last year I realized that I had my first Reclast infusion for osteoporosis last May.

I called to see about getting it scheduled for this month and was told I needed to see my endocrinologist first and he only had appointments open in September.

Ummm!! Why didn't they tell me last year that I needed to do this and made a yearly appointment for me or told me I needed to schedule months in advance.

My Reclast infusions are supposed to be given twelve months apart.

Where are the grownups in the building?

Fortunately, someone canceled for this morning.

So I am off to the doctor. It is seven miles north of me and it isn't my favorite area to drive to, but I will be glad to get it over with.

The next obstacle is going to Emory Hospital for the infusion. It is the hospital where Katy passed away and I haven't even been able to drive past there.

One thing at a time.

Currently, screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women who are 65 years old or older and for women who are 50 to 64 and have certain risk factors, which include having a parent who has broken a hip.

Katy had severe osteoporosis and her spine and rib fractures contributed to her death. She was 41.

I hope that if you fall into a group that should be screened that you will do so.

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IT'S A DOCTOR KIND OF DAY

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

I'M SORRY, IT'S MY FAULT FOR GETTING OLD

I have a new response for almost everything. It's "I'm sorry it's my fault for getting old".

I've noticed since I decided to let my hair be silver that people react differently to me. It's interesting.

In some cases, people are nicer but in other cases, people treat you like you have lost all of your senses.

On one hand, car mechanics don't charge me for things they used to. On the other hand, they explain things to me like I just fell off the turnip truck and have lost my marbles.

I cut them some slack because I don't want to shell out the money.

I smile while saying to myself, "I'm sorry it's my fault for getting old".

Yesterday I was driving down my road going five miles over the speed limit when some type A driver whipped around me and gave me the finger.

Once again I mumbled to myself, "I'm sorry it's my fault for getting old".

This morning I couldn't find my container of oatmeal. I finally realized that I had put it in the refrigerator instead of the cupboard. I looked at it and said, "I'm sorry it's my fault for getting old".

When exactly did I start apologizing to inanimate objects?

Now I want to know when bashing baby boomers became a recreational sport.

This morning I read an article about how baby boomers basically need to sit down and shut up. It listed all of the reasons why everyone who isn't a baby boomer thinks we are destroying the world.

Apparently they have written whole books on the subject.

They hate the things we say. They hate the things we do. We stole their future.

We are all lumped into the same category and apparently, we are not allowed to question it when they do that.

There is a collective rolling of eyes when you politely ask them not to lump a whole group of people together based on their age.

I have been known to question their collective ageism, but I guess I will now say "I'm sorry, it's my fault for getting old".

Hold on there is a point where I draw the line. I will not apologize for expressing my opinion and I will not stop pointing out that it isn't okay to lump an entire group of people together based on the characteristics of the people in that group.

I was fighting for women's rights and talking about climate change before most of them were born. Yes, I respect their perspective without lumping them all together and they need to do the same for baby boomers.

Last week I wrote a post on Ageing and Osteoporosis and promised I would update you on my bone scan.

The results were not exactly what I had hoped for. I have osteoporosis in both hips where they connect with the thigh bone and also in my wrist.

Before deciding on a course of treatment I am going to have my PCP schedule an appointment for me with an endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis.

I will tackle this like I have tackled everything else in my life. Head On.

Oh, and I will not be saying "I'm sorry, it's my fault for getting old".

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I'M SORRY, IT'S MY FAULT FOR GETTING OLD

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

HEALTHY HABITS FOR A HAPPIER LIFE: AGEING AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Whew, this is a tough one.

I have been thinking a lot about ageing lately. When I went for a routine medical appointment last week my PA asked when I last had a bone scan.

It was four years ago and I was showing signs of osteopenia in my spine and mild osteoporosis in one hip.

My mother had osteoporosis and shrank five inches. The PA told me that osteoporosis is more common in Caucasian women.

So I am scheduling another bone scan and being more proactive with my bone care.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a term that means porous bones. It is a disease and it weakens your bones.

People who have osteoporosis are at greater risk for bone fractures.

You can have osteoporosis without any symptoms or pain and may not know you have it until you have an unexpected fracture.

These fractures are most common in the hip, wrist, and spine.

Who Is At Risk For Osteoporosis?

Did you know that after age 35 bone breakdown occurs faster than bone buildup, and this causes a gradual loss of bone mass? YIKES!!

After menopause this bone mass loss increases.

Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.

In the US approximately 54 million people have osteoporosis and osteoporosis is responsible for over 2 million fractures each year.

Osteoporosis Symptoms

There is a reason that osteoporosis is called a silent disease.There are usually no symptoms.

However is you develop any of these symptoms you should be checked out.

Getting shorter by an inch or more
Noticing that you are stooping or bending forward
Shortness of breath
Breaking a bone
Lower back pain

Diagnosing And Treating Osteoporosis

All women over the age of 65 should have a bone density scan which consists of small amounts of radiation to determine how solid the bones in the spine, hips, or wrists are.

Men over the age of 70 should also consider getting the test done.

If you are a younger woman and have concerns due to heredity, certain medications, or underlying health conditions you should speak to your medical professional about the test.

There are medications available to treat osteoporosis. I am not going to go into them, but if you want to read more about them you can do so here.

