Symptoms that Aid in Diagnosing Depression in Elderly

Contrary to what some think, depression is not a normal state for anyone, even for those who are elderly, to be in. Depression is a disease of the brain that requires treatment. Untreated depression in the elderly can lead to suicide. Depression is very common in the elderly with as many as 6.5 million Americans who are 65 or older suffering from depression.

There are several symptoms to watch for that may indicate a need for depression evaluation. These symptoms may be present:

* A change in appetite (loss or increase)

* A loss of interest in activities that otherwise would bring pleasure

* Loss of memory

* Weight gain or loss that is unexplained

* Vague complains of pain or ailments

* Difficulty sleeping, or remaining asleep

* Unusual irritability

* Lack of acceptable personal hygiene

* Problems with concentration

* Withdrawing from society

* Confusion, having delusions or hallucinations

* Expressing feelings of hopelessness or feeling worthless

* Thoughts or expressions of suicide

When others know what to look for regarding signs of depression help can easily be on its way. Those who come into daily contact with elderly individuals should familiarize themselves with the following symptoms of depression.

Extreme sadness

Unusual fatigue

Loss of interest in activities that they previously participated in such as hobbies, social gatherings etc.

Unexplained weight loss or weight gain

Not being able to sleep during the night, not being able to stay asleep or oversleeping. Sometimes individuals with depression will experience daytime sleepiness

Feelings of self-loathing, of being a burden to others, or feelings of being a failure or of being worthless

Individuals who show one or more of the listed symptoms should be encouraged to be evaluated by a medical doctor to determine if they are depressed. Depression used to hold such stigma of being crazy or weak. Today, there is so much more that we know about depression. We know that it is a disease. Those who suffer from depression are not at fault, it is a disease just like diabetes is a disease, or cancer. The person who is depressed no more wants to be depressed than the person with cancer, wants to have cancer.

Symptoms of depression like symptoms of cancer are used to diagnose the disease so that a treatment plan can be devised so that the individual can feel better and have an improved quality of life.

The symptoms are warning signs that should not be ignored. Elderly individuals are at great risk when they suffer from depression. Those at special risk are those who lack a support system or those who live alone. When there is no support or when no one is around, symptoms can go unnoticed. When symptoms go unnoticed, depression is undiagnosed and untreated and that puts the elderly person at risk for suicide.

Preventing Bone Disease in Healthy Aging

Each day we live, we grow older failing to see that our bones and muscles demand activities to continue strength, endurance and resistance to life's nasty living demands. Our bones need continued activities through out our lives starting as a child. Until we turn 30, the bones continue to build. After this age, the bones begin to disintegrate. You can cutback this degeneration process by taking care of your bones in youthful days.


How it is achieved:

Bone health is achieved through activities, such as exercise. In addition, you maintain healthy bones by increasing calcium. Supplements are available, which include the FDA marked remedies to help reduce bone loss from natural aging.

Taking calcium is very important during our entire life. Children should drink 2 cups of milk each day and adults 3 cups. Calcium in food is better to take than pills because you get more of it; food sometimes doesn't have the right amounts in it due to the way it has been processed. Get that calcium in your body at an early age and keep it there. Besides calcium however, your bones demand a mixture of magnesium. You will also need a healthy dose of phosphorous. Vitamin D facilitates calcium to flow through the bloodstream. Free flowing bloods make a healthier you.

To improve bones, we also need to start at an early age getting plenty of vitamin D. As we get older, we have a tendency to stay out of the sun more. Don't sit in the house all day. Rather try to get outside around noon and get some sun with all those vitamin D rays. Supplements can be used but again the sun is better. Maybe take a walk for 15-20 minutes each day to get the sun.

As we aging into the later years of our life, we have to keep those bones strong. You can benefit from weight bearing works, such as walking. Keeping those bones strong will help you survive falls. Falls is one of the leading reasons of bone breakage or fractures, especially as we grow older.

Unfortunately, adolescents don't realize the importance of taking care of our bones. As these adolescents pass puberty however, their bones start to decline. Once a person reaches 50, the bones start to deteriorate, which puts you at high risk of fractures, disease and breakage. As the bones weaken, the muscles and joints will also degenerate. Injures then can lead to gouty arthritis, arthritis, osteoporosis and so on.


The high-risks of bone fractures are charted, which include hip fractures being the most common injure amongst the elderly. Hip fractures may sound like a minor ordeal, yet the truth is hip fractures are responsible for some deaths.

Weak bones are avertable even once you are middle age. It's never to late to repair or mend our bodies.

Staying fit is the key to preventing risks of disease, hip fractures etc since the bones will stay healthy. In view of the fact, you want to consider a daily schedule, which includes activities and exercise. You want to keep those muscles free to move, since the muscles protect the bones. Stretch workouts and exercise will prevent your joints from feeling stiff as well, which joints support the muscles and bones.


