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What We Are UP To: Researching Edition

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As vaccine eligibility continues to expand, we find ourselves researching about vaccines and what we can do once we (finally!) get the vaccine. It’s exciting because it means we might be able to be more mobile by summer. But it’s also important to be careful. There’s so much information! And it’s changing on a regular basis. That’s not bad. As we learn more about COVID, we can and should expect new guidance. However, as we’re researching, we are trying to find some time for fun.

Feeling | Hopeful

> I’m sure that we’re not alone that we get closer to receiving the vaccine, we’re getting more hopeful about the things we might be able to do. Like eat in a restaurant. Or travel. It’s nice to be talking about plans for the future.

Watching | Sherlock

> We started watching this BBC television show starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman years ago, but we hadn’t seen Season 4. So, we watched the entire series from start to date. It was great! Love the way that Holmes and Watson go about researching their cases.

Reading | About Medicare

> I’ve listened to some webinars about Medicare before, but it’s time for us to start researching in-depth about what options are available. And what might be best for our situation. I found an older book called (don’t laugh) “Medicare for Dummies”. The book does a good job of explaining the complexities of Medicare in casual conversational language. I’m only a few chapters in and can tell it’s going to take some time to digest all of this.

Working On | Air Fryer Recipes

> When we lived in South Florida, one of the food items that we were able to regularly enjoy were guava and cheese pastelitos. Living in North Florida, we haven’t really been able to find them, so we’ve decided to try to make them at home. I’ve been researching recipes that will allow me to use our air fryer. Wish us luck! I’m confident they will not be as good as the ones we had in South Florida, but hopefully they will be good enough.

Loving | Everlane

> I have been researching a clothing company called Everlane for quite some time. They’re known for selling basic pieces like jeans, t-shirts, etc. You know, the pieces that all of us probably have in our closet. What attracted me to them is that they partner with ethical factories around the globe, and they disclose the actual cost of every item. I bought a couple of items recently and am impressed with the quality.

Geeking | WandaVision

> We are really looking forward to the Disney+ series WandaVision. That being said, we’re also getting ready for all of the research we’re going to have to do after each episode. LOL! To get us reacquainted with the Scarlett Witch, we’ve planned an Avengers movie marathon.

Planning | Re-entry

> While staying at home has been hard, I do wonder if starting to do things again will be even harder. We’re calling it our “re-entry”. ha.ha. What can we do? What should wait a little longer? We’ve been spending time discussing our comfort level for certain activities. Honestly, I don’t know that we will simply start doing all the things we’ve done prior to COVID.

Remembering | 2020

> As much as we’re looking forward to vaccines and everything that we’ll be able to do this summer, we’re also reminded of the pain and hurt that COVID has caused. This virus isn’t going to go away overnight, and we need to remember that masks, hand washing, and distancing are still important. They will be for some time.

What’s UP with you? Stay safe!

What We Are UP To – The Waiting Edition

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waiting Tom Petty Gainesville wall art

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. 

Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift

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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

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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:

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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

Using the Seinfeld Strategy to Create and Maintain Habits

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pillow with hash marks showing daily accomplishments to create habits

It’s hard to believe that the TV show Seinfeld has been out of production for over twenty years. I say “out of production” because Seinfeld reruns seem to live on forever. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Seinfeld. And I’ll never be able to look at a Junior Mint without laughing again.  

I knew that Jerry Seinfeld was one of the producers and writers of the show, in addition to being a stand-up comedian. What I didn’t know was that many people use his writing technique as a method for developing habits. I’ve been seeing lots of references to the “Seinfeld Strategy” lately, so I decided to do some research.

Basically, Seinfeld says that the secret to his productivity success is consistency. As a writer, he felt the way to achieve success was to write something every day. It didn’t always have to be his best work and that was okay. It also doesn’t mean you can simply phone it in. But the goal was to give it your all every day.

Once he completed his writing for the day, Seinfeld would mark the day with a big red “X” on his office calendar. As time progressed, those big red X’s formed a chain. And he liked it. The big chain of red X’s motivated him to write more. And writing more made him better.

