Joan’s Boomer Blog

Baby Boomers are all familiar with the need for reading glasses. It seems to catch up with all of us at some point. Today, I have a guest post by Stacie Grissom, a writer for Reading Glasses Shopper where she writes and researches everything to do with reading glasses. She has also made a few videos on how to fix your reading glasses. In her free time, Stacie loves to take pictures with her collection of old cameras, work on her DIY craft blog, and play with her three-legged dog, Bridget.

3 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Reading Glasses

I’ve been a glasses-wearer my entire life but it wasn’t until a few years ago when it really started to affect me. The summer before my first semester at college, something in me just switched and it was impossible for me to wear my contacts anymore. My contacts drove me crazy. I was always rubbing my eyes and my eyes felt as dry and itchy as the Mojave desert. For a while I was uncomfortable wearing my glasses– I felt like they made me look dorky and just took over my face.

Recently, my mom has been having trouble with her vision as well and has finally accepted that she needs reading glasses. Between my personal experience with glasses, helping my mom find reading glasses, and my day job as a writer for Reading Glasses Shopper, I feel as though I have a few glasses tips in my advice arsenal.

1. Find a pair of glasses you like. I mean really, really like.

This sounds like a stupidly obvious piece of advice, but until I started to choose glasses that fit my personality, I was uncomfortable wearing them. The day I found my funky clear-framed glasses was eye opening. (Sorry, I had to. :))

(My clear glasses and I.)

I am an extreme advocate of choosing funky reading glasses if you like them. If you like subtler glasses, the rimless reading glasses are a great option. My mom wears these and sometimes it is hard to see that she is even wearing glasses.

2. Figure out which strength of reading glasses you need.

If you want, you can go to the eye doctor to figure out what prescription you need. But there is a much easier way to figure out reading glasses’ prescriptions with this print-out diopter chart. These charts are also in drugstores if you want to try on reading glasses there to figure out if you need 1.00 reading glasses or 4.00 reading glasses.

3. Find out what type of frame fits your face shape.

Different styles of frames look good on different shapes of faces. It is important to figure out what your face shape is to make sure that you have the most flattering frame style. Check out this guide on matching frame to face shape. Another easy way to figure out the shape of your face is to stand in the mirror and outline your face with soap. Then step back and see which shape your face resembles the most. I have a roundish face so I always look for wider frames.

Stacie Grissom is a writer for Reading Glasses Shopper where she writes and researches everything to do with reading glasses. She has also made a few videos on how to fix your reading glasses. In her free time, Stacie loves to take pictures with her collection of old cameras, work on her DIY craft blog, and play with her three-legged dog, Bridget.

Baby boomers are at the age when they will deal not only with their own medical issues and the maze of Medicare requirements, but also with their parents’ who will suffer different health crisis requiring care and oversight. Recently, I planned a visit to my parent’s home to help out after my dad’s hip replacement surgery and as things fell apart, I am seeing first hand how difficult it is to navigate this maze. If you are not aware right now of what Medicare covers and how it works, and what proposed deep cuts will do to this program which will affect you personally, it might be a good time to find out.

My own home is nearly 2,000 miles away from my parents and as we get older and our parents get older, this becomes problematic. Up until now, my 80+ year old parents have been in good health for the most part. Last month, though, my dad had a hip replacement. He was doing very well getting back on his feet, and then he suffered a mild stroke.

We are lucky in that the stroke wasn’t as bad as it could have been but at 86 years of age, the comeback road will be very long for him. I personally, am also lucky that my parents have my two sisters and their husbands living close by who are able and willing to devote time to seeing that my parents now get the help they need. While I’ve been here, though, it’s become my responsibility as the oldest in the family, to help them.

My dad was on the local fire department board for 40 years of his life and they vowed he would never pay for ambulance service. When we called them at 230 am after my dad woke up completely numb on his left side, the guys who came out knew my dad and they gave him wonderful care. So back to the hospital we went.

We spent several early morning hours waiting to see what tests found and what would be done. At first, they even contemplated sending my dad home with us, until he showed he couldn’t even walk with a walker. They admitted him for 48 hours observations status for more tests.

Here lies the rub with Medicare. By Monday, even before a proposed MRI was done, the “discharge specialist” had visited with a dizzying array of options but the bottom line was, dad would be discharged and since he was on observation status and not inpatient status, Medicare would not pay for further care, ie transfer to a rehabilitation facility (read nursing home with name change). Medicare would also not pay for him to stay in the hospital to see if he would regain some ground and we could manage at home. Forty-eight hours was all he was allowed.

