Many Austin seniors dream of the day that they reach their mid-60s so they can retire on a beach, spend more time with family, or pursue the many hobbies that they haven’t had time to take up earlier in life. However, some seniors, like 92 year old Erma Paliani are finding that retirement just isn’t in their cards and here’s why:

• While the average age to claim Social Security Benefits is 63.9, many need additional income on top of it to be able to afford basic aspects of daily living, like housing and food

• Many seniors would love to retire and just focus on their family and relaxing, but based on the numbers of seniors aged 65 and older which are rising higher than ever before, this isn’t a reality for everyone. The number of older works, aged 80+ has had the most substantial increase at 67% to 500,000 Americans

• With people living longer, money doesn’t go as far as it used to, and as time goes on this might increase even more, keeping more and more seniors in the workforce longer than planned

• Government benefits, which were initially defined in 1940 certainly weren’t designed to support 30 or more years of retirement, which means seniors need a fairly substantial nest egg to make it through

Via: AARP

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders.  Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

At your last family gathering, did you notice a trend? Were the older generations in your family spending time together, while the younger generations found other things to keep them occupied. It doesn’t need to be this way; generations of family members can come together and enjoy the time they spend with these activities:

1. Take a field trip – take your senior care recipient out on a day trip, and even invite other caregivers and their seniors to come along. Travel to a museum, go see a movie, or visit a nice park. Keep the whole day to 6 hours or less, so it’s not sure long that the seniors still enjoy themselves. A nice day like this can help seniors and their caregivers bond.

2. Throw an intergenerational party – get all generations of family together for a nice meal and a casual day of games that everyone can enjoy. Serve foods that are good for even the pickiest eaters

3. Document family history – when all generations are together, use a tape recorder or create a scrapbook of family history. Let the older generations lead and have the rest of the family add on

4. Get creative – art is a great way to bridge the generational gap. Purchase some simple supplies and create a mural, or do a group craft together suitable for all ages

5. Garden – setting up a garden and getting all the family involved, creates a bonding experience which can be enjoyed over family meals when the fresh garden produce is cooked and consumed!

Via: Suite101

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Being mindful, for today’s seniors, means focusing on one though and living in the moment. In such a busy world, it can be hard to learn how to focus your energy to reduce stress, improve your health, and give you a better appreciation for life.

4 Ways to Practice Mindfulness:

1. Breathe – to push away worrying thoughts or to stop your mind from wandering, simply stop and take a few deep breaths and focus only on your breathing and the environment around you. Take a few minutes to do this in situations where your mind tends to start running away on you, like in the car when stopped at a traffic light, or when you’re taking a shower

2. Focus in the morning and at night – before you fall asleep, your mind is likely to wander about your expectations for the next day, and the same thoughts might plague your mind when you wake up in the morning. Take a few minutes just to breathe

3. Turn off the autopilot – with tasks that you tend to do impatiently, like brushing your teeth or cleaning, take yourself out of autopilot mode and focus on the motions of what you’re doing, no matter how mundane the task is

4. Remind yourself to focus – a normal daily occurrence can act as a reminder that it’s time to tune back into the present. When the phone rings, or you go to put on your seatbelt, stop and focus

Via: About.com

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Think getting older is nothing but a downward spiral? You’re not alone, but there is evidence that shows that you can actually continue to develop your mind, creativity and personality later in life, providing not everything goes downhill!

Dr. Gene Cohen, author of the book “Mature Minds” has identified 4 stages of development that the mind undergoes throughout older adulthood, and along with those stages, here are some ways that you can make sure you take advantage and enjoy what wisdom and age brings!

1. The Midlife Re-evaluation Stage: this stage is about exploration and transition. At this period in your life, start thinking about what you’ll want from your retirement. This is a good time to start dreaming about the future!

2. The Liberation stage: at the beginning of your retirement, once you enter this stage, let go of your inhibitions and start exploring and creating. This is a great time to take on new hobbies, envision what you want for yourself and your life during you retirement, and to make it happen!

3. The Summing up Stage – this stage occurs in the 60s, 70s and 80s and are about reflection and resolution, which is so important at a time when seniors need to accept the changes the aging process brings, and overcome it to ensure that they are successful and happy through the remainder of their lives. It’s also a great time to find new activities that help you to cope, so you have an outlet for the emotional trials you’re dealing with

4. The Encore Stage – it’s not the end, but a new beginning; the perfect time to cope and prepare for what might be ahead and be grateful for what you have

Via: Examiner

Image: guardian.co.uk

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

With fall approaching, fresh produce is at an abundance, and there’s no better time to introduce a healthier way of eating to your Austin family. For seniors in particular, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can have a number of benefits that can help them live longer, but with so many options to choose from, how do you know which vegetables are right for what ails you? Here are some details about the different colored vegetables and what they can do for you or your senior:

• Go green – choosing green vegetables can help fend of mascular degeneration which can cause blindness (Lutein, found in hearty greens such as kale, chard, and romaine lettuce can have this result), and prevent cancer through antioxidants found in Vitamin C in greens (i.e. Bell peppers, broccoli, and brussel sprouts). Other green vegetables and fruits that are a great source of nutrition include avocados, green peppers, celery, kiwi fruits, cucumbers, asparagus, and even green apples

• Try orange or yellow produce – Beta-carotene and Vitamin C appear in yellow and orange produce. Choose carrot, sweet potatoes, mangos, apricots, and cantaloupe for beta-carotene which can help prevent Vitamin A deficiency and increase antioxidant intake. Vitamin C is especially present in ripe fruits like papaya, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, and cantaloupes. Even lemon and lime contain great sources of Vitamin C!

