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SENIOR

LIVING

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SENIOR LIVING | SPORTS

Golf: Finding Your Senior Stroke

olf is one of the greatest hobbies for seniors because it requires


concentration and plenty of exercise both physical and
mental. But its the results that really make it all worthwhile.

The sweet sound of a


well-executed drive off the tee.
The fresh air entering your
lungs as you take in the sights
and sounds of a beautifully
manicured fairway. The satisfaction you feel as your 6-foot
putt sinks into the hole. Golf is
a beautiful sport.
Playing golf also has health
benefits not only because of
the exercise it provides, but
because of the socialization
and mental strategy involved.
Playing with a small group of
friends in a semi-competitive
environment helps you keep
your outside relationships
strong. And plenty of research
shows that the more we socialize, the better our mental
health.
Even if you prefer to play
alone, golf is a great sport for
working out those brain muscles. You have to make shot
decisions based on length, club
size, wind and other factors.
Computing all of this information into each shot keeps you
focused and sharp as you try to
card your best score ever.
Here are some tips that can
help you achieve just that:

STRETCH AND PRACTICE


Working out the kinks
becomes an important part of
preparation when you are dealing with arthritis or old sports
injuries. Proper stretching can
reduce pain on the course and

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improve endurance for a full 18


holes.
Create your own routine for
doing so. It can look something
like this:
10 minutes of stretching
legs, hips, shoulders and arms.

One large bucket of balls on


the driving range.
Plenty of water before you
take to the heat.

MODIFY YOUR SHOT


Losing power and flexibility

are common issues for the


senior golfer. With a little strategy in shot modification, you
can eliminate the worry of
coming up short on your drives
and long irons.
Where you used to reach the

green on a short par 4, shift


your focus now to hitting a shot
that is straighter instead of longer. If you can follow up your
drive with a short iron close to
the hole, youre still looking at a
birdie putt.

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SENIOR LIVING | LIFELONG LEARNING

Going Back to School

aybe the need for further education hit you when you
least expected, or maybe youre a lifelong learner just
looking to continue your old ways even in retirement.

Starting a collegiate career


late in life is becoming more
prevalent among the age range
of 55 to 64. And the benefits of
doing so can make those traditionally low-key retirement
days more fast-paced and
exciting.
Many colleges offer senior
citizen tuition waivers, and
some government programs
are set up to make college
affordable for the senior population. Check in with your local
college advisor to see what
your options may be in terms
of coursework, class load, tuition costs and schedules.

LEARN NEW THINGS


If youre attending college
late in life, you may not necessarily need the credits to prepare you for future jobs.
Instead, you may want to take
specific coursework because it
fascinates you or is something
youve always wanted to learn
about.
Browse through your local
colleges course list to find subjects that pique your interest.
Classes such as sociology and
history may teach you things
you never knew about human
behavior and past events, while
astrology and physics may
open your eyes to whole new
worlds.
Your advisor will be able to
walk you through the class-

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room requirements for each


course so you know what
youre getting into.

SOCIALIZE
Taking classes about interesting subjects is just the
beginning of the college experience. There are many extracurricular activities happening on
your campus, so dont be shy
about getting involved. Many

universities work hard to book


popular speakers, politicians
and musicians to enhance the
lives and learning of their students.
Participating in various
school clubs also can complement your coursework nicely,
so take the initiative to find
activities that fit your interests
and schedule.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES
If youre not under a time
crunch to finish a degree for a
certain career, taking college
courses at your own pace is a
great way to balance education
with enjoyment. Many universities offer senior-specialized
courses that will put you into a
classroom with people your
age, while you also can find
plenty of open space for learn-

ing among traditional students


if you prefer that route.
Whatever you choose,
remember to consult with your
advisor about the time requirements for each course. Factors
such homework or extra laboratory requirements for science
classes may disrupt your daily
routine more than you like, so
its important to do your
research ahead of time.

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SENIOR LIVING | SMART SHOPPING

Save on Contractor Services

or many of us, finding ways to affordably improve our living spaces is a


daily activity. We want the comfort of a home that fits all our needs and
is aesthetically appealing. We also want to achieve this at a low cost.