I decided very quickly that my dad couldn’t be left at the hospital alone. The doctor had come in Monday morning, without us there, and asked him where he wanted to be discharged to and Dad said “home.” It was perfectly obvious to me, he couldn’t come home yet but the people at the hospital, with their little Medicare forms, were not above talking to a very sick and befuddled 86 year old man and demanding solutions from him.

My advice to anyone who lands in this situation, whether it is a spouse or parent, be present, be observant, ask questions! In the guise of routing out “medicare fraud and abuse” very sick old people are being put out onto the street with few options. My parents pay $10,000 a year for insurance and yet, if my dad was to receive more care, it would be up to my parents to pay, upfront, the $250 a day out of pocket. My parents, luckily for our family, have money saved for this situation but for those who have no resources, or even a family to fall back on, would actually be put out onto the sidewalk, I guess.

What saved our family, and I’m forever grateful for this, was my father’s physical therapist at the hospital. She said my dad seemed very motivated to get better and she recommended an intense inpatient therapy program at a larger hospital about 35 miles away. She spoke to the discharge planner and the doctor and on her recommendation, they all agreed if he could get into this program, it would help him.

So, as luck would have it now, since everyone recommended this intense therapy, then Medicare will pay for that. The discharge specialist at the hospital hadn’t even thought of this option so we were lucky.

So now my dad is in this program for at least 2 weeks, then after that, Medicare will cease to pay for any other care facility and he will come home. The staff at the hospital did tell us, however, if he needs home care or more out-patient therapy, then Medicare would pay, at least as far as we know.

(My dad was told at the inpatient rehab facility that to get in there the patient needed motivation to get better, doctor’s recommendations and good insurance! Which means my parent’s supplemental insurance is kicking in,)

If you’re a baby boomer or have parents who are on Medicare, it would be wise for you to keep abreast of the coming changes to funding. President Obama is proposing $320 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, programs which have already seen serious cuts.

Here is an article I found which lays out the coming cuts.

I know first hand, at the little fire department in our town where my dad was on the board, they have had cuts to the Medicare funding of ambulance service runs. Since there are many seniors on Medicare in this community, and since the fire department’s operations depended on Medicare funding, they are now tittering on the edge of serious financial problems.

My niece works at the hospital my dad was in and she said everyone is bracing for cuts to services after the Medicare cuts go into effect. Departments have already laid off personnel so they are operating on less staff.

My husband and I have kept up somewhat with Medicare funding issues because we are on Tricare and Tricare’s funding levels are tied to Medicare. I can tell you that even living in a very large area, we have trouble finding primary care doctors who will take Tricare patients because of red tape and low rates of re-embursement. The doctors we do get are overworked and push pills just to get you out of their offices (my personal opinion!)

I think many times we don’t keep abreast of these issues because they are daunting and confusing and we feel there isn’t anything we can do anyway. I’m not sure myself what can be done except to write to your Congressmen and tell they they will be voted out if they don’t stand up against cuts to Medicare funding.

If you’ve had experience with Medicare and Medicaid on either a personal or professional level, I’d love to hear from you. If you have any ideas of what readers can do to become involved, please feel free to comment. Medicare funding and getting older are issues we all need to be informed about.

A bone spur in the big toe! It seems every time I go to the doctor, I get another piece of news that tells me I’m getting older. This time, I’d had pain in the ball of my right foot for about two months before I finally gave up and went to the doctor at all. She sent me for an xray, which told me I had only a bone spur but arthritis of the big toe as well.

On the first visit, the doctor also gave me some cortisone pills, which can’t be taken long term, but will take down inflammation. Now I’m not for taking prescription pills of any kind, but the pain was bad, affecting my daily walks and my water aerobics, so I decided to take the pills and see what happened.

The cortisone worked all right - too well! After a day on them, all my bodily aches and pains disappeared. Little naggy joint pains in my knees and hands, which I’d just grown accustomed to over the years, were gone, just like that!

So my doctor’s recommendation was to go on Celebrix. She doesn’t know me and my anti-medication philosophy very well!

This is how I saw my bone spur situation.

1. Arthritis in an inflammatory condition. If I have arthritis in my toe, then I probably have it other places.
2. Instead of popping a pill, I need to get serious about an anti-inflammatory diet.
3. I need to find out what causes bone spurs and how to get rid of them naturally before I even think of popping a medication, which could have serious side effects.

