aging Archives - Boomerbestu.com

Aging and The Beauty of Community

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:December 11, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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For many of us, the holiday season—typically a time of family and social gatherings—is shaping up as an experience like no other. Some of us in the neighborhood wondered if we even wanted to bother with outside decorations. Due to the pandemic, many of us who are older aren’t planning on having any company. But then just a day after Thanksgiving, some of our neighbors started stringing lights on their homes and setting up deer, snowmen, even a grinch or two on their lawns. Within about a week, our block started looking like Disneyland at night. Why were we all…

S.A.G.E. – Bridging the Gap Between Generations

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:November 11, 2020
Post Category:All / Boomer Best U Living
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Written by Beryl Katz, the following article describes a nonprofit program the author was instrumental in helping develop that helps connect older adults with school-aged children. This article has been lightly edited for brevity and requirements for our site. Twenty-one years ago, as a parent at a school board meeting, I saw two distinct groups of people: parents who wanted the best education for their children and older adults who did not want higher taxes. As a mother, a former English teacher, and taxpayer, I sat there an idea began forming in my mind. Why not bring in older community members as volunteers making them…

Resilience is Key for Positive Aging

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 29, 2020
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Less than two weeks ago, I was able to enjoy morning walks wearing sleeveless tank tops. Most afternoons, I could still wear shorts while working in the yard or taking hikes. Early last week, we had our first frost and have had several frosty mornings since then. As much as I wanted to continue basking in the early autumn sun, that season is quickly coming to an end. This morning, I adapted to the cooler weather by wearing a sweatshirt, a heavy coat, and winter gloves. I even put the dog’s coat on him before taking our walk. It felt…

Setting Necessary Boundaries During a Pandemic

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 8, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Even though leading health experts advise wearing a mask and keeping socially distanced during the pandemic could save lives, we know that too many people are ignoring this advice. Certainly, some are refusing to take prescribed precautions because of political views. Others choose to ignore these safety recommendations when it is not convenient for them. All of us have both the right and the responsibility to set boundaries for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others around us. But sometimes other people will unwittingly try to push us beyond the healthy boundaries that we have set for ourselves. Challenges…

Listen More to Live Your Best Life

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:September 2, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Today, I remembered to Listen! Before it got too hot, I took a brisk walk around a local pond and then up a hill. At first, I didn’t pay much attention to anything at first, but then I focused on the natural symphony all around me. I noticed the sound of ducks splashing in the water, the whirl of insect swarms near patches of blackberries, the crunch of dried grass under my feet, and the rapid tapping of a woodpecker near an oak grove. To enjoy all that was around me, I had to intentionally focus outward so that I…

Keeping Up with Technology as We Age is Essential

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 21, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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I love what neuroscientist Danial Leviton shared about how we often gain wisdom as we age—we have more experiences, we have the ability to make more associations in our thinking, we can recognize patterns, and get better at using analogies. However, our ability to quickly learn and retain new information might not be as easy as we age. Nonetheless, because we are living in a rapidly evolving technology-dependent environment, we have to patiently learn what we need to know. I am not afraid of technology. I started teaching online in 1998 and continued to teach some of my courses online…

Pioneers in a New Era of Aging

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 6, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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I was walking the dog when I ran into Jan this morning as she was finishing her usual, hour-long walk. Jan is probably in her early to mid-eighties. Like many of my other neighbors, she walks each morning to stay healthy. As I headed out the door after breakfast for a hike, I thought about Jan and all the people I know who are redefining aging on their own terms. Instead of listening to what the media tells us about who we should be or who we are at fifty, sixty, seventy, or beyond, we have the power to show…

Cat Naps Aren’t Enough as We Age

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 5, 2020
Post Category:All / Boomer Best U Living
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Feel like you need a cat nap most afternoons? If so, it is possible that you aren’t getting the sleep your body needs. You may have heard that as we age, we need less sleep. However, the National Institute on Aging reports that as we age, we continue to need seven to nine hours of sleep to function well. Life Goes Better with a Good Night’s Sleep A good night’s sleep can help us be our best in a number of ways. A good night’s sleep can “boost” our mood and support our metabolism. Quality sleep can support tissue repair…

Celebrating Life as an Empowered Older Woman

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 30, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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I couldn’t resist a good road trip this morning—rubber soles to the concrete – a glorious 4 ½ mile victory jog up a hill and down the highway. I’ve slowed down over the years, but I love the feeling of freedom I get when I can cover some ground and get outside in the fresh air. Often people wave when I’m out and about on one of my jogs. I wave back; I live in a very friendly community. Today, as is occasionally the case, someone waved and give me a “thumbs up” when they saw me jogging down the…

Learn How to Reach a Market Begging to Be Recognized

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 28, 2020
Post Category:All / Boomers as Consumers
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In general, our generation has more money to spend than the younger generations. And many of us are willing to spend money to live our best lives. A lot of us enjoy new experiences. We want to stay as active and healthy as possible. Some of us like new adventures. Many of us are also ready for new opportunities. If you are thinking about going into business or have an existing business, I’ve got some great news for you. If you truly understand the needs, wants, and desires of individuals who are older than fifty, then your business could have…