Health and Aging Archives

What We Are UP To: The Reentry Edition

May 19, 2021 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

Thank you so much for being patient the past few weeks. Like many people, we’ve been busy with vaccinations and thinking about reentry! While we’ve been waiting for this moment for a while, it’s possible that on some level, reentry could actually be more challenging that sheltering. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

Watching | Falcon and the Winter Soldier

> Regular readers of Unretirement Project know we’re Marvel fans. We finished watching WandaVision recently and just started on this new show. However, we do have a tough decision to make with our reentry: when will we feel comfortable going to a movie theater? There are lots of exciting movies coming out in the months to come.

Reading | The Stand

> I’m not a big horror fan, but I do love Stephen King’s writing. Since the pandemic started, people have been talking about “The Stand” and I had never read it. Finally got my hands on a copy. It’s the “uncut” version – 1308 pages! So far, it’s off to a good start but I have a lot more pages to go. Something tells me that I’ll be well into reentry before I finish this one.

Remembering | The “next normal” is what we make it

> I keep reminding myself that returning to normal doesn’t necessarily mean a return to everything we used to do. We’ve developed some good habits over the past year that we want to keep. And we’ve gotten rid of some old habits that we don’t want to start again.

Working On | Vacation plans

> Like many of you, we’ve had several vacations cancelled over the past year. I’m not sure if we will get a lengthy vacation in this year but we are finding that travel accommodations are in demand. We’ve looked at a few trips over the past few weeks that are marked “sold out”. It’s clear that we’re not the only ones missing travel.

Feeling | Good

> While we’re certainly not done with COVID-19, things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Vaccinations are up and cases and deaths are down in many places. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are offering more guidance on the things we are able to do as part of our safe reentry and return to society. It’s great to be able to do more activities, but we’re playing it cautious.

Planning | A day trip

> As part of our reentry, we’re planning a few day trips. Gainesville is a small city, so we’ve decided to drive to a larger city (like Orlando or Tampa) to run some errands. It’s a good way to get our car on the open highway and when we’re ready to come home…we can. There’s also a terrific barbecue place right outside the city, so we can stop for some takeout on the way back home.

Loving | Nail Oil Pens

> One of the habits that I started during the pandemic was using a nail oil pen on my cuticles. I haven’t been going for manicures and my nails were quite a mess. I read somewhere about a writer who kept a nail oil pen on their desk and used it every morning. So, I decided to give it a try. Very easy habit to develop and it really makes a difference! While I’m looking forward to manicures as part of my reentry, I will not be abandoning this new habit.

Geeking | Spaceship Earth speaker holder

> If you have an Amazon Echo dot or a Google Mini Nest, this holder is so cool! It’s a 3D printed copy of Disney’s Spaceship Earth, the iconic ride at the entrance to EPCOT. The dot/Nest sits on top, and it has a port for the cords to come out the back. Fun for kids and adult kids alike.

What’s UP with you? Let us know what you have planned for your reentry!

Create Opportunities to Get More Comfortable with Technology

March 24, 2021 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

shirt print about technology technically awesome

I’ve seen several headlines recently about seniors who are frustrated because they can’t get COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Because the majority of places offering appointments are doing so online.

I realize that it won’t eliminate the frustration, but I’d like to think that everyone realizes the reason that county health departments and retailers are using online technologies to schedule vaccine appointments is because its faster. Individuals can schedule their appointments at their convenience. The scheduling process involves fewer people, which allows those people to focus on the task of putting shots in arms. Which is what we all want.

In an article on The Verge, I learned that only about half of individuals age 75 plus use the internet. Of course, not using or having access to the internet is not only frustrating for older individuals, but for organizations. In a study from McKinsey & Company, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated technology advancements seven years. Think about that. The McKinsey study is saying that we’ve put seven years of technological advancements in the past year alone.

While I understand that having access to technology is an equally important issue, we’re going to save that conversation for another day. Individuals need to figure out how to get more comfortable using technology. It’s not about age. It’s about being able to get the things that you need and want using the technology that is available.

Using Social Media in Unretirement: 5 Day Plans

Social media isn’t just some fad. It continues to grow as a communication medium, connecting business and personal brands with a vast global network. Whatever your goals, you can scale your social media activity up or down. Right now, we’re really experiencing the value of connection. Learn how to carry that forward into your own retirement and unretirement.