In fact, I knew just the person I needed to go to for advice, a good friend from my yoga and tai chi class, who is also a nutritionist. When I mentioned bone spur to her, she pretty much gave me a free one hour appointment right there in the hallway of the Y, bless her heart.

What Causes Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are caused by ineffective calcium metabolism or excess calcium which allow for calcium deposits to build up and form a boney protrusion off of a bone, commonly in the foot. They are associated with arthritis and inflammation in the body and cause a lot of pain in the infected area. They can affect not only joints but nerves as well.

Excess calcium or inefficient absorption of calcium is caused by the fact that your body isn’t fully utilizing the nutrients you feed it or the fact that you’re not getting the proper nutrients in the first place. This could be due to a poor diet, getting older and other factors.

Symptoms a bone spur are:

Pain in the infected area
Swelling
Sometimes numbness and tingling if it is pressing on a nerve. If this happens around your spine, it is associated with degenerative spinal disease.

Diagnosis of a Bone Spur is most often done by xray of the painful, swollen area.

Medical Treatments for Bone Spurs

The most common medical treatment for bone spurs is surgery, which is painful and can have a long recovery time. Since bone spurs are a symptom of deeper problems affecting your entire body, however, it is best to address those issues but there are also natural remedies for bone spurs to get rid of that trouble in the short term.

Natural Remedies for Bone Spurs

Massage the area. Massage increased circulation to the area and is good for any type of arthritis. Since swelling traps toxins and debris in the joints and causes pain, massage helps release these to decrease pain and inflammation surrounding the bone spur. Deep tissue massage will help break up the calcium deposits.

Ice packs also helps decrease inflammation and therefore pain. My bone spur is in the ball of my foot, along side my big toe so I fill a quart size zip lock bag with ice, put it in a pan and rest my foot on it while I watch TV in the evening.

The spice Turmeric helps with healing inflammation, arthritis pain and bone spurs. Try 400 mg, 2-3 times a day and sprinkle it in your food as well. I use TurmericForce by New Chapter.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Apple Cider Vinegar is good for arthritis pain in general and bone spurs in particular. For arthritis, you can mix a couple of teaspoons in water and drink it. As a remedy for bone spurs, you soak the affected area in ACV for as much of the day as possible.

In the evening, warm a little ACV and pour it into a pan so you can put your foot in it. If possible, it’s also good to apply ACV to a gauze or cotton ball and wrap your foot so your bone spur area so it stays moist as much as possible.

I’ve read that this treatment can work in one week. I plan to try it myself and will report on whether or not it worked for me.

Excercise like yoga, which are gentle to the injured area help the bone spur to disappear gradually over time.

Vitamins and minerals to help heal bone spurs

Vitamins D and K promote bone health and can help heal bone spurs. Vitamin D recommended dosages range from 400mg per day up to 5,000. If you have a bone spur, you might want to consider taking about 2,000mg, which is what I now take. You can also get Vitamin D from about 15 minutes of sun exposure per day-without sunscreen.

Vitamin K can be obtained from hard cheeses like gouda (recommended on the Dr. Oz show!) Gouda also contains nutrients which are good for the heart and arteries so you don’t have to worry about high cholesterol. You can also get Vitamin K from probiotic fermented and cultured veggies and drinks. We’ve started eating homemade cultures vegetables every day with dinner.

Read more about the health benefits of cultured foods.

Minerals- Since your body is probably not absorbing and using the minerals you eat in your diet, you need to make sure you get enough trace minerals. Try drinking a good quality sparkling mineral water and using quality Himalayan Sea Salt, which contains minerals and offers many health benefits. Quality sea salt is definitely NOT to be confused with ordinary table salt which is stripped of any mineral benefits and contains many fillers and additives which lead to hypertension.

Most Americans’ bodies are in a highly acidic state from excess sugar, fast food, processed food, caffeine and alcohol. The acidic nature of our diet leaves us open for diseases like arthritis and other aging, degenerative diseases. Sea Salts added to the diet can help create a more alkaline body, while adding important trace minerals missing from so many diets now.

If you would like more information on how to create a more alkaline body and adding probiotics and cultured products to your diet, I highly recommend you order a copy of the book The Baby Boomer Diet, Body Ecology’s Guide to Growing Younger: Anti-Aging Wisdom for Every Generation, by Donna Gates and Lyndi Schrecengost.

