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Aging: Expectations vs Reality

Donna Nichols • July 23, 2021

When we were young, we had these expectations of how our lives would be when we were older.

How did that work out for you?

Not even close in my case!

I was going to have a big, beautiful house with servants, be a full-time writer, have lots of money (without having to work for it), be able to do whatever I want any time I want, have a great husband, and look like a supermodel.

Well, I do have a great husband!

Sometimes you just have to laugh at the things life throws at you, otherwise, you’ll be miserable. You have to remember, things always work out the way they are supposed to, there is a plan for everything.

Remember when we were young and we walked along the curb or ran up or down the stairs?

Now we have to look down at the curb and step up or down ever so carefully and forget about stairs!!

Who would have thought curbs and stairs would be scary?!?!? You can actually throw a hip out just by stepping off a curb!

What the?

I remember when I was a teenager and I thought 70 was so old , HA! Now, when I hear someone passed away at 70 years-old, I think, Oh my, they are so young! Funny how things change over the years.

Aging: Expectation vs Reality

I like what Neil Gaiman said, 

“There are things I miss about being younger - chiefly the ability to pull all-nighters and keep working and working well; and being smiled at by girls I didn’t know who thought I was cute; and I wish I had the eyesight I had even five years ago… but that stuff feels pretty trivial.”

Remember when you were younger and you’d get off work, go out for dinner or eat at home, then go out and do something, go to a club, play golf, walk on the beach, anything?

Or how about traveling? Do you still do that like you did when you were younger?

How long has it been since you started a new hobby? No, not thought about it, actually started it.

We all have good intentions, like starting a new hobby, we think, Oh, I’d love to start doing this or that, but what happens? You eat dinner, clean up, watch the news and are ready for bed at 8:00 p.m. HA! I know I am!

The energy level is gone!!

Also, how about sitting up all night watching tv. Now, it’s too uncomfortable to sit in a chair and watch tv, so you watch it from your bed. How did that work for you? How much of the show or movie did you miss?

I usually pass out within fifteen (15) minutes. Gotta love getting old.

When you were young you never had to write your passwords or phone numbers down, now it’s like you have to have a book for everything!! I have to write down EVERY phone number AND have them stored in my phone.

Passwords, forget about it!! I try to pick the easiest ones I can think of so I can remember them. If you do write down your passwords, PLEASE make sure they are in a safe place!!

There are so many expectations we had when we were young that do not turn out like they were supposed to, but that is life and you have to laugh about it or you will shrivel up and die.

I want to leave you with a couple of closing thoughts.

Not everyone gets the privilege of getting old. Do whatever it takes to enjoy it.

If you’re looking for other senior living articles and resources then click here.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.

Eleanor Roosevelt

If you need help or encouragement as a Caregiver give us a call at  386-847-2322 or check out our  Caregiver Support Group. Our  Senior Advisors  are here to walk with you through this journey.

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Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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