When it comes to hiring a


home contractor for updates,
renovations or new builds, there
are things you can do to make
sure youre partnering with the
right professional. They all start
with your friends and family
members. The people in your
network likely know of others
who have had similar work done
in their homes.

USE LOCAL RESOURCES

for their craft.


You also can find complaints
and litigation history by looking
online at various online forums
or the Better Business Bureau.
These quality checks can make
the difference in you making the
decision to hire a specific contractor or looking elsewhere for
alternatives.

NEGOTIATING YOUR RATE

By checking online for various


contractors and obtaining their
Many contracting companies
quotes for your specific project,
use your local newspaper and
you can quickly put together a
other media outlets to advertise
list of professionals who are in
their services. Keep an eye out
your price range. Remember that
for special deals. You may be
a quote is just that, so dont be
able to find reduced rates for
afraid to negotiate. Heres how:
wintertime work when business
Research: Know what the
may slow for contractors.
services generally cost by calling
You also might ask around at
around for multiple quotes. That
your local hardware store for
information on contractors who way when its decision time,
youll have a strong foundation
likely frequent the store for
of knowledge on what the final
materials and tools. Stay conprice should be.
nected with your local contrac Strategize: Dont show your
tor companies online and
through social media to see pho- cards too early. If you have a
tos and video of their work. All of budget in mind, wait for the
contractor to give you his bid
these resources can help you
first. Then let the negotiations
make the best decision possible
begin.
for your project.
Wait: If your home renovation isnt pressing, it can someQUALITY CHECKS
When it comes to hiring a con- times be best to wait a couple of
tractor, confidence is everything. weeks after your initial meeting
with a contractor to approve the
You want to feel that youre
quote. The waiting game can
working with a highly qualified
lead to reduced costs or addiprofessional, which means they
tional services.
have licenses and certifications

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SENIOR LIVING | HOBBIES

Take an Art Class


aybe youre looking to flex your creative muscles or simply seeking
a fun indoor activity during the warm summer months. No matter
the reason, starting a new art class could be the answer for you.

Many art associations and


community colleges have discount programs available to
senior citizens looking to pick
up a paint brush or take up a
hobby in pottery. Some senior
centers and veterans service
organizations also offer art programs that provide many benefits to aging artists.
These can range from
improved hand-eye coordination to the all-important socialization with peers. Relationship
-building and overall cognitive
impact also are major benefits
of seniors participating in the
arts.
With regular senior programs and highly qualified
instructors, you may find that
your local community is perfect for artists both professional and aspiring.

THE BENEFITS
New research supports the
idea that the arts offer the perfect mix of creativity and mental health benefits for the
senior population. Creative
activities such as painting,
writing, pottery, drama, singing
and storytelling raise self-esteem, increase enthusiasm for
life and result in fewer doctor
visits, according to studies by
the George Washington
Universitys Center on Aging,
Health and Humanities.
One of the centers studies

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tracked 300 men and women


across several arts programs
around the country. Research
found that arts participants
with an average age of 80
scheduled fewer doctor
appointments and used fewer
medications than members of
the control group who were

not involved in the arts. They


also found fewer incidents of
depression, higher morale and
more involvement in outside
activities.

FIND A FRIEND
Drawing, painting and creating by yourself can be enjoy-

able, but having someone to


talk to during the creative process makes for a more engaging experience. With a friend,
you can bounce ideas off each
other and garner opinions on
your artistic strategy for various
projects.
Dont fret if you cant find any

friends or family members


available to learn with you. Art
classes are great places to build
relationships with new people.
Dont be afraid to ask other
classmates about their artistic
influences and interests. You
may just learn something in
the process.

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SENIOR LIVING | AGING IN PLACE

Kitchen Renovations

s life changes begin to


occur, many seniors
renovate their homes
whether a whole-house overhaul
or a room-by-room approach. The
kitchen is always a great place to
start with cost-effective updates.
New technologies in tile, construction materials and design
make renovation planning a fun experience, no matter how large
your kitchen project.

WHY THE KITCHEN?