I just finished reading this book, which comes out in October, and I thoroughly believe every baby boomer who wants to avoid all so-called age-related diseases should read this book. It should be the gold standard in anti-aging books. It also gives an eye-opening picture of how baby boomers are suffering the consequences of being the first generation to live with processed and fast food and being over exposed to chemicals, pesticides and additives in our food and water.

Donna Gates also wrote the Body Ecology Diet and many of the principals of this diet are repeated in the Baby Boomer Diet but with an emphasis on healthy aging. Stay tuned for my review of The Baby Boomer Diet. I’ll be talking more about the principals of the diet as I implement them as well.

Don’t forget, if you suffer from bone spurs, this is a symptom of a larger problem which you should address with a natural healing program such as a diet full of vegetables, less acid forming foods like those mentioned above, lots of exercise, drinking plenty of good quality water and other all around healthy living techniques.

Update on Natural Remedies for Bone Spurs

Acupuncture for Bone Spurs

I recently read that people have some success with acupuncture for bone spurs so I am giving this method a try. I had my first treatment yesterday and the acupuncturist (one I’ve been to for other health issues) told me it usually takes 2-3 treatments so I’ll give an update on the results.

One for the Road by Lynne Marshall is the first romance novel I’ve read in many a year, I must admit. Because the topic of my blog is boomers, Lynne graciously sent me a copy of her book to review and although my last exposure to this genre was 30 years ago, I was curious to see if older heroines just might start a welcome trend.

One for the Road by Lynne Marshall

The heroine of One for the Road is D’Anne Palmer, a recent widow who found out her dead husband was up to some suspiciously dangerous things. The two of them had taken off on a trip across country in their new deluxe 40 foot motor home, when Reese died suddenly, an apparent suicide. D’Anne was left stranded, alone far from home, and broke. How would she get back to California without any money?

Hiring out the RV with herself as driver seemed like the perfect answer. She was less than happy though when the first person to approach her was a has been country singer, Tyler White, who needed transportation for his band to a series of appearances, ending up in Las Vegas. Could an uptight, 40-something California woman with two grown sons find true happiness with a washed up country singer trying to make a come back?

I have to admit, after years of reading about reed thin beauties who find love with handsome (and of course rich) hunks, it was a bit disconcerting, if refreshing, to find a heroine who worries she’ll have a hot flash at an inopportune moment or feels self-conscious because of her crow’s feet or a couple extra inches around her middle.

The hero of the book is also in his 40’s, suffers from high blood pressure and is a few pounds overweight. He examines his hair to see if a suspicious spot on his head is showing scalp and sucks in his gut, resolving to skip breakfast.

His view of D’Anne is “for an older gal, her curves are holding up real good” and she sees him as a “little over the hill, creased and broken in like a favorite chair.”

Still and all, romance and passion for the over 40 set is still alive and well! Sparks fly and we are given a good reason too why D’Anne the recent widow could so easily fall for a broken down cowboy on the comeback trail.

One thing I liked about the book was Marshall’s handling of the reality that the characters came from two different worlds. When we’re young, we tend to think love conquers all but as we age, we know that to keep a relationship going, we really do need to have many things in common. When D’Anne meets up with her two grown sons and a good friend at the end of the road in Las Vegas, she sees Tyler through their eyes and wonders if she’s crazy to even consider falling for him.

It’s easy to see why D’Anne’s sons thought she’d lost her mind. When a normal middle-aged mom hooks up with an aging country singer and his band and travel the road with them, it might just give the kids some moments of worry! It’s very real too, to think that a mother might look at herself through her grown children’s eyes and suffer doubts about what she felt and what she was doing.

Lynne Marshall has a very entertaining style and her middle aged characters’ romance is wonderful to read about. I think the story appeals to all of us who ever  think about packing up and taking to the road, living a different life and finding love along the way. If you like romance novels but you’re tired of beautiful, thin heroines and hunky rich heroes, pick up a copy of One for the Road.

On her blog, Lynne says she didn’t seriously pursue writing until age 50 and got her first book sold shortly before her 56th birthday. What an inspiration to all the baby boomers out there who think it’s too late to pursue a dream.

Visit Lynne Marshall’s blog to learn more about One for the Road and her other contemporary romance novels.

I read about two birthdays recently that made me feel nostalgic. Cheerios cereal is now 70 years old the the cleanser, Bon Ami, which was green before it was in to be green, is celebrating it’s 125th birthday. Isn’t it funny that with all the newer, fancier versions of these two products out there, that people still prefer the old standards.