Some of the things you can do to protect your bones are weight bearing exercises, calcium supplements, and getting plenty of vitamin D.

If you are concerned about your bone health, please talk to you medical professional. Ostoporosis may be silent, but it can shorten your life.

Read more Healthy Habits For A Happier Life posts.

Thank you for visiting today. I hope you will come back soon, and in the meantime you can find me on Pint erest, Instagram, LTK, and Etsy.

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HEALTHY HABITS FOR A HAPPIER LIFE: AGEING AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Saturday, May 30, 2020

RANDOM COVID THOUGHTS

Yesterday was a rainy Georgia day. It was a day to sit and gather some relevant and not so relevant thoughts on this what seems like one millionth day of the pandemic.

This is relevant to the fact that I need to somehow get up off this chair and get myself back out on that sidewalk.

source unknown

I don't know how relevant this is to the rest of you, but it is definitely relevant to me. I haven't sunk to drinking wine for breakfast, but not only am I missing people I don't like, I'm missing people I haven't seen in 50 years and didn't like back then.

This is definitely relevant because we can all use some humor these days.

I can't stress the relevance of this enough. Please continue to wear a mask and social distance.

source unknown

Well, this has absolutely no relevance other than to remind myself that I was once very cool and that the person I see in the mirror is definitely not me.

source unknown

Stay safe, my friends.

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RANDOM COVID THOUGHTS

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Sunday, January 19, 2020

BEING PRACTICAL

Sometimes we just have to be practical.

I love cooking on my mom's old iron skillet. It not only brings back wonderful memories of her cooking when I was a child, but also cooking on an iron skillet is good for you.

I know that iron skillets add iron to your diet, but they are also long lasting, chemical free, nonstick (if you take care of it), easy to clean, and can be used in the oven as well as on top of the stove.

There is one drawback as we get older. Just like last winter, my arthritis has flared up pretty badly in my right hand, which makes it difficult to do some things. Lifting a heavy iron skillet is one of those things.

So Friday, after going to chair yoga (I'll talk about that in a future post), I decided to drop into Home Goods. I have managed to avoid it for the last three months because I haven't been over in that area.

I don't know what was going on, but the place was packed and they had a lot of really nice things. I saw a couple of things, a book shelf and a wire and wood shelf that I would liked to have had, but I decided to be practical.

I found a nice nonstick ceramic skillet for $16.99 and a non metal spatula for $3.99. Somehow I managed to get out of that store for a little over $20. WHEW!!

However, I have to be honest. I am really thinking about those other two things and will probably go back on Monday when I am back over there. I'm hoping they are gone, because I am not sure I can resist.

Since I was next door to Walmart I decided to run in and get a small box for something I sold on Etsy. I bought that size there for 72 cents a couple of months ago. Imagine my surprise when I saw that they had hiked the price up to $2.22.

Ummmm, just NO. When did Walmart start gouging people. There was another woman looking for a box and she said the same thing. I left the box there and stopped at Kroger on my way home. I got the same size box there for 52 cents.

We can't always be practical, but sometimes it becomes a necessity and a matter of principle.

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BEING PRACTICAL

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

NEW FRIENDS AND A CANCELLED APPOINTMENT

One of the most difficult things about moving to a new city is meeting people, especially as we get older.

I love that my daughters and grandchildren are here, but they are busy with their lives and I only see them a couple of times a month.

Also, I miss having friends. I like having friends who are around my age. Tuesday I went to the first meeting of my new peer group that was set up by TTN, The Transition Network.

There were only three of us there for the first meeting, but we sat and chatted for around two hours. It was nice to get to know them. One of the women was in my water aerobics class, but I hadn't ever really talked to her.

I also found out about a chair yoga class that has been added at the Wellness Center, where I was going to walk the indoor track before my knee sprain. It is now on my calendar for Friday morning.

We also talked about some things we might want to do in the future together.

Yesterday was the dreaded dentist appointment. I arrived on time for the appointment, but after I got there I found out that there was some kind of outage in the area and so I had to reschedule for next week. I hate going to the dentist. Now I have the dubious pleasure of waiting for another week.

I wish I had known before I went to the appointment, but it is what it is.

Today is another PT appointment. Hopefully they are winding down now. My knee is definitely getting much better.

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NEW FRIENDS AND A CANCELLED APPOINTMENT

Friday, August 11, 2023

MENTAL HEALTH BREAK

Friday, August 11, 2023

Friday, August 4, 2023

My Story

How Social Security Is Determined

Being Out Of The Workforce

Social Security Raises

My Continuing Story

WOMEN ARE RETIRING POOR IN AMERICA

Friday, August 4, 2023

Friday, June 23, 2023

HOME ACCIDENT

Friday, June 23, 2023

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

IT'S A DOCTOR KIND OF DAY

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

I'M SORRY, IT'S MY FAULT FOR GETTING OLD

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

What is Osteoporosis?

Who Is At Risk For Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Diagnosing And Treating Osteoporosis

HEALTHY HABITS FOR A HAPPIER LIFE: AGEING AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Saturday, May 30, 2020

RANDOM COVID THOUGHTS

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Sunday, January 19, 2020

BEING PRACTICAL

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

NEW FRIENDS AND A CANCELLED APPOINTMENT

Thursday, January 16, 2020

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