One of the rooms on which many seniors focus is the kitchen.
Thats because kitchen returns one of the highest percentages of
your renovation investment. From the backsplash to the countertop, there are many areas of the kitchen that can be improved and
enhanced with the addition of new materials such as tile, metal
or wood.
Before planning your next kitchen project, first decide the
amount of work that needs to be done. Will you execute a complete overhaul or are simply replace a countertop?
Make sure to budget correctly to avoid hidden costs. The cost
difference between pulling off the renovation yourself and hiring
a contractor can be quite vast. Consider if youre up to the challenge or if you prefer someone else to take care of the work for
you.

WOOD-LOOK TILE?
If its been a while since you last renovated your home, you may
not know about a major breakthrough in the tile industry that has
made it possible for homeowners to get the luxurious look of
wood tile without the worry of damage caused by moisture.
Wood-look porcelain tile comes in a variety of colors and finishes while appearing just like classic hardwoods you may have in
other parts of your home. The tile is durable and can stand up
well in high-moisture areas such as the kitchen.
You also can add the wood-look tiles to your backsplash for a
rustic look and pair it with metal accessory tiles to really make a
statement. Look through design magazines and consult with your
local interior designer to achieve the look for you.

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Connections happen in the Heart Hearing happens in the brain


is touch at a distance, reported Anne
Fernald, Professor of Psychology at
Stanford University. In other words,
sound is linked to emotional connection.
Hearing music, conversation with our
loved ones, or sounds for safety is critical
to enriching our emotional experiences
as we listen in life. As we hear, we feel
touched emotionally.

Terri Jo
Edwards, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology

Helen Keller once said, Blindness


separates people from things; deafness
separates people from people. Sound

When hearing loss is present emotional


responses can be skewed. Hearing loss
is linked to depression, isolation, anger,
frustration, and paranoia all of which
degrade quality of life. Treating hearing
loss with BrainHearingTM hearing
devices makes emotional connections in
the heart much easier, freer and accurate.
NewSound Solutions Terri Edwards,
AuD encourages you to seek help and
reconnect to your loved ones.

A Patients story - Our family is close


and we love to get together on a couple
Sundays a month for dinner. We have 2
adult children and 5 grandchildren. It can
get quite chaotic and noisy on Sundays
at our house. The last year or so, as we sit
down to a casual fun conversation during
their visits I find myself out of the loop.
I quickly wonder why they are laughing?
I dont feel like Im deaf but I didnt
quite catch that Then, my son came
to me - out of the blue - and said Dad,
Skyler (my 4 year old granddaughter) is
telling you about her new kitty.
He seemed frustrated with me. His next
statement HURT Do you not want
to listen or do you just not care what she
has to say? I was floored! Honestly, I
didnt even know she was talking to me
- I had been in my own world I guess
- just ignoring the conversation because

I couldnt get it. I was hurt and


embarrassed by my sons comment. I
thought Im 61 still working- - not old
enough to have hearing problems I
couldnt get over my sons frustration
with me so after sharing with my
wife she encouraged me to just go
to the Doctor my Doctor sent me to
see Dr. Edwards. I was diagnosed
with hearing loss and fit with hearing
devices.
To make a long story short Skyler
recently told her Dad I love Papa
he loves hearing about my kitty. My
hearing loss began to put wedges in
my relationships with my family. Im
glad I didnt wait to get help I feel
touched again.

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Alzheimers Help

It is part of the Alzheimers Association


North Central Texas Chapters mission
to help those confronting Alzheimers
disease or related form of dementia, to
regularly offer educational programs
on a variety of topics throughout our
40-county coverage, which includes
Parker County.

August 11 in Hudson Oaks. The seminar


will discuss the dynamic between
dementia patients and their caregivers.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are


free and any donations that help cover
the chapters cost of providing programs
are gladly accepted.

Today, 5.4 million Americans are living


with Alzheimers disease, including an
estimated 200,000 under the age of 65.
By 2050, up to 16 million will have the
disease.

The Associations next educational


seminar will feature Jolene Brackey,
author of Creating Moments of Joy, on

To help inform the public and the Parker


County community, the Alzheimers
Association has published its latest stats
and figures of the disease:

Alzheimers is the only cause of death


among the top 10 in America that cannot

be prevented, cured, or even slowed.