In the days before the thousands of sugary cereals that get kids attention today, Cheerios was one of the staples in our house. According to USA Today, one of every 8 boxes of cereal sold today is still Cheerios. My daughter is 24 now, but when she was a baby, I always kept a baggie full of Cheerios in my purse as a snack and to entertain her when we were out and about. Now my own daughters do the same with their kids. Cheerios are still the go-to snack choice for toddlers.

Of course, over the years, the advertising slant has changed somewhat. now Cheerios are touted as a food to help you lower cholesterol and beloved by mom’s for it’s low sugar content. When Cheerios first came out, nobody thought about such things.

A couple of years ago, we put a new sink in our kitchen and the manufacturer actually recommended Bon Ami as the non-scratch cleaning powder to use. My mom used to use this eco-friendly cleaning powder back before chemicals, when every thing was eco-friendly-we just didn’t know it then. I hadn’t used any in years before the new sink’s appearance but now I’ve converted back to this old standby because I’m trying to use less toxic chemicals around my home.

I’m not the only one either. More and more people are switching back to good old Bon Ami for its lack of harsh chemicals. This 5 generation, family owned company now sports other eco-friendly cleaning products, including dish soap, liquid and powdered cleansers and an all-purpose cleaning spray. This nostalgic company has moved into the future with Facebook fan pages, a newsletter, a community forum and more.

Cheerios has kept up with the times too. The Cheerios website boasts recipes, a coupons and promotions section, mention of a Facebook page and Twitter account.

It does my heart good to see how products from my youth and even further back, have withstood the test of time, despite the fact that “new and improved” products are being invented almost hourly.

The number of years these products have been around, becoming even more popular as the years go on, also illustrates how things come in full circle. When I was a kid, pretty much every cereal was low sugar and good for you and no cleansers had harsh chemicals in them. As I get older, it makes me feel good to know that younger generations have come to value, and even demand, products that don’t destroy our health and our environment.

So Happy Birthday Cheerios and Bon Ami! I hope you’re both around another 70 years and 125 years, respectively. I’m going to head over the the Bon Ami community forum and see if I can find some good cleaning tips.

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Looking for a unique birthday party idea for the boomer in your life? Luau birthday parties that appeal to

In Hawaii the birthday gal or guy is presented with a lei. Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Japan

baby boomers have much in common with a luau for any age - good food and drinks, Hawaiian entertainment, tropical décor and lots of fun! There are a few things to consider when planning luau parties for boomers, and then we’ll take a look at 50^th and 60^th birthday party ideas.

The Birthday Luau Menu - Boomers are generally an active and healthy bunch, but you will see more special diets amongst us than in younger generations. The solution is simple. Include on your luau menu foods suitable for those who are watching their sugar/carbs (such as diabetics) and salt intake. Some of the most traditional Hawaiian foods are good bets, such as baked yams, barbecued chicken and fruit salad.

Activities -  While many boomers are healthy and even more fit than young people, many older boomers experience stiffer joints and less flexibility (just don’t try telling that to my friend’s 70-year-old yoga instructor or  Mick Jaggar!). When planning your luau party games, keep your guests’ fitness levels in mind. For example, opt for luau trivia games and costume contests over limbo and the slip in slide.

50^th Birthday Party Ideas - The youngest of the boomers have turned or will turn 50 in the next few years. Whether planning a big luau bash for the 50^th milestone or simply a party for the 50-something year old, consider nostalgic themes reminiscent of their growing up years. For example, a 55-year-old (in 2011) was 12 years old in 1969 and 18 in 1977 and spent most of his or her childhood in the 60s. Rock n roll, folk rolk, surfer music, and heading into the 70’s - disco, are music genres to consider for your party mix. Many of the Hawaiian recordings from this era reflect mainland pop culture influences as well. Favorite Hawaiian songs heard on the mainland during this era include “The Hawaiian Wedding Song,” (Elvis and Andy Willams versions) a long list of songs by Don Ho, Elvis’ Blue Hawaii soundtrack, Keola and Kapono Beamer’s “Honolulu City Lights” and more.

