Welcome to the June 9, 2009 edition of Boomers & Seniors – News You Can Use. Here, you’ll find a plethora of diverse topics pertaining to caring for an aging loved one while taking care of yourself. Did you ever try to imagine what it must feel like to have dementia? Are you interested in finding out the latest news about fighting Alzheimer’s? Perhaps you’re worried about the financial situation awaiting you in retirement. Keep reading for the answers to these concerns and more from top senior and boomer bloggers.

Senior Care


Getting along with your loved one is all about Navigating Change, as posted at Ageless-Sages. “Much of what our older family members are doing, saying, thinking, is right on target with their developmental stage,” says Natalie Tucker Miller, IAC-CC. “By understanding and honoring this life stage, the resistance that can cause conflict minimizes!”

My 15 Minutes of Dementia is an interesting post by Dale Carter at Transition Aging Parents in which the blogger tests out a Virtual Dementia kit. “It literally put me in the shoes of someone with dementia; all of my senses were impacted, and I quite literally could not put the experience out of my mind.”  Check out his post, especially if you are a caregiver or a family member of someone with dementia. “This experience will increase your understanding and your level of empathy,” she says.

Lisa Krauss, the author of Growing Options’ blog, is a Geriatric Care Manager from Fairfield, CT. She founded Growing Options in 2002, and is a certified Professional GCM from NAPGCM. She serves both Fairfield and New Haven Counties in Connecticut, and is very well known in the area for her invaluable services. “Ways to Control Behavior Problems” is about understanding behavior changes in the elderly and how to best control them rather than get frustrated. She also offers a follow-up example to this post.

When something gets you down, remember how easy it can be to cheer back up. Patricia Grace presents How a Word Can Make Us Smile and Take Us Back… posted at Aging with Grace CareConnection. “I hope this takes you back and makes you laugh.”

Senior Caregiving


For those who are full-time caregivers, laughter is much needed, and so is a break every now and then. Caregiver burnout is all too common, yet feelings of guilt often prevent these dedicated individuals from setting aside their duties and allowing themselves “down time” in order to continue providing quality care. If you can relate, you’ll want to check out SeniorsForLiving’s very own post, Respite Care: A Caregiver’s Best Friend.

Denise Brown, founder of Caregiving.com, speaks more toward this situation, in “Helping You Help Aging Relatives.” When caregiving is getting the best of you, she says, “it might be time to look for more help and help from a home health agency may be just the ticket”

Also important is Patricia Grace’s post from Aging with Grace CareConnection: “Does the Buck Stop Here?” If Your Parents’ Money Is Disappearing, You Need to Intervene. “If your elderly loved one is spending money inappropriately this could be a warning sign.”

Boomer News of Interest

Kaye Swain of SandwichINK.com minds many of her grandchildren, which is why she’s so well suited to assure us that “You Can Have the Fruit of the Spirit For Your Grandkids’ Summer Project.” “As part of the Baby Boomer Generation, I am blessed to be in the season of grandparenting and love it! This summer, my grandkids and I are working on a fun summer project.”

This summer, think about what your loved one’s legacy will be? Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. and Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. discuss that very topic in Relationship — How the Sandwich Generation Can Help Their Parents Create a Legacy of Meaning at Nourishing Relationships.

Catherine VanWetter presents The Power of Words and Thoughts posted at To The Heart of the Matter, saying, “It is important to watch the words that you use and the thoughts that may be ruminating around in your head. It is believed that we have between 60,00 to 80,00 thoughts per day and most of them are repeats from yesterday. This article provides helpful tips to become aware of your words.”

Speaking of words, there are other ways to keep your brain agile, as well, says Alvaro Fernandez. He discussed this specifically in Maintain Your Brain and Stay Sharp posted at SharpBrains: “You may be reading all about brain fitness and brain training. It seems every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which often contradict what you read the month before: Does Gingko Biloba help delay Alzheimer’s Disease? Can physical exercise help you stay sharp as you age? Which computer-based “brain fitness programs,” if any, are worth your money?” Find out here.

Financial Issues for Retirees

In today’s economic times, more than ever, it’s important to get your finance facts straight. Jeff Rose presents How To Stretch Out an IRA For Your Beneficiaries, along with Five Things You Don’t Want to Hear From Your Financial Planner on GoodFinancialCents.com. “If you are a boomer facing retirement, these are five things you don’t want to hear from your financial planner.”

This may be one of the toughest housing markets for sellers, but for many boomers with aging parents, they are forced into a situation in which they must sell their parents’ home. Learn some tips for making it happen, courtesy of SeniorsForLiving’s guest blogger, Boomerater: How to Help Your Parents Sell Their Home.

Boomer Health & Wellness

“A recent study at the University of Massachusetts found that drinking apple juice could reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Marjorie. She shares the details in her post Apples and Alzheimer’s at Laurel on Health Food. “It may also be able to delay key aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and augment therapeutic approaches.”

How is your brain feeling? That’s the topic of the post by Catherine Eagleson at the Crosswords For Fun blog. “As your mind gets more active, your body wants to follow,” says Catherine, “so make puzzles your playground every day!”

Charles Chua C K presents a list that’ll have you saying to yourself, “it’s so true”: Baby Boomers – The 7 Ingredients of Happiness. Check it out and see if you agree at the All About Living with Life blog.

Heartstrong presents Women with Chest Pain Not Treated the Same as Men by EMS posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong. And if you’re not quite sure what that pain is, you’d best be suited to read Roy Schwartz’s entry, Chest Pain – Is It a Heart Attack? posted at A Disease A Day.

If you’re into lists, check out Margaret Garcia’s Top 100 Doctor Bloggers and Kelly Sonora’s 25 Excellent Social Media Sites for Your Health.

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