Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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December is the coldest month of the year in our area, and the winter solstice occurs on December 21. It's the shortest day of the year, the first day of winter, and from then on the days will be getting longer. Celebrations around the solstice are most often marked with greenery for the promise of a returning spring, yule logs and candles to increase the light for the day, and in general everything nature-related to remind ourselves we live on a living, changing, complicated...
Spend a few days in a waterfront town, vacation destination or golf community, and you may see local electric vehicles on neighborhood streets. The street-legal, low-speed vehicle category extends the fun, yet practical vehicles to suburbia and urban downtowns as the market for sustainable transportation grows. Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) offer a safe, efficient and enjoyable drive – especially when highway speeds and 300 miles of range aren't required for daily drives. What a...
Delaware is the best state to retire in 2024 as Iowa, last year's number one, drops to ninth place, according to Bankrate's annual Best States to Retire Study. The study ranked all 50 U.S. states by affordability (40% of the ranking), overall well-being (25%), quality/cost of health care (20%), weather (10%) and crime (5%). Alaska held last place in both the 2023 and 2024 rankings. Bankrate's 2024 best states to retire are: 1. Delaware 2. West Virginia 3. Georgia 4. South Caro...
Scam artists are constantly changing tactics to steal your personal identifiable information (PII), including account usernames and passwords, Social Security numbers, birthdates, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs) or other sensitive information. With this information, they can carry out crimes like financial fraud that can be difficult and frustrating for victims to remedy. The United States Postal Inspection Service is working hard to stop...
The following is a section from A Quick Guide to Managing Care for Your Aging Relative in California by Leah Vickers, which begins with a list of the best sources for finding a caregiver: • Church organizations and religious affiliations, • Private caregivers, • Family, • Friends, and • Caregiving websites and agencies. Things to Do • Make sure to research the agency and website. • Ask to speak to those who currently use the service. Call references. • Do the agency and its ca...
As we age, isolation and loneliness increasingly become concerns for the well-being of older adults. It’s a vital consideration for older adults and their loved ones, because a significant fact-or in one’s mental health is the strength of their relationships. For over 80 years, Harvard University has been collecting data and conducting a study on the topic, and according to their findings, “people with strong connections to family, friends and their communities are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than peopl...
Spring is in the air, but we could have reminders of winter and hints of summer all month. Planting: Spring is the second season of major planting. You can plant all varieties of trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers and vines. In the edible garden, plant heat-lovers like cucumber, tomato, melon, beans, eggplant and squash towards the end of the month. You can also plant potato, radish, chives, greens, beets, and herbs of all types. Citrus, avocado and other...
Engaging in music throughout your life is associated with better brain health in older age, according to a new study published by experts at the University of Exeter (in the U.K.). Scientists working on PROTECT, an online study open to people aged 40 and over, reviewed data from more than a thousand adults over the age of 40 to see the effect of playing a musical instrument – or singing in a choir – on brain health. Over 25000 people have signed up for the PROTECT study, whi...
You may have heard about older adults being tricked into sending money to someone they think is a grandchild or other relative in trouble and thought to yourself, "How could anyone fall for that?" But the truth is, today's advanced technology makes it easier than ever for scammers to trick their unsuspecting and well-meaning victims. To protect yourself, it pays to understand how fraudsters work, what red flags to look for, and how to trust your instincts so you don't end up...
Question: How do I handle speaking with the doctor at the hospital if my husband has dementia and the doctor wants to speak in front of him? Answer: That is a great question! Many family members have difficulty when their loved one has dementia, and the hospital staff want to speak about medical issues in front of them. It is too overwhelming for them to hear the quick conversation that the doctors are trying to convey to update both of you on his medical condition. Many times, the doctor or nurse will ask your loved one...
People in their eighties who can recall everyday events and life experiences as well as someone 20 to 30 years younger – known as superagers – are also more likely to have greater movement speed than typical older adults. They also have lower rates of anxiety and depression, according to a new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal. Most people's memory function gradually declines as they age, however, superagers appear to be able to avoid this age...
Project SHAPES aims to incorporate robotics into assisted living by helping seniors in their daily lives. As part of the project, its social robot, ARI, has been taking part in a pilot program as a home robot in senior housing and residential homes. SHAPES, which stands for "Smart and Healthy Aging through People Engaging in Supportive Systems," uses digital solutions to create an environment that supports healthy and independent living for older individuals. The overall goal...
Senior playgrounds are places where older adults can get exercise and fresh air while developing their strength and coordination. They are popular in countries such as China and Finland, and were slowly gaining popularity in the U.S. before the pandemic. They are still few and far between in the U.S., however, to some degree as a result of people not understanding – or perhaps not agreeing on – what exactly a senior playground is. "A senior playground is an outdoor space wit...
