Intelligent Senior Citizens

Is President Obama doing a good job?

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:51:06 +0000

I think he is considering all the problems he has to face both foreign and domestic.

Are you worried about health care?

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:42:13 +0000

Health care ideas are bouncing around the news lately. They say medicare will run out of money in 10 years. Some people can’t get insurance. What about “End of life counseling“?

What do you do for boredom?

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:19:06 +0000

Sometimes when senior citizens are alone they get bored. I have books to read. I have computer games. The trouble is I can’t sit still long enough. When this happens I try to talk myself out of it. I count my blessings and try to lie still in my bed and watch TV. On nice days I go for a walk. If you get bored to the point where it leads to depression, get professional help. With my Medicare HMO, I can see a psycologist with no co-pay! I’m going today! That was a good session! More advise: Plan something. Plan a vacation, a party or just make plans for the next holiday. Contact a friend or family member and have lunch. If you’re bored remember, only you can get rid of your boredom.

How can we maintain brain function as we age?

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:32:11 +0000

As we age less blood gets to the brain due to high cholesterol and lack of brain exercise. We need to feed our brain with good nutrition and mental exercise. Check out the link entitled, “Pick the Brain”. This site addresses the question very well. Excellent site! Make your brain work for you. Do brain exercises. Play challanging games on line. Eat Less Fat! I stopped eating ice cream to lower my fat intake. Animal fat turns to cholesterol which restricts blood flow to the brain. Physical exercise can help the brain by pumping more blood to it. On my Medicare HMO, I get free gym membership. I recommend fitness training for those who can. For those who can’t, find some physical exercise to get the blood flowing.

Should you invest money if you’re retired?

admin — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:54:15 +0000

As a senior citizen, I still save money. Especially if you’re under the age of 75 or so, investing can still be fun and profitable. The stock market is low as are many stocks. Real Estate is also an investment which will most likely go up. Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose. Watch trends and the financial news. Mutual funds are still a good investment, since they have stock from several companies. Another good investment is the bond market. It has been considered an investment with less risk than stocks. Rental condos are another good investment, if you buy low and sell high. In addition to increasing in value, they provide a monthly income when rented. What are your investment plans?

Phil

As you get older do you think of death more?

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:36:31 +0000

Many people think about death more as they get older. Some take solice in religion. Some people put it out of their minds and forget about it. Personally I gravitate to stories of people who have died and come back. I have also talked to some of these individuals. They all talk about a better place that they will return to. Most of us are too attached to this life that they just want it to go on and on. People who are old and putting up with a lot of pain and suffering look forward to the secession of pain. How do you feel?

Phil

What do you do about short term memory loss?

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:56:27 +0000

I do things like leave a light on or write down my thoughts. I tried tying a string on my finger but I forget why I put it there. Other ideas, alarm clocks, automatic on/off television, have someone remind you. What are your thoughts?

What will you do when social security runs out?

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:52:02 +0000

Lately we have been hearing in the news that Social Security will go broke. The question is when. What will you do? Right now Social Security accounts for about 1/4 of my income. The more you depend on Social Security the more you will be hurt when it goes broke. President Obama suggested we raise the cap on Social Security so the better off should keep paying into it regardless of how high their income might be. It’s time to start thinking about a life without Social Security. My plan is to keep paying down on my debts until I can survive without Social Security. The Stock Market has helped me in the past. I hope to catch the Stock Market on the upswing. I would like to save enough to buy another rental property but that seems like a long way off. I am an optomist. I have been broke and have had to start over with nothing. I am sure I will survive without Social Security should it fail. People lived without Social Security before the New Deal. How about you? What will you do?

Who looks after you when you’re old?

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:11:45 +0000

I just finished reading on a web site called Belle on line. This site is dedicated to the childless lifestyle. They don’t want your post if you take a different viewpoint. I take a different viewpoint. First, I was born a member of the working poor. I am now a member of the middle class which is a world of difference. I got married right after 4 years in the Navy. I got a job right away and got my wife pregnant right away. For the working class that’s all there is, work and family. When you’re poor there are programs to take advantage of such as food stamps and Medicaid. Thanks to Medicade my last child cost nothing in hospital or medical bills. Another advantage to being poor is if you divorce, there’s not much they can take from you in child support. So, my advise is to have your children and your first divorce when you’re still poor. Then you can set about educating yourself (with Pell grants and loans) and start your career.

I didn’t have children so they can take care of me. Worst case scenerio one of my three daughters or one of my 7 grandchildren would do it. I did not settle in New York State, where I grew up. I settled in Florida. There were 4 siblings still living in the area. My father had my mother to take care of him. When my mother widowed, she lived alone. There was always a son or daughter to help with shopping etc. As for myself, I am very independant and expect to die right at home as my previous wife did. At 65 I eat right, excercise and take the advise of my doctor. I do some things to keep my mind active. One thing I do is work as a part time postal clerk. Another is I play Scrabble on line or with my wife. There are also alot of things to do involving the computer.
Another thing I would recommend is long term care insurance. I don’t expect to ever need a nurse but if I do I’m covered. My daughters should never have to take care of me that wasn’t why I had them but here’s a note to you childless people. My daughters have given me more love and happiness than I deserve. It is also comforting to know that my DNA will continue for years to come. I would never deny anyone the right to be childless, but isn’t that a little selfish? These folks probably wouldn’t make good parents anyway.
Phil

It’s time to use your intelligence!

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:45:48 +0000

When you’re young, you can eat anything you like. You can climb trees, run and fall and everything is fine. Some of the things we can no longer do is painfully obvious. Evolution of the intellect can only occur when the brain is engaged. We have more knowledge than ever before. That is shown by the fact that we need computers to store all the information we might need in the future. We have all the information we need to eat a healthy diet. People, including some intelligent people don’t eat intelligently. Many of us have been told to avoid certain foods and drinks. Some folks say they enjoy the way they eat and drink and will do so if it “kills them”. It often does. With good genes, a good diet and exercise we could live past 100. That is my goal. Another thing we can’t ignore is our health. Our body usually gives us a warning when something is wrong. Don’t iqnore it. Go to your doctor regularly. Take the tests or procedures your doctor recommends and always take your medications as prescribed. Good mental health is also something that can’t be ignored. Feel depressed? Yelling at people you love? Get therapy. It’s on your medical plan. I see a psychologist and I pay nothing. Comments welcome.
Phil