Seniors don’t just need to focus on saving money over the holidays; when they live on limited incomes, budgeting is crucial year-round. But, with the holidays approaching they’re sure to have additional expenses, which makes financial planning even more important to ensure that seniors can get by! The following are 10 useful financial planning tips that all seniors should consider over the holidays:

1. Talk to a professional – talking to a financial planner, either by using a service or speaking with one provided by a local branch of your bank can help you make sure you plan to meet your financial goals and needs. For example, they can help you get on track saving for future medical or care needs.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – if you’re struggling to cover your basic needs then your local Area Agency on Aging can connect you with resources that can help.

3. Find ways to reduce utility costs – keep blinds down and windows and doors closed to preserve optimal temperatures for your house.

4. Walk, don’t drive – taking a car or public transportation can be more costly, so walk when possible and benefit your health and your wallet.

5. Never make fast financial decisions – always ask for a second opinion before making decisions.

6. Grow your own produce – plant a garden in your yard, a family member’s garden, or in a community plot to grow your own produce and cut down on food costs.

7. Buy healthy items – convenient, pre-prepared items might be fast and easy, but they are less healthy and often  more expensive.

8. Buy generic – generic brands are less expensive, purchase them for foods and for your medications.

9. Carpool – it’s more fun to travel places with company anyways; share transportation costs by carpooling!

10. Plan to stay at home – aging in place is the more desirable option for most seniors, and it can be more cost-effective too

Via: Home Instead Senior Care 

Carol Marak Carebuzz

Most people think that only children and young travelers benefit from educational vacations. The truth is, the human mind never ceases to crave new information. This is why an educational vacation may be the perfect trip to plan for a senior traveler. Whether you are planning for a group or just yourself, including an educational aspect in the trip planning can be very rewarding. Here are a few tips for seniors  that will assist with vacation planning:

1. Use a travel agent that you trust. These agents will often have information that you would not get if you booked the vacation online. The travel agent will also be able to get the best deal and available senior discount.

2. Set some limits. Traveling somewhere new is exciting, but it is difficult to take it all in within the amount of time you are allowed. Try to narrow the scope of interest to include points of interest, historical sites or museums.

3. When on the vacation, make use of hired guides. These guides have great knowledge of the area in which you are visiting. They will be able to inform you of local history as well as other valuable information.

4. Take physical limits into consideration. If you are a senior, you know what your body can handle. If you are a caregiver who is planning the trip for another, make sure you are aware of what that person can handle physically.

Source: www.ehow.com 

Carol Marak Carebuzz

When seniors begin to lose their sense of taste or smell, meal time can be challenging, because with aging comes decreased appetite, and when food lacks flavor or has a bad taste it becomes easy to neglect nutrition; opening the doors to all kinds of other health problems.

Of course, for seniors who are experiencing loss of the senses, like smell and taste, the first step towards improvement is to seek medical attention; however, that doesn’t mean they have to suffer through tasteless meals to remain healthy. Seniors with deficiencies with taste and smell may experience any combination of the following problems when it comes to tasting their meals: food may taste too sweet, too salty, or too metallic; meats might taste unusual; or the food may generally lack flavor.

Sauces, marinades and other ingredients added during food preparation and cooking can greatly enhance the flavor and make it more enjoyable. Whether a senior cooks for themselves or has someone provide elder care services in their home, including meal preparation, a few simple ingredients can easily be added to cooking at little cost, including:

• Barbeque sauce

• Ketchup

• Meat marinades

• Mustard

• Salad dressing

• Soy sauce

• Spices and herbs

• Teriyaki sauce

• Vinegar

• Wine

• Extracts or other flavorings

Additional ingredients that can add flavor when added to ready-prepared foods are:

• Cheeses – especially the very flavorful, like sharp cheddars

• Chopped green pepper or other vegetables

• Chopped onion

• Nuts and seeks

• Bacon bits or ham strips

Meals prepared for seniors  with declining senses should also focus upon other elements, like presentation, texture and color; because overall, an attractive meal is more appealing and texture adds diversity and interest to the food even if strong flavors are absent. Plastic utensils can also be used to limit metallic tastes, and drinking often or eating mints to clear any bad tastes from their mouths before a meal can also make it more enjoyable.

Age and good nutrition should go hand in hand for a long healthy life, so make sure all meals are enjoyed!

Source: Mayo clinic 

Carol Marak Carebuzz

With Thanksgiving behind us, the cooler weather is making us prepare for the Christmas and holiday season. Lights are going up in neighbourhoods, shopping is beginning, and stress is increasing. For individuals of all ages, the holidays can bring a fair amount of stress – but for seniors, the effects can be more disastrous. Make the holidays that much more enjoyable for you this year by keeping these 3 tips in mind:

1. Take advantage of soothing scents – fill your home with candles and potpourri that have scents of a holiday theme. Smells of cinnamon, fire and cedar can all be soothing and help seniors to relax and enjoy the season.

2. Prepare in advance – if entertaining, don’t do it all at once. Pre-preparing baked goods and other meal specialties can reduce the stress of preparation when holiday visits take place. Having cookie dough already prepared in the freezer, or other items that simply need to be popped in the oven can greatly reduce holiday chaos.

3. Take on less – you don’t need to overdo it over the holidays, even for gift giving, instead of braving the malls, try to focus on giving back to the community and encourage your family to do the same.

Via: Ecological Living 

Carol Marak Carebuzz