60^th Birthday Party Ideas - Luau birthday parties marking a 60^th birthday are generally pretty lively! After all 60 year olds aren’t even eligible yet for senior discounts at most places. Nostalgic themes that relate to their youth are a good bet for these boomers. Keep in mind those turning 60 (in 2011) were teenagers in 1964 - 1970. The 60’s is a fun party theme - encompassing quite a range in music and pop culture. Find out what the guest of honor loved the most and then figure out how to incorporate this into the luau. Is your guest of honor a big fan of Elvis? Blue Hawaii’s a no-brainer. The Beach Boys? Look like surfs up at this luau! Beatles? Get creative - George had a home on Maui, and they all visited and loved Hawaii. Use a photo editor to put the Fab Four into lei and aloha wear. Games might include hula hoop contests and Hawaii in the 60’s charades. The Tacky Tourist Contest is also a lot of fun.

More Tips:

Google for headlines in Hawaii for the guest of honor’s birth year and see if it’s something you can use in the luau theme. For example, one of the big news headlines in 1959 was:

“Hawaii’s Volcano Puts on Most Spectacular Show Ever as Hawaii Achieves Statehood!”

Include Hawaiian trivia, culture and pop culture games that will be fun for those who remember the 50’s or 60s such as charades. Many boomers, even if they have never been to our Aloha State, know  who Don Ho was and where Elvis and Maile had their Blue Hawaii wedding (Coco Palms on Kauai).

Incorporate your luau birthday party them into the invitations, decorations and if your guests are game, suggest they come dressed in vintage Hawiian clothing.

For specific luau birthday party ideas for boomers and older seniors, check out this article:

“Luau Birthday Parties for Seniors” at Arleen Reynold’s new luau site (Arleen was raised in Hawaii and now lives here in Texas where she dances hula with her troupe at local luau and other events).

You’ll also find fun luau games on her site like the Tacky Tourist Costume Relay and more!

Aloha!

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Is your older dog suffering from arthritis pain? As I’ve gotten older, I know I suffer from more aches and pains than when I was young and it’s the same with my dog. I have a 12 year old lab named Leo,

Leo Age 12

who has always had bad hips and a little difficulty with her back side but in the past year, she’s been having so much trouble it was hard to get her out for her daily walks.

It’s hard to watch an older pet having difficulty walking, running, climbing stairs and even standing sometimes. We remember them so well as carefree puppies (just like us when we were young!) and we’d like them to have a good quality of life as they get older.

When I have an ailment, I search for natural and alternative remedies for myself so I decided to do the same for Leo. I went in search of natural remedies for dog arthritis pain and I found several that are working for her.

First of all, many people who’s dog’s are suffering from arthritis pain are prescribed Rimadyl Dog Arthritis pain relief. About 3 months ago, Leo actually fell on the stairs and couldn’t get up without a struggle. I thought maybe the Rimadyl was better than this so I took my vet’s advice and gave it to her for 10 days to get rid of the worst inflammation. (Although he prescribed 2 pills a day, I only gave her one, then one-half) When I read about the adverse side effects, including fatal toxic reactions, and I knew I didn’t want to keep her on that medication. If you’d like to read more about the adverse effects of Rimadyl, I put a link at the bottom of the page.

I now give Leo some supplements and an all natural homeopathic dog arthritis pain remedy called Arthro-Ionx Pet Arthritis Medicine for Dogs and Cats. The info on this product says it “enhances pet mobility and flexibility, and boosts your pet’s energy levels.” I decided to try this particular remedy because it has great reviews on Amazon.

The directions on the Rimadyl said not to give with any other anti-inflammatory medicine so I started cutting the dosage on the Rimadyl to one half tablet. Instead of giving Leo the final day’s medication, I decided to start the Arthro-Ionx. The Rimadyl had definitely helped Leo to get around better and when I transitioned to the Arthro-Ionx, I didn’t notice any any worsening of her problem at all. The Arthro-Ionx seemed to take care of the worst of Leo’s arthritis problem.

Supplements for Dog’s Arthritis Pain

Supplements can help dogs with arthritis pain, just like they can for people. Both people and dogs benefit from glucosamine. Many senior dog foods have glucosamine in them nowadays or you can get capsules at the store and sprinkle over your dog’s food.

I got some 500 mg glucosamine capsules, which also have chondroitin and MSM in them for Leo and she gets one on her morning food.

I also give both my dogs Joint MAX TRIPLE Strength SOFT CHEWS, which have glucosamine and a few other remedies for joints. I use them for treats and you get get Joint Max in chews or tablets. Leo will eat anything, but my other dog, Molly, won’t touch the tablets.