How to Become More Media Literate

As much as technology and social media have enriched our lives, those tools have also created challenges in being media literate. Each of us has been susceptible to misinformation on the internet. My guess is that won’t be ending anytime soon. This isn’t something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Even professional journalists have had it happen. And the answer isn’t to stop using the internet. It’s to get better about questioning what we read and see.

Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift

For the first time globally in 2018, the number of people over 65 has surpassed those under 5 and that number has only grown since. The healthy aging trend has not been lost on Madison Avenue and other leading marketers throughout the globe. As a result, many brands are viewing seniors as a prized demographic. They are expanding their product offerings along with their marketing budgets to reach the over-65 consumer. And even a few brands that target a much younger audience are developing new product lines with healthy aging in mind.

Smart Home Technology Helps Aging in Place

You don’t need to get a degree in engineering to become proficient with smart home technologies. But for all of those people who might be saying, “Ah, who needs the internet?!” keep in mind that smart homes are the wave of the future. It’s what people want. And it’s what companies are making. At some point, it is possible that all we might be able to buy are smart home technologies. No one wants to age behind a steep learning curve.

Organizations have the ability to create wonderful, valuable products and services for the aging population. My prediction is that many of those products and services will involve technology. Our ability to use technology could have a significant impact on our aging and retirement. It would be better to learn more about technology when you can do it comfortably at your own pace.

What We Are UP To – The Waiting Edition

March 10, 2021 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

One of the little factoids you might not know about Gainesville, Florida is that it’s the birthplace of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty. I can’t help but think of his song “The Waiting” as we are all “waiting” our turn for COVID-19 vaccines. See what I did there – ha.ha. Seriously, while we’ve been waiting, we’ve found a few things to keep us busy.

Watching | History of Swear Words

> I understand there are many studies that say people who use swear words are more intelligent and creative. My use of swear words is mostly limited to when I slam my fingers in drawers (as in “Oh, S***!) But we do like Nicolas Cage, so we were anxiously waiting for this Netflix series. It’s fun and there are great history lessons from etymologists about the origins and evolution of swear words.

Reading | Books About Cosy/Cozy

> To help me enjoy my waiting time (and because it’s a little chilly outside), I’ve been reading books focused on the art of comfort. My list includes “Cosy: The British Art of Comfort” and “The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge”. My big takeaway from them is to define your own cosy/cozy. It might take some time to figure it out. And we also have to learn how to be respectful of other people’s cosy/cozy.

Remembering | Our most popular post

> We were wondering the other day about the most popular content on Unretirement Project. Interestingly, it’s a post from 2019 titled “3 Ways You May Contribute to Your Own Ageism”. There are some great reminders in it about not sitting around waiting to get old and making your own decisions on how you want to age.

Working On | Taking Pictures

> One of the things we miss about traveling is taking pictures. We love street art and it’s fun to walk around cities and capture their essence through street art. We’ve decided that we haven’t been fair enough to Gainesville and, instead of waiting to take pictures of other cities, we’re going to take more local images. Our city has installed a new social justice murals project that we want to check out.

Feeling | Hopeful

> We’re very encouraged by the positive vaccine news. We know that we still have several weeks – possibly months – of waiting until we’re able to get the vaccine. It’s nice to know the process is moving in the right direction. We can’t let our guard down. In the meantime, we have started double masking.

Planning | Of course, vaccines!

> While we’re waiting, I’m finding it very helpful to start bookmarking the websites of places that will be offering the vaccine in our area. Even though we’re not in the eligible category yet, this allows us to see how the website works and what information we might need to have handy at the point we are eligible. You might find it helpful to prepare in advance so you’re ready when it’s time.

Loving | Ghee

> We’ve been watching some cooking shows lately and they’ve mentioned Indian clarified butter or ghee. We found some at the grocery and decided to give it a try. Our first attempt was using it to sauté some gnocchi. OMGosh…so good!

Geeking | LEGO Bonsai Tree

> I love bonsai trees, but they do not love me. I’ve had more than my fair share perish. Keith absolutely refuses to buy anymore. However, he did buy me one that I can’t destroy. LEGO has created a botanical collection including a bonsai tree. It’s beautiful! They also have a bouquet kit that I’ve got my eye on.

What’s UP with you? We hope you’re safe and well.

Aging Doesn’t Have to Lead to Ageism

February 24, 2021 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

wall sign with phrase oh the places you will go speaking out against ageism

Age discrimination, or ageism, remains an issue for employees. According to a study from Hiscox, the number of age-related discrimination charges filed by workers over age 65 doubled in the past decade. I wish I could say that there was some magic solution but unfortunately, I don’t have the answer.