When you exercise you, maintain weight. As you start to age, the body fat increases to more than 30%. This is too much added weight for the muscles, joints and bones. Carrying around this kind of weight on the feet, legs, etc will cause problems later. Maintaining your weight will help prevent and lower your risks of heart disease, bone disease, high-blood, high-cholesterol, diabetes and so on.

Use Military Retirement Calculator To Forecast Savings

During the first few years of service, retirement income may not be high on everyone's list of concerns. However, as their career in the military advances, figuring out retirement income with a military retirement calculator can help a person plan for the future. Retirement income for retired military is similar to civilian calculations, and they should include the same variables.

Start with your age, and the age at which you plan to retire. In the military, you can consider the number of years of service and know what percent of your pay you will receive upon retirement after an established number of years. Using these numbers in a military retirement calculator you can figure if you will have to find another job, or can stay home and relax. Most calculators do not include the final year you work when computing income. For example, if you plan to retire at age 65, the last year of earnings you should consider is for year 64.

When you consider income, do not forget to include your spouse's income in the household totals and any amounts your married spouse has in their own retirement savings account. Individual retirement accounts should also be included in the military retirement calculator when calculating the current retirement savings amount.

Future Earnings Estimates Are Questionable

The earnings you realize from your current investments are questionable, at best and depending on where your savings are being held will play a significant role in its growth. A military retirement calculator can work with known numbers, but the variables in interest rates and potential for losses in market investments can make your savings plan volatile. While savings accounts are typically safe and consistent, their returns are also considerably lower that investments. Stock trading on the other hand can be rewarding, financially, they can also take a large chunk of your initial investment in a down market.

For post-retirement expenses, it is generally calculated that 90 percent of your last year's salary will be what you will spend on living expenses. When using your military retirement calculator by knowing what your total savings should be upon retirement, and calculating how many years you can live on the balance, can help you determine how much more you need to save in order to survive. Knowing the amount of money you are looking to save can help you calculate the amount each month you have to put away, figuring in your expected growth rate.

Risk Factors for Elderly Depression

Those individuals who are 65 years of age or older have several risk factors for depression including certain medications they may be taking, other diseases they may have, social isolation, a recent bereavement, damage to their body caused by amputation, cancer, surgery or accident destruction. Other risk factors are fear of death, a family history of depression, a previous episode of depression or attempted suicide, and also substance abuse.

Medications that can trigger depression in the elderly are:

Anticholinergics are used to relieve cramping or spasms experienced in the intestines, bladder or stomach. Medications such as Anaspaz, Bentyl, Gastrosed and Levbid are anticholinergics.

Cogentin is used to treat Parkinson's disease and has been shown to cause depression in some individuals. Another drug used to treat Parkinson's that can also cause depression is bromocriptine.

Corticosteroids, which are used to reduce swelling and the activity of the immune system, can also trigger depression. Medications that are corticosteoids are hydrocortisone, prednisone flonase, nasocort, nasonex, and flovent

Tagamet a popular medication used to treat heartburn

Capoten is a medication that is prescribed for those with high blood pressure

Chronic Diseases that can trigger depression include:

Arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus and also multiple sclerosis

Diseases can demand a lot out of the elderly person's body, zapping energy, reducing mobility and robbing the person of valuable independence. All of these consequences to chronic disease can bring the individual to despair and extreme sadness. Depression is a complication to chronic disease.

Hardships experienced from the disease can also trigger a psychological reaction that can lead to depression.

The risk for depression increases with the increase in severity of a chronic disease.

A double whammy is experienced when the depression caused by the chronic disease actually aggravates the disease because depression can intensify pain.

Social isolation, a recent bereavement, and damage to their body can also trigger depression in the elderly:

When an elderly individual is isolated from other members of the community they are cut off from support systems that could assist them with hardships or stresses that trigger depression. A recent loss such as a spouse or other family member or a close friend can emotionally deplete the individual and make them vulnerable to depression. The physical and emotional trauma of having an amputation or receiving physical damage to the body in any way can cause psychological and emotional harm that can trigger depression.

The fear of death becomes stronger the older one gets and for many this brings about great anxiety which causes depression.

Those individuals who have been depressed previously are more likely to suffer depression when any of the above causes are present.

Chronic or severe pain can lead to fatigue and depression as the situation continues in apparent hopelessness for the individual suffering the pain.

Elderly individuals who abuse any substance alcohol included are at a higher risk for depression because alcohol and other drugs are depressants.

Direct Relation of Dental Care to Good Health in Retirees

Growing old gracefully is harder than it seems when you practice bad oral hygiene. It's easy to forget that your teeth and other things inside your mouth are also going under an aging process. Unlike sharks or other animals who continually get teeth to replace any that fall out, us human adults only have one set of teeth to see us through our adult years once the baby set falls out in youth. That's a long time to keep your dental health in good shape.

Therefore, it is no wonder that when you have poor oral hygiene, you can experience a whole host of health problems besides the ugly smile and stinky breath. When you do not take good care of your teeth, you are at risk of different sicknesses like periodontal or gum disease, gingivitis, infections, stroke and heart disease and even bone loss. Only through regular dental check-ups and routine maintenance like teeth cleaning will you be able to keep a healthy body and mouth.

