I am a content writer specializing in pet health and safety, health and lifestyle, lawn and garden, and the 50+ market.
Is It Just Sadness or Is It Clinical Depression?
Jude Evans-McCarthy found herself struggling with feelings of despair, but she kept them to herself, not wanting to be labeled as “crazy,” and even withheld information from her doctors.
Then one day, after years of struggling, she nearly drove her car into the path of a semi-truck.
“The only thing that stopped me was that my pets were in the car. And I didn’t want to [kill myself] and have my son dealing with the aftermath of it, wondering if I didn’t love him,” she said.
Evans-McCarthy was ...
Time and Talent to Spare? Consider Volunteering
Craig Coleman of Springfield, Vermont, believes that volunteering is a way to live the Golden Rule. He certainly acts on that belief, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, Senior Solutions, Volunteers in Action (VIA), and the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which honored the 76-year-old Coleman with its President's Award earlier this year.
Volunteering, he says, has deepened his spirituality and allowed him to express his personal faith.
Coleman exemplifies the millions ...
Birdwatching and Your Brain
A recent study in Canada suggests that knowledge of a subject, such as birdwatching, could play a role in aging and memory. According to the research group Statista, more than 15 million Americans counted themselves as birdwatchers in 2020, an increase from nearly 13 million participants in the previous year.
And if you are an accomplished birder, a new Baycrest study found that having expert knowledge in a subject such as bird identification could help with memory.
Sorting Out the Similariti...
A Visit with Officer Clemmons from 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'
You may remember the character of Officer Clemmons, the police officer/singer who was a friend of Fred Rogers on the beloved PBS TV show, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," from 1968 to 1993. But Dr. François S. Clemmons and Rogers were close friends off the stage of the children's program. In fact, Clemmons grew to view Rogers as a father figure throughout his adult life.
Clemmons, 77, earned a Bachelor of Music degree at Oberlin College and continued to Carnegie Mellon University, completing a ...
Yogurt for a Healthy Gut
We've been told that yogurt suits us at any age and can be incredibly healthy for older adults. Why? Because it helps maintain the balance of the microbiome in the gut thanks to, among others, a small but mighty group of yeasts and live bacteria known as probiotics.
Keep reading to learn more about how these microorganisms may help boost your digestive system overall.
What is Yogurt?
Yogurt is traditionally a dairy product made by introducing a culture, or a blend of bacteria that feeds on la...
Why Can't I Eat Grapefruit? Foods That Interact with Medications
Certain foods might affect how prescription medications interact in the body
Pirates ensured they had plenty of citrus fruits like limes and grapefruits onboard for their journeys. But if you are taking medication, these fruits might be a problem. Why? Some foods and herbal supplements can affect how prescription medications work in your body. They could even eliminate the effect of another drug or cause side effects.
However, the opposite is true – some medications can cause your body to abs...
Buying a House in My 60s
I wanted to buy a house of my own.
After several years filled with changes in location, finances, relationships, and goals, I was ready to settle down, stop renting, and buy a place. I just wanted to buy something simple, in reasonable shape, but at a price I could comfortably manage. That meant that I needed to obtain a mortgage.
As a "solo aging" self-employed 63-year-old, I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. The pandemic had altered the real estate universe, resulting in higher prices and...
Time and Talent to Spare? Consider Volunteering
Craig Coleman of Springfield, Vermont, believes that volunteering is a way to live the Golden Rule. He certainly acts on that belief, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, Senior Solutions, Volunteers in Action (VIA), and the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which honored the 76-year-old Coleman with its President's Award earlier this year.
Volunteering, he says, has deepened his spirituality and allowed him to express his personal faith.
Coleman exemplifies the millions ...
Help for college students who have moved back home (and their parents)
Congratulations! You graduated!
And now you are moving back home.
The reason is probably financial. Tuition isn’t cheap and you may have tackled that bill on your own. Although some colleges and universities froze or lowered tuition during the pandemic, many cite lower enrollment numbers and inflation as a reason for raising tuition rates.
After college, the job hunt might be difficult no matter what type of degree you have under your belt. New college graduates often end up working in jobs t...
The Future of Long COVID and Your Health
When Maya McNulty of Niskayuna, New York tested positive for COVID in March of 2020, she experienced a gamut of symptoms including fever, chills, and headache, as well as loss of taste and smell.
"I knew instantly that I had come in contact with the virus, at the gym in the sauna," said McNulty. "It hit me like a Mack truck. I had never been so sick in my life and had no prior medical conditions."
McNulty, now 49, spent time in a medically induced coma, endured a tracheostomy and was on a ven...
Are You Drinking Enough Water?
Aging brings about physical changes that affect the body's ability to cool itself and to stay hydrated. You depend on water; in fact, it makes up more than half of your total body weight. It is necessary for temperature regulation, the elimination of waste, joint health, and more. Dehydration can occur if you do not have enough water in your body to carry out those tasks.
Older adults are more apt to experience dehydration due to diabetes or renal disease. Some medications can affect a person...
Out of the Dark: Managing Night Blindness
The struggles to see at night are real. You carry a flashlight every time you leave the house or enter a dark room. You grip the steering wheel and strain to see road signs or manage the glare of oncoming headlights when you drive after dark. You may decide not to go out at night, unless someone else offers to drive. Night blindness, which affects many Americans over 50, can be stressful and limiting for someone who once enjoyed the night life.
Sometimes aging can affect our lives through sen...
Colorfast SDA Fabrics
Costco Connection | April | Home & Garden | Colorfast
Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics can help outdoor colors last longer
by ROSIE WOLF WILLIAMS
Sunshine can bring color to your cheeks. But it can also cause the bright colors of your outdoor furniture to pale over the summer from the sun’s constant rays. The answer: Solution-dyed acrylic (SDA) fabrics can help to extend the color and life of your patio shades, cush...
What's Love Got to Do with Mental Health?
Can we live on love? No, but it actually makes life more healthy.
In cases where older persons have no meaningful connections or support, their mental health can decline and can even trigger behaviors that can affect their physical health. Loving relationships, and even brief social interactions, can reduce loneliness and improve the health and longevity of the aging population.
Credit: Getty
"Human beings are social animals. We thrive in connection. And positive relationships can lead to bet...
How to shop and save at ALDI
You may have wondered what the big draw is to ALDI grocery store chain. Some say it’s a strange cult, a mecca for frugal shoppers. The store even has fan clubs with impressive numbers of followers. And I think it might be the only store that has a secret language. Stay with me and I’ll explain.