Another supplement which helps both dogs and people are omega 3 fatty acids. I’ve tried several of these but Grizzly Salmon Oil All-Natural Dog Food Supplement is a pretty good one.

The dosage on the omega 3’s is higher than you might think for a dog. I was giving Leo some each morning before her hip problems but I upped the dosage when she started having more pain and I think it’s helping.

The Arthro-Ionx is a liquid which looks like water and I have a little trouble getting Leo to lick it up. I think maybe she doesn’t see it or smell it enough to know it’s there. What I do now is it on a place and add some omega 3 oils, which she loves, so she licks up the entire thing.

While all these remedies are making things 99% better for Leo, there are still days she struggles a little with the pain. For those days, I got some Arthrin Buffered Canine Aspirin Soft Chews, which last for 12 hours on a dosage.

My vet told me not to give aspirin every day, although several years ago, I had another dog and another vet, and he told me to give that dog an aspirin a day so I figure if Leo is having a painful day, a little aspirin is better than Rimadyl, which I know is harmful. I always give it with food too because too much aspirin can cause bleeding in stomach.

Is all this getting expensive? You bet, but believe me, Rimadyl is VERY expensive if you decide to put your dog on it long term. You also need blood tests every 6 months to see if it’s causing harm to your dog, and blood work is expensive. I spend a lot on foods and supplements to keep my husband and I healthy so our pets are no different. I’d rather spend money on supplements than vet bills.

If you’d like to read more about the adverse effects of Rimadyl, check out The Senior Dog Project

This is a guest post by author Kitty Holman. As someone who currently lives with two dogs and two cats, all

Leo and Molly brighten up our lives

rescued from sad situations, I can personally vouch for how much pets add to my own life.

Owning Pets Especially Beneficial for Seniors

By Kitty Holman

As we approach or find ourselves in the thick of retirement, we naturally become more attuned and concerned about our mental and physical health. Your children are more than likely grown up with families of their own, you no longer have that 9-to-5 to worry about as much, and now it’s time to settle down, caring about you, and however the case may be, your spouse as well. While we try to focus on our health by exercising, eating well, and generally keeping our minds and bodies fit, we may forget to factor in the “overall quality of life” component.

One of the best ways that a senior can improve his or her quality of life is to get a pet. That’s right, your little pooch or tom cat can enhance your life in many ways, according to recent research. For one, owning pets helps to combat mild, chronic stress or mild to moderate depression, two disorders that are increasingly prevalent among older people. Just by petting or interacting with a pet, a pet owner can accrue many mental health benefits like decreased blood pressure. Although the link between pet ownership and health is not yet firmly established, many studies show that pet owners sleep better and are more fit than their non-pet owning counterparts.

Especially when it comes to dogs, animals which require regular exercise, owning pets can help older people stay in shape. After all, it takes motivation to get out the door and go for a jog. When Fido absolutely needs the exercise, you simply can’t tell yourself, “I’ll go for a run tomorrow.” Taking pets outside also encourages establishing social ties, as walking in a public park means you’ll meet fellow pet owners.

Experts also suspect something that you may already have figured pets can do wonders in relieving empty nest syndrome, simply because pets give their owners something to care about and for. Pets, of course, return the favor, radiating excitement when you return home, eager to be in your company. A WebMD article on the connection between pets and mental health noted, quoting Alan Entin, a Virginia psychologist:

“When you are feeling down and out, the puppy just starts licking you, being with you, saying with his eyes, ‘You are the greatest.’ When an animal is giving you that kind of attention, you can’t help but respond by improving your mood and playing with it.”

Of course, for seniors who are interested in becoming new pet owners, you should plan carefully, taking into account your schedule and abilities. If you are extremely busy, it may be more prudent to get a cat instead of a puppy, which requires much attention. It’s also very important to find a secondary caretaker for your pet in the event that you can no longer care for one. In the end, if you do your research and prepare accordingly, getting a pet might be one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

I’ve mentioned my friend Tom Grimes, who has a health coaching business, in past articles. Yesterday I received an email from Tom and asked his permission to share it with you. Tom’s good friend has spent the past few weeks in the hospital with complications directly related to obesity and diabetes. As Tom told me, this wasn’t one of his many success stories but it does give food for thought as we contemplate how our daily lifestyle choices affect our health.

Tom says, “I have been thinking about writing this email for several days. Actually, over the past 23 days I have been sitting daily in the ICU waiting room of Santa Rosa’s Memorial Hospital.