A typical March is beautiful with warm days and cool nights – perfect for gardening, which is good, as there is lots to do this month! Planting Plant all varieties of trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers and vines. In the edible garden, plant heat-lovers like cucumber, tomato, melon, beans, eggplant and squash. You can also plant potato, radish, chives, greens, beets and herbs of all types. Citrus, avocado and other frost-sensitives should be planted in the second half o...
With the widowhood effect, older adults who have lost a spouse face an increased risk of dying compared to those whose spouses are living. Causes of the widowhood effect may include self-neglect, lack of a support network, and lifestyle changes that follow the death of a spouse. When you're mourning the death of a spouse, social support and self-care can help you manage your grief and find healing. We've all heard stories about inseparable older couples where one passes away...
AARP, working together with the Consumer Technology Association, presented a track of programming at CES 2023 focusing on AgeTech, the growing category of technology solutions designed to meet the needs of the world's aging population. CES, the Consumer Elec-tronic Show, is considered the most influential tech event in the world, showcasing breakthrough technologies and global innovators. Held every January in Las Vegas, CES features every aspect of the tech sector. Spending...
Gyms tend to be full the first week of January as people set out on their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions. By the end of the month, however, the crowds have usually thinned. For older adults, the new year is as good a time as any to make progress on health and fitness – but how do you keep it going for the long-term? Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure that your New Year’s resolutions stick: Consult a Doctor Before embarking on any new fitness regimen, check with your doctor to get a sense of what your bod...
Happy New Year! Hopefully, January is a month of continuing snow, rain, fog and misty mornings. Although plant growth slows down in the cold soils of winter, some growth continues, often only underground. Our winter and early-spring blooming shrubs, bulbs and perennials love all this frosty damp weather. And whatever moisture is not used can be stored deep in the soil for later use. Planting Although we can plant year-round, we usually delay most planting until the...
Perhaps you have noticed the days are getting shorter? A sure sign that summer is winding down and fall is around the corner. I think of the garden year not from January to December, but from autumn to autumn, since so much of our garden creation and re-creation happens in the fall. The first half of September is preparation, and the second half is when the action really begins. Planting The vegetable garden transitions from warm to cool season, so there will be some of each...
Be easy on yourself and on your garden this month. Do everything you can to conserve water. Enjoy the harvest of the summer garden. Planting Don't plant ornamental plants in July. Instead use your water to keep the vegetable garden, orchard and existing plants (especially trees) healthy. Late in the month, you can start seeds for fall-harvested vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, chard, kale and cabbage. Plant in the ground or start seeds in containers for transplanting in...
The Homebound Senior Social Network (HSSN) is a free program offered by the Valley Caregiver Resource Center and Kings-Tulare Area Agency on Aging (KTAAA). Since 2007, the program, which is only offered to Tulare County residents ages 60+, has been funded by a grant from KTAAA. The program is currently weekly, with seniors in Tulare County connecting by phone on Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. In addition to helping seniors make new friends, the program offers activities such as “Name that Tune,” “Pet Tales,” “Armchair Travels,...
January can be a busy month in our Central Valley and foothill gardens. Hopefully, we will be dodging rainstorms and working on foggy days. That's what our gardens rely on for health later in the year. On the other hand, there are some jobs that can easily be put off or skipped altogether this year. Is that heresay to say? Sometimes, taking garden care too seriously can make us forget this should be enjoyable. Gardens are never perfect. It will never be "finished." Enjoy the...
On November 16, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren delivered its first report to Congress. The report is a culmination of a two-year effort that gathered information from kin and grandparent caregivers of children across the country. It provides an overview of the many complex issues faced by these families and recommendations for addressing them. The 22 recommendations fall under five priority areas: • Awareness of and Outreach to Kin and Grandparent Caregivers including increasing public unde...
What is a Form 602 and why is it important to have it completed before moving to assisted living? A Form 602 (better known as a Physicians Report) is a state-mandated report that needs to be filled out by the primary doctor. It asks questions about primary diagnosis, dementia diagnosis, allergies, and a plethora of other important items that caregivers in the assisted living facility need to know before they can create a care plan, or even accept the resident. It is basically the doctor saying, “This is my patient and here ar...
November is one of my favorite months in the California garden. I watch leaves descend, winds sway even large tree branches, and sheets of rain (hopefully!) wash off a year's dust. Birds and even some late butterflies, moths and bees work feverishly to gather enough stored energy for hibernation or migration. Since we all know our water supply depends on abundant mountain snow, we rejoice when we see snow-capped peaks after a good storm and there is still optimism that the upc...