• Choose red for cancer prevention – red and pinkish vegetables can help to prevent cancer with the nutrient lycopene that is present. In addition to preventing cancer lycopene also can slow the hardening of arteries and slow tumor growth. Tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit are great sources of lycopene

• Go dark – darker fruits and vegetables, like shades of blue and purple are a great source of anthocyanin which helps support and improve the vascular system and can help to fight cancer. Many of these fruits and vegetables are also high in fiber. Look for blackberries, blueberries, figs, plums, prunes, eggplants, and raisins.

• Don’t underestimate light produce – shades of tan, brown and yellow may not be as eye-catching, but they play a role in a well-balanced diet. Bananas increase potassium and help prevent calcium loss, ginger boosts the immune system and garlic inhibits cancer

Via: Body and Health

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

For the first time in decades, Austin seniors will find that their Social Security benefit checks have shrunk beginning next year. Although legally, Social Security benefits cannot be reduced, cost of living adjustments will not be made t Social Security Benefits over the next few years. As premiums for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program will be raised slightly, this means that Social Security benefit checks will be smaller than ever before. Although the change will be slight for most seniors, for those living on a limited and fixed income, the impact can be severe. In order to survive through this reduction, seniors can take note of the following money saving tips:

1. Set a budget: know how much money you have available to spend on a weekly basis, and keep a record of your spending so you ensure that you’re never overspending. Pay in cash, and then deposit any remaining money at the end of the week into a savings account

2. Smart shopping – create a shopping list and buy only what you need. Plan meals around items that are in season, and try out generic brand products over name brands for the savings

3. Think all unnecessary purchases over – instead of buying things you don’t need impulsively, wait 24 hours and think it over. More often than not, you will find that the temptation passes

4. Discounts – clip coupons or shop at stores that offer more discounts. Also be aware of places that offer discounts to senior citizens, like movie theaters, museums, and even grocery and retail stores

Sources:

1. MSNBC

2. Associated Content

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Every time you pay a visit to your Austin dentist, they probably ask you whether you’ve been brushing and flossing. Well, it’s even more important that you floss than you may know; it doesn’t just affect your oral health, bacteria that is released into your bloodstream through inflamed gums can be a cause of stroke, heart attack and other age related diseases. Just by flossing, you can add at least a year and a half to your life. If you’re a senior who doesn’t already have a strong oral health routine, keep the following tips in mind for brushing and flossing:

Brushing

1. Brush at least 2 times daily to prevent tooth decay and decrease periodontal disease through the removal of plaque from the teeth and gums

2. Use a soft bristled toothbrush

3. Make sure you brush the top (biting) teeth and the tongue

4. Use a soft massaging motion, paying special attention to the teeth that touch the tongue

Flossing

1. Floss at least once daily to remove plaque and food from between the teeth

2. Use waxed floss, and take a stand of at least 18 inches long when ready to start

3. Use your thumbs and forefingers to control the floss

4. Move the floss back and forth between the teeth

5. Rub the floss up and down along the outside surface of the teeth; from the gums downward

Sources:

1. Colgate

2. Living to 100

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Depression and anxiety commonly plague Austin seniors, since no matter which way you look at it, getting older just isn’t ever easy. But finding happiness is more attainable than seniors think; they can improve their well-being and overall disposition just by practicing positive thinking. According to a recently study, what you do with your brain can be responsible for 40% of your happiness, so be positive and it will find you!

1. Make the time – even spending only a half an hour a day thinking about kindness and compassion can improve your overall level of happiness

2. Use verbal affirmations everyday – a verbal affirmation is simply voicing a positive thought or statement out loud. Seniors who are feeling lonely can say “I have a family who loves me and that I love more than everyone”, or that “better health will come my way”. Thinking about these things positively rather than negatively can help make them come true or change your feelings about them in any case!

3. Use positive language – just using positive words can make us happier, whether or not we actually believe them

4. Create positive images – surround yourself with positive images, of pictures of family and friends, post inspirational messages around your home or other images that keep you thinking positively

5. Be thankful – focus on being thankful for the things that you have; saying it out loud 50 times a day can make you feel grateful and it will help you start everyday out on the right foot

Sources:

1. Cognifit

2. We the Change

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders.  Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.