Someone very close to me, Nancy, has been hospitalized with a serious illnesses that is the direct result of obesity. A friend described Nancy as being “one sick puppy.” That is a very good description of her right now.

Unfortunately what Nancy is experiencing is becoming more and more common. In the U.S. 300,000 people die every year from the issues obesity and that figure does not include the millions who are experiencing a decrease in their quality of life.

Even though Nancy watched me lose weight and even lost some herself, she neglected to change her habits to maintain the weight she lost and her sugars went out of control by her food choices she was making.

So many times we wait and ignore or put off for another day which is exactly what Nancy was doing. I’m sure you know people who are making the same mistake that Nancy made. Perhaps you are too.

For several months I have been sending you my Healthy Habits eNewletter. 20 to 25 percent of the people I send it to click on the front page. A handful read one or more of the articles. I understand completely. However, now I’m challenging you. Check out the Healthy Habits eNewsletter in your inbox and share it with someone (click on Send to Friend) you know who may be struggling with their weight, energy or health. One doesn’t have to believe that it will work, you just have to follow the plan and it works. Why not give it a try before it is too late for you or your loved ones.

Please, also say a prayer for Nancy as she goes through this long recovery process.”

We do send Nancy our prayers, Tom.

If you would like to subscribe to Tom’s Healthy Habits monthly newsletter, click here for more information.

In the meantime, consider what you are eating today. Did you go for a daily walk? Did you spend some time doing something you truly enjoy, free from worry and stress? All of these are choices you make about how you are living your life. Each daily choice adds up to a life lived and each choice helps decide whether or not you end up like Nancy or whether you active, energetic, and healthy every day of your life.

Brain games are becoming more popular as baby boomers start to have more “senior moments.” Let’s face it, as we get older, we start to lose some of our brain function. We forget things. We lose things. We sometimes feel like we are slipping - just a little - mentally.

The good news is that by doing brain teasers and brain games, we can actually improve our brain function and keep those old wheels turning in our head. As a rule, I don’t go in for playing games, unless it’s a rousing game of Scrabble or Apple. I see friends and relatives, old and young, with their eyes glued to their iPhones, playing some game or other and I think “What a waste of time.” For me to play a game like that, it has to have a purpose. Improving brain function is a pretty good purpose, I think.

There are quite a few sites out there for brain games. Some charge a subscription fee but I’ve found some free brain games online that are fun and they help improve language skills, problem solving, analytical skills, memory and concentration among other things.

Brain Training 101 offers free games and a newsletter , plus you can sign up for a “free brain training power Pack” which includes a braining training guide and a brain booster audio. The free games include memory power games and brain teasers and puzzles.

Senior Ark is a great site I just recently discovered. If you go to the home page and scroll down past all of their interesting topics for seniors, you’ll find a list of free brain games for seniors.

AARP - Of course AARP offers many resources for seniors and brain games is no exception. There are five categories of games and puzzles, for analytic skills, problem solving, keeping your brain sharp, language skills and improving memory and concentration.

These brain training games come from Parade Magazine. The six different games here each tell you what they do for your, ie improve problem solving and processing speed, and then gives you easy to follow directions. Parade also has other areas of interest if you like browsing, such as health and fitness.

Games for the Brain offers over 40 brain games of different kinds. You can even get them sent to your mobile device here.

If you’re one of the millions of iPhone and other mobile device users, I’m sure there are also dozens of brain game apps you can download. I’ll have to ask my kids about that one-lol

If you don’t mind spending a little money for brain games, here are a couple of good puzzle and game teaser books from Amazon.

Entertain Your Brain: More than 850 Puzzles! Math problems, lateral-thinking conundrums, brain teasers, whodunits, IQ tests, trivia quizzes…as well as an assortment of baffling optical illusions and amazing stunts using paper, scissors, and other items found around the house.

The Total Brain Workout In all, there are 450 puzzles for you to solve in this book. They are organized into nine chapters, each containing fifty puzzles that have a specific brain-based objective built into them. The fifty puzzles in Chapter 1 are designed to help activate the language areas of the brain, for example, whereas those in Chapter 2 are designed to stimulate visual thinking areas.

The Big Book of Brain Games: 1,000 PlayThinks of Art, Mathematics & Science is a collection of 1,000 challenges, puzzles, riddles, illusions. Ranks difficulty from 1 to 10.

I know there are many more resources out there as brain games gain in popularity. If you know of any you’d like to see included, or if you’re an old hand at brain games, I’d love for you to comment.