One in nine people age 65 and older
has Alzheimers disease.
Every 66 seconds, someone in the
United States develops Alzheimers.
Approximately 40 percent of family
caregivers of people with dementia suffer
from depression. Rates of depression
increase with the severity of cognitive
impairment of the person with dementia.
Compared with caregivers of people
without dementia, twice as many
caregivers of those with dementia

indicate substantial financial, emotional


and physical difficulties.

By 2025, the number of people age 65


and older with Alzheimers disease is
estimated to reach 7.1 million almost a
40 percent increase from the 5.2 million
aged 65 and older affected in 2016.

For more information about our


programs and services, including the
Hudson Oaks seminar, please visit:
http://www.alz.org/northcentraltexas/
in_my_community_58085.asp or call
1-800-272-3900.

SENIOR LIVING | MONEY

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Financial Planning Tips

oney isnt everything, and


it cant buy you happiness.
You know the old adages.
Some recent studies are proving
otherwise, however, underscoring
the importance of seniors making
smart financial decisions.
According to a recent study by the Brookings Institution, the more
money you retire with, the longer you live. Researchers tied the two
together and offer plenty of solid numbers to back up their claims.
Here are some of the Brookings Institutions key findings:
For a man born in 1950, life expectancy is age 73 if you are in the
poorest 10 percent of wealth, but age 87 if you are in the richest 10
percent.
For a woman born in 1950, life expectancy is age 75 if you are in
the poorest 10 percent of wealth, but age 88 if you are in the richest 10
percent.
The most dramatic upticks in life expectancy have come in the
wealthy population.
What does this all mean? The better prepared you are with retirement savings and a plan for your financial stability, the less stress you
will have and the longer life you can lead, according to the study.

HIRE A LOCAL ADVISOR


If youre intrigued by the aforementioned findings, its time to take a
look at your financial situation and how you have positioned yourself
for the future. Your local financial advisor can help.
Check in with a wealth management firm in your area to see if
theyre taking new clients. Call around and take free consultative
meetings before getting too deep into the process of sharing your
financial details and goals.
This kind of due diligence can help you make the decision that is
right for you. Once you find the professional you feel most comfortable with, start strategizing how you would like your savings and extra
income to work for you.
Your advisor will have advice for different savings plans and investment opportunities. Be open-minded and make sure to do your
research ahead of time so you can make the most well-informed decisions possible.

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SENIOR LIVING | PETS

Benefits of Owning a Dog

e know that walking is great for your overall health. New


research shows that walking the dog can be even better. Studies
connect the ownership of a dog to more exercise among owners.

Thats because if Fido needs to walk


off his energy every day, the owner is
likely to pick up some beneficial exercise in the process.
Researchers at the University of
Missouri found that dog walking is
associated with lower body mass
index, fewer doctor visits, more frequent exercise and an increase in
social benefits for seniors.
The next time youre looking for a
way to improve your overall health,
consider mans best friend as a solution.

THE LINK
Dog walking can be a critical part of
a healthy exercise routine. The
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends that adults of
all ages should engage in 150 or more
minutes of moderate physical activity
per week.
It also reported that among adults
60 years of age or more, walking is the
most common form of leisure-time
physical activity. It is less physically
demanding than other forms of exercise such as jogging or biking, and can
have the same positive impact on
overall health in many cases.
Hence the link between owning a
dog and more heath benefits.
Especially for dog breeds that require
a lot of daily exercise for healthy joints
and weight, owners may find themselves hitting the sidewalks two to
three times per day. Thats a lot of
extra exercise compared to seniors
who may be living more sedentary
lifestyles.

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MORE ON THE STUDY


The University of Missouri
researchers used data from the Health
and Retirement study sponsored by
the National Institute on Aging and
the Social Security Administration.
Their overall findings supported the
idea that dog ownership has a big

impact on human-animal bonding,


physical activity, frequency of doctor
visits and health outcomes of the participants.
Here are a couple of the major findings from the study:
Dog ownership and walking were
related to increases in physical health

among older adults.


People with higher degrees of pet
bonding were more likely to walk their
dogs and to spend more time walking
their dogs each time than those who
reported weaker bonds.
Pet walking offers a means to
socialize with pet owners and others.

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