Exercise

How to Make Good Lifestyle Choices for the Rest of Your Life

      Do you remember the song about how all our bones are connected? “The foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone…” Hearing it as a kid was the first time I thought about the concept that everything in our body is connected to everything else. You only have to stub your toe to […]

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How to Eat So Your Body Doesn’t Blow Up Like a Bubble

Inflation. Inflammation. Although they have slightly different meanings, they both come from the root “inflame,” and when it refers to your body, it’s not good. When your ankles are swollen on a hot, summer day, or you have an infection and  part of your body swells, you are aware of it. It’s uncomfortable. You keep

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The Number One Factor in Maintaining a Healthy Brain

     Is it playing those word games I love?      Solving math puzzles I don’t?      Spending regular time with a group of close friends?      Good genes?      All of these are factors, but the single greatest element of brain health over which you have control is your diet.

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How to Avoid the Fall That Can Change Everything

A fall can change everything. Not a profound statement. Of course it’s true. Broken bones are no picnic, especially for elders who heal slower and have multiple medical issues. But have you considered this: Falls can trigger chronic pain which will change the quality of a person’s life. Head injuries and all their implications as

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Finding Practical Ways for Elders to Emerge From Depression

Roger had been taking the anti-depressant for two months now. The doctor had warned him that they were starting with a small dose and would raise it slowly as needed. He said he would monitor closely, and that it often took some time to find the correct drug and dosage for each person. “Covering his

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Practical Ideas to Combat Loneliness in Elders

Wanda had watched her father sink into the abyss of loneliness over the last few months, and she felt desperate to help. Nothing she did seemed to make a difference.      When Dad’s best friend had died suddenly several months ago, it had seemed to knock him off his feet emotionally. Then it happened

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Dealing with Behaviours: When All You Want Is Sleep

Edith woke with a start.  The children needed her. She had to get them dressed for school, and make sure Jeremy washed his face and brushed his teeth after breakfast. Alice didn’t usually need reminding, but Jeremy tried to sneak out without cleaning up. She needed to make their lunches, and after they left, she

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How to Train Your Mind to Handle Chronic Pain

I felt like a bug on the wall, hearing a private conversation which took me into the hearts and mind of people struggling with dementia. It wasn’t private, but a podcast featuring several people sharing. One elderly British lady stole my heart as she explained how she took her caring children aside. “Please don’t help

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How to Outsmart Chronic Pain so it Sits in the Back

Have you ever been in a room with a loudmouth? Maybe at work, or a party? I met one in a bus shelter once. A loudmouth has opinions and loves to expound them. They have no interest in listening, little agenda for hearing or understanding your opinion, and they are “full of themselves.” Their opinion

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Can Exercise Be Fun? Here Are Some Tricks and Tips

“Exercise and fun shouldn’t be used in the same sentence.” I said and believed that for years, and I sometimes feel skeptical even yet, but I’ve found ways to make even the most boring leg lifts more fun. (Okay, somewhat, a little fun. Endurable.) What is exercise? This feels like a “stating the obvious” question,

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