Seniors

Alzheimer's overwhelmingly negative brand associations have made it difficult to galvanize public support demanding effective treatments and prevention.

Normal 0 We all know that police officers and fire fighters put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect but did you ever think that your neighborhood schools might be full of individuals that would gladly sacrifice themselves in order to protect your children? When I was growing up we would have never considered teaching a dangerous profession but in today’s world that is what we have seen it become. We have seen teachers shield children from the bullets of a mad man and we have witnessed teachers using their bodies to shield children from the ravages of a tornado. Does your job entail sacrificing yourself to save others? Mine doesn’t.What saddens me is that the very people who are willing to risk everything to protect your children are not given the respect their education and dedication deserve. They are often looked upon as glorified babysitters rather than the educators that they are. They are held accountable for someone else’s bad parenting; they are blamed when a child doesn’t learn because he is disruptive and refuses to work. They are held accountable for test scores over which they have no control. They are continually expected to do more with fewer resources. We pass laws governing classroom size but never enforce. It is easier to pay a fine than to adhere to what is right.Like police officers they are constantly told how to do their job. And, like police officers, they are almost always under paid for the job they do. Yet, in spite of the low pay and the unreasonable expectations they are willing to work to open the eyes of young people to all the possibilities our world has to offer and they prove their dedication by sacrificing their own lives to protect the children in their care.

Painting with watecolor.  Making butterflies.  Wrapping rocks.  Smelling the still pine needles in the sun. Heading out soon for a hike.  Smiling.             All I had to do was have faith and be open and all this was right there all the time.  These heart stones were literally at the bottom of the front steps just as you see them up above when I walked outside to smell the morning mountain air.  It gave me goosebumps.  It was magic!

I have big news to report!!! Debra Rapoport has started an Etsy store where she will be selling several of her incredible handmade hats and embellishments. She is working on getting new higher res pics up very soon, but if you want to a quick peek to see what's in store CLICK HERE.

A small experiment finds that family members are more comfortable with the phrase "allow a natural death."

Many aging adults avoid exercise because they are afraid of being injured. Little do they realize that the actual danger lies in becoming too sedentary. As we age, our bones, joints, and muscles naturally begin to deteriorate as cells gradually die off, making us more frail and prone to serious injuries. The only way to combat the aging process is by exercising, which encourages the body to produce new cells and increase muscle and bone density. Fortunately, it is never too late to start an exercise regime and improve your fitness: “In one study, life expectancy was increased even in persons who did not begin exercising regularly until 75 years of age.” No matter your age, fitness level, or mobility limitations, there are low-impact exercises that can improve mobility and promote a healthy life. Find out more about how exercise can positively affect many areas of your life: Increasing Balance & Preventing Falls Falls are an all too common occurrence among seniors and even the slightest of slips can have catastrophic consequences for older Americans. Over 40% of people who suffer a hip fracture are unable to return home to live independently. In addition, 25% of seniors who suffer a fall pass away shortly after their injury. Simple balance exercises and resistance training can strengthen stabilizer muscles that aid in balance and ultimately help prevent falls and potentially fatal injuries. Research has found that practicing tai chi is especially helpful to seniors. This ancient form of exercise has its roots in martial arts and involves slow, deliberate movements. Practitioners methodically transition between poses while concentrating on their breathing, emphasizing the mind/body connection. This form of exercise is especially helpful to seniors because it is low impact that reduces stress and improves balance and flexibility. Prevent or Delay Disease Aging naturally causes a loss in bone density that can result in Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and other diseases, especially in adults who have additional risk factors. While most people associate exercise with losing fat and gaining muscle, strength and resistance training also affect bone density. As you engage in challenging exercises, your body responds by increasing blood flow and creating cells that add new layers of bone growth. This increases bone density and strength, actually making it harder to incur fractures and breaks. Without exercise, cells will continue to die without being replaced, resulting in weakened bones. In addition to low-impact cardiovascular exercise, seniors should incorporate weight bearing movements into their exercise routine. This doesn’t mean slinging around massive weights at the gym. Even powerwalking and dancing can have a beneficial impact on bone density that can help prevent or delay the onset of Osteoporosis and other bone and joint related diseases. Combat Depression & Dementia In addition to having physical benefits, exercise can also affect your emotional and mental well-being. Getting older can mean facing a combination of major life changes and stressors all at once. Dealing with the loss of loved ones, a decrease in mobility, and a lack of purpose, can make seniors especially prone to depression. Research shows that older adults experience clinical depression at over twice the rate of the rest of the population. Exercise can be the most valuable tool seniors have when it comes to boosting their mood and fighting depression. In fact, for some patients, regular exercise is just as effective as anti-depressant medications. Research has also proven that there is a direct link between a strong body and a strong mind. Lack of physical activity can cause cognitive decline and increased instances of dementia and Alzheimer disease. However, if you engage in regular physical activity, you can lower your risk of dementia by 24%. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can significantly improve your mood and cognitive abilities, thus ensuring a better qua

While today’s retirees do have many post-retirement life choices available to them, some studies show that retirement is bad for our physical and mental health.

This is a guest post by Dave, who is also looking to retire no later than 45, but unlike Tim has no kids and doesn’t want any. Dave is from Ontario and is working towards his CGA certification. I hate to admit it, but I’m forgetful sometimes. There are days when I leave the house and for some reason, forget to lock the door. The crime rate in my city is fairly low, so the risk of theft is minimal, but it’s probably not one of my best ideas. My wife and I laugh when we stop to think what we would really lose if someone came in and emptied our house of everything we owned. Our condominium insurance covers the contents of our house for $20,000 – we would have a hard time spending half that amount of money to replace clothes, furniture and electronics stuff. Most of the money we spend in a year (from reviewing our “non-fixed” expenses) is traveling, driving around the province to visit friends and family. Our spending around the house is minimal, at best – other than attempting to increase her clothes collection. My TV is over 10 years old, and I dread moving it around (it’s a beast). Our furniture is serviceable and comfortable and works for us. When we started down an Early Retirement path, we knew we would have to prioritize our spending away from typical “luxury” items to shift that money to paying down all debt and eventually ending up with enough money invested to be financially independent. If all goes well, we will achieve financial independence by the time I’m 45 (11 years from now). Besides our house, our personal balance sheet shows very little in the way of assets. Everything we own can be replaced with a few calls to Kijiji sellers. I have maintained my “student” lifestyle, which does provide a certain level of freedom – a lack of attachment to “stuff” has definitely assisted significantly in our financial plans. If anything, we would probably enjoy our home more if we emptied it all out and started over again. My wife and I talk about all of the things we could spend money on, and prioritize away from items that we didn’t care about and spend as little as we can on things that do. I think our decisions are a little different than a conventional household because we have a significantly shorter window available to us to achieve the financial goal, which forces us to optimize much more. I’m not really sure whether my spending patterns would be a lot different without setting the goal I did, but I find having even a moderate goal in mind forces me to think and make do with what I have, whether it’s a conscious decision or not. What kind of stuff do you just stop caring about in order to increase your saving level?

One refreshing aspect of the book is that seniors living at Pine Haven are not pigeon-holed into typical stereotypes of older adults often depicted in the media.