What I can say is that when you look at employer defenses in age discrimination claims, many of them mention that the employee’s skills were out of date and they lacked creativity and curiosity. Don’t misunderstand my comment. I’m not saying these employers have a valid argument. I don’t know the specifics. But as someone who reads about discrimination cases, I do find this an interesting trend.

On the flip side, when I talk to older workers who have been fired or laid off, they always respond that it’s because of their age. It couldn’t possibly be for any other reason like violating a rule or the person’s position becoming redundant or the business not doing well financially. Again, I don’t know the specifics of the employee’s departure, but the trend is interesting.

One of the things that both employees and employers should realize is that aging is inevitable, and aging doesn’t have to lead to ageism.

Forget the Term “Boomers” and Get Ready for the Young Old

“Young Old” (aka YOLD) individuals are working longer, staying healthier, and represent a significant consumer market. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Regardless of the unemployment rate, organizations need the best talent and YOLD individuals are willing to work a few more years because they want to, and they can save up a few extra dollars. The time to think about how you want to spend your YOLD years is now. Because you want to spend them your way.

3 Ways You May Contribute to Your Own Ageism

Regardless of your physical age, if you act like the stereotype then people will assume you are one. As we age, we have some decisions to make and one of the biggest is deciding how we will accept aging. If we want others to see us as contributors, then we need to act like it. Please notice I didn’t say we need to act “young”. People need to accept our age for what it is. But that doesn’t mean we’re not able to bring value. We need to send the message and demonstrate that we can.

While I can’t control what others do or say, these two articles remind me that I have some control over my aging journey. I can still enjoy nostalgia and also explore new things.

In addition, we recently published an article about “Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift”. Demographics are changing the way marketers look at older persons. This could have a huge impact on the way aging is viewed.

Hopefully, the shift in demographics and our own views about aging will create a much needed shift in perceptions about ageism.

Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift

February 10, 2021 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

wall art with the sentence the time of your life while healthy aging

We know that healthy aging is important. Harvard Health reports that more seniors are opting to age in place rather than pursue other options. They recommend a checklist of potential health-related issues that should be considered for successful healthy aging. These include strength, flexibility, sharp thinking skills, and endurance among others.

Right now, only 15 countries have more than 20% of their population at an age of 65 or above. That number of countries is expected to grow to 44 by 2030 and to 61 by 2050. For the first time globally in 2018, the number of people over 65 has surpassed those under 5 and that number has only grown since.

The growing numbers of aging adults has prompted AARP to partner with the University of Michigan to create the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA). The goal of the survey is to tap into perspectives of older adults and their caregivers to help inform the public, health care providers, and policymakers on issues related to healthy aging.

With the onset of COVID-19, NPHA has focused many of their surveys around the risks for older adults. Shifts to telehealth visits and patient portals showed lack of medical information access at a time when it is needed most.

The healthy aging trend has not been lost on Madison Avenue and other leading marketers throughout the globe. As a result, many brands are viewing seniors as a prized demographic. They are expanding their product offerings along with their marketing budgets to reach the over-65 consumer. And even a few brands that target a much younger audience are developing new product lines with healthy aging in mind.

For instance, a company which makes infant formula has now launched a product in China that it says contains ingredients to boost the immune system in aging consumers. Another company introduced a powdered milk drink targeting older adults which it says enhances mobility during aging.

Swedish furnishing retailer IKEA has expanded its product line to include upright armchairs with higher seating to make it a little easier for aging adults to rise out of their chairs. Proctor & Gamble Co. has started selling razors that they envision for caregivers in Canada, where company data shows one in four people helps someone with aging-related needs.

Not surprisingly, this product expansion has extended to skin and beauty products and the trend is expected to continue longer-term. It’s too early to tell the outcome of marketer focus on mature consumers. For now, we can probably just be thankful that executives want us to stay healthy later in life.

My First Virtual or Telehealth Doctor Visit

January 13, 2021 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

robotic man looking into a mirror simulating a virtual or Telehealth doctor visit

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

We all read the same headlines. COVID-19 infections are reaching record highs throughout the country. And, while the vaccine is starting to roll out earlier than expected, most Americans will experience the impact of COVID-19 at least for several more months. Winter is a particularly difficult time since it’s historically our cold and flu season.