So, the Seinfeld Strategy to creating and maintaining good habits is to never break the chain.

I was reminded of the Seinfeld Strategy recently because someone posted an image on Facebook with the names of months of the year and inside each month’s name were numbers representing each day. The idea being that, if you’re trying to create and maintain a habit every day you do something – like let’s say exercise – then you color in the day. If you exercise every day in the month, then the month’s name will eventually be colored in. If you do that every day for a year, you’ll have a very colorful memento of your progress and accomplishments.

monthly planner to color in when creating habits

As we start the year, we might have some new habits we’re trying to form. Or old habits that we need to get back on track. Using the Seinfeld Strategy could be a fun and effective way to monitor our progress. You can put your “tracker” on the refrigerator as a reminder. Or if it’s something private, you can tuck it away in a journal or planner.

You could also use the “tracker” with other family members. Maybe the habit you’d like to work on is a group activity.

Creating and maintaining habits is hard. Finding fun ways to track our progress can make it enjoyable. The result is we’ve developed a new habit, which is what we wanted to do all along.

What We Are UP To: Happy Holidays Edition

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festive lights on palm trees for the holidays

Watching | Wonder Woman

> We decided to take a break watching holiday movies to rewatch the first Wonder Woman and then see Wonder Woman 1984. Keith and I do miss seeing movies on the big screen, but until things are safer, movies at home will have to do. I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but if you enjoyed the first one then I think you’ll like WW84.  

Reading | The Hustle          

> I’ve become a big fan of curated newsletters. My latest find is The Hustle. I like it for a couple of reasons. First, it curates the latest business news and I believe it’s important to stay on top of what’s happening in the business world. But the second reason is because it gives me some perspective on what other people feel is “news”. It’s easy to fall into an echo chamber and miss out on what others find noteworthy. Check it out.

Remembering | Quiet

> One of the things we love about our neighborhood is how quiet it is…well, at least until recently. This is a fairly new subdivision, and the builder has started construction on a couple new homes near us. Nothing like being awaken at 5a to the sound of cement trucks. ha.ha. The sad news is we’ll be living with some noise for the next few months. The good news is when it’s done…it’s done.

Working On | Rain Barrel

> The county we live in is very eco-friendly and they are encouraging residents to use rain barrels. So, we got one. We’ve never had a rain barrel before. This will be a new adventure for us. Hopefully we will see some positive results, not only for us individually but the county.

Feeling | Patient

> As much as I would like to wake up after the holidays and have the pandemic be gone, that’s not going to happen. There’s a lot that needs to take place. COVID-19 is only one of the issues we’re facing. It’s really tough and challenging but I know that patience is what’s needed. Oh, and don’t misinterpret patience for “not doing anything”. Being patient and working hard will help us achieve our goals.

Planning | Fewer errands and trips

> We’re all reading the same headlines. COVID-19 cases are spiking around the nation. We’re encouraged by the vaccine news but until more definite plans are in place, we’ve decided to curtail our errands and trips outside the house. The good news is that many businesses are being very accommodating to remote customers, especially during the holiday season.

Loving | Soup Season

> The cooler temperatures have arrived in North Florida and that means soup season. Last year, I discovered some soup mixes on the King Arthur Baking site. Easy to make and very tasty! We also made one of our favorite meals using leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It’s a pressure cooker chicken turkey, lentil, and bacon stew.

Geeking | YouTube TV

> We got a little frustrated with our cable provider and decided to see what other options are available. This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed “cutting the cord” but it is the first time we found something that actually suits our television watching needs. YouTube TV offers the channels we enjoy watching at a reasonable monthly fee. You can record programs. And you can cancel at any time.

What’s UP with you? This holiday season, Keith and I are thankful for our health and each other. We appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on Unretirement Project.

Happy 2021!

Caregivers Get Help from Amazon Alexa Care Hub

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wall art Lovin Life for caregivers

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.