That’s why I decided to change my last doctor visit, just before Thanksgiving, to a virtual one.

Telehealth is not new (believe it or not, medical professionals wrote about using the telephone in 1879 – just 3 years after Bell invented it), but it is gaining significantly in popularity. A July 2019 survey reported that only 9.6% of U.S. adults have used telehealth options. By May 2020, that number had grown to 42%.

The biggest obstacle to telehealth appears to be lack of knowledge about virtual medical visits. I was fortunate that my family doctor advertised on his website that he offers virtual visits. I just called to convert my in-person office visit to telehealth. Here are a few things you should probably know:

Telehealth is more than just a telephone conversation. The doctor will probably want to see you as well as talk with you. Think of it more like a Zoom meeting. Because of video, there may be limitations on the type of technology your doctor can accommodate so ask about your specific phone or computer when you make the appointment.

Just like at an office visit, your doctor will want to know a few things about your current health up front. I was asked to provide my temperature, blood pressure, weight, and blood oxygen level. Fortunately, I own a blood pressure monitor and a finger pulse oximeter. And different offices may request different things so find out up front what information you need to provide.

Not every insurance company accepts telehealth visits, so make sure your insurance will cover it. The major insurance companies all offer some form of coverage, but options can vary depending on specific plans. State laws also cover telehealth differently.

My doctor’s assistant called me fifteen minutes before my appointment to make sure I was able to log-in. You will need a high-speed internet connection and video access via a smart phone, tablet, or computer. Don’t worry, if you can stream movies you have enough technology to get through a telehealth visit.

The actual doctor part was pretty much the same as an in-office visit, except that it was through video. We talked about my bloodwork, discussed my general health since my last appointment, and he answered a few of my questions. I didn’t really have anything that I needed him to look at or listen to, so my experience may differ from yours.

A recent survey shows that 48% of adults say that they or someone in their household either postponed or passed up medical appointments since COVID-19. Telehealth visits may offer an effective solution. We all just have to get comfortable with it. Once we do that, it could be a great solution that extends far beyond the pandemic.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Caregivers Get Help from Amazon Alexa Care Hub

December 9, 2020 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

According to AARP, 3 out of 4 adults age 50 or older want to stay in their homes as they age. Yet less than 50% anticipate that they will be able to remain in their current residence. We’ve written before about how smart home technology can help loved ones age in place. Now Amazon is introducing a new feature that help aging friends and family members live out their lives at home.

The Care Hub is a free Alexa feature that gives family members or caregivers the ability to “check in” on someone via a connected device. The Care Hub feature provides a high-level summary of a loved one’s recent interactions with Alexa or other connected smart home devices. Before you start thinking that this is a bit too “Big Brother”, please note that the feed is just a generalized view, lacking specific details to maintain privacy.

In addition to showing general activity around the house, caregivers can set up alerts to receive notifications, access other features like Alexa Calling or Drop in, and enable emergency contact calling when a loved one says “Alexa, call for help.”

To give you an example, Care Hub can show the time of a first interaction with an Alexa device each day. Types of actions will be displayed such as requesting music (not the specific songs) or asking for the weather. If a person has multiple devices, Care Hub will identify which Alexa was activated. An alert can include notification if a loved one hasn’t used their Alexa device for a certain number of hours. As you can see, the goal isn’t for a caregiver to see the full extent of activity – just that there is activity (or not).

Many caregivers and older persons can immediately see the usefulness of this kind of service. Individuals can age in place. Caregivers can have peace of mind. In addition, it can be particularly helpful now that the COVID-19 pandemic is reducing personal interactions.

There are a few limitations. Only one caregiver can access the Care Hub feed and you can only support one person. At this time, the Care Hub service is only available in the United States. Lastly, Alexa calling does not support calls to emergency services numbers like “911”.

There is no cost to use Care Hub and all that is required for set-up is an Echo or Alexa-enabled device and a WiFi connection. Security and privacy are top of mind. This new feature is double-opt in, meaning that both the caregiver and the loved one need to first establish a connection between their Alexa accounts through an invitation process. Again, this isn’t designed to be something sneaky. In addition, the Drop In feature can be disabled if a higher level of privacy is preferred. And family members can delete activity information in the Care Hub feed at any time.

Caregivers are facing considerable challenges during this unprecedented time. Aging loved ones are sympathetic to caregiver restrictions but they also want to age in place. The Alexa Care Hub may be the compromise needed to give everyone in the family a little extra peace of mind.