Here are some things to look out for as they are cause for concern not only in oral health but also health issues regarding the whole body:

1. Gum disease - When your gums bleed, this could be a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. If you receive an infection as a result of bleeding gums and poor hygiene, you will likely loose teeth.
2. Tooth decay or cavities - Flossing is important as well as good teeth brushing in order to prevent tooth decay or cavities. This is another way to loose teeth if left unchecked.
3. False teeth - Sometimes, older adults need dentures. However, as you age, your bone structure will change slightly and this includes your mouth. As a result, you will need to have your dentures adjusted or even replaced periodically. Just be sure to take care of your dentures just as you would your teeth to make them last longer.
4. Dry mouth - Certain medications or illnesses can cause dry mouth in older adults. The lack of saliva hinders speech, eating and even swallowing. Cancer drugs are often a culprit. Without enough saliva, the environment in your mouth cannot stay balanced. Therefore, you could experience gum disease, cavities or more.
5. Oral cancer - This type of disease can be successfully treated if caught early. One of the ways to help prevent this disease from taking hold of your mouth is through regular trips to the dentist for teeth cleaning, denture inspection and more.
6. Implants - Sometimes, dentists rely on dental implants to replace teeth that have fallen out or they are used to hold bridges or other denture pieces together. Regular dental appointments are needed to ensure that these implants are still in good shape and that the bone in your jaw is not deteriorating because of them.

The bottom line is that many dental problems can be resolved with regular dental check-ups. Dental cleanings, brushing teeth regularly and flossing are all part of maintaining a healthy mouth into retirement. In addition, no tobacco products should be used and alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. Finally, a healthy diet is considered a major line of defense in good oral health.

Depression signs and Symptoms in the Elderly

Depression is an illness that can have particularly devastating effects on those who are 65 or older (elderly). They are at an increased risk for death by suicide when depressed and can widely go under diagnosed for depression because they are elderly.

Depression can occur in the elderly for no obvious reason or it can be a response to a life change such as a loss of a spouse or adult child, loss of a job or retirement, loss of a relationship such as the death of a lifelong friend or companion. Depression can be the response to chronic disease or chronic pain or it can actually be a symptom of a disease or condition.

There are many signs and symptoms to look for in the elderly individual that may indicate the possibility of depression. These signs and symptoms should not be ignored or taken for granted (such as the thinking that it is normal for elderly to be depressed).

Not all individuals exhibit the exact same signs and symptoms of depression so no two elderly individuals will show the same ones either.

Some of the more common signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly are:

* A mood that is consistently sad, or discouraged (blues)

* Expresses a feeling of being empty or useless

* Persistent expressions of pessimism about the past, present or future

* Difficult decision making

* Moving slow or having a lack of energy

* Thoughts or expressions of suicide

* Extreme irritability especially if it is out of character

* Restlessness (wringing of hands), moving aimlessly around the room, pacing

* Loss of appetite, not eating meals

In order to evaluate whether or not an elderly person is depressed, careful observation must be done because in most cases the elderly will not admit to feeling sad or depressed. The signs (physical) of loose clothing that may indicate a loss of appetite or daytime sleepiness that may indicate that the individual is not sleeping well at night. Other signs may be an unusually messy house or unkempt physical state of being (dirty clothing or unwashed hair).

The signs of depression may indicate the need for assistance in planning meals, preparing meals or shopping for meal ingredients. The signs can also lead to the conclusion that the individual lacks a support systems and could benefit from community services that are set up to aid the elderly in the area such as food pantry, meals-on-wheels, home health aids, or a visiting nurse to take blood pressure checks and other necessary medical assessments. Chronic medical conditions including chronic pain management can help to prevent or decrease the severity of depression in the elderly.

The good news is that when the signs or symptoms of depression are recognized there are steps that can be taken to start or to grow a support system that will connect the elderly individual to social contacts that will aid them in coping with life stresses and situations. The support system will allow them to make good lifestyle decisions that will lessen depression or help to prevent future depression episodes.

Everything You Need to Know about Retirement Cards

Even though you don't yet need to rent a room in a retirement home, it wouldn't hurt to plan this early for your retirement.

When you've reached retirement age, it would be quite important to let the necessary people and organizations know about your change of status. And as proof of this change, you would have to show them your retirement card.

A retirement card is the lone piece of identification that retirees own to prove their status in life. Having a retirement card can benefit you in many ways.

1. It can entitle you to discounts
2. It can give you priority status over other people
3. It can allow you to enjoy other benefits

The application for a retirement card is as follows:

The day you apply for a retirement card must also be the same day that you'd apply for a retirement card. You must therefore ensure that you reach the office where you'd submit your application right on time to meet this particular condition.

Make sure you bring the following when you are about to apply for a retirement card:

- Birth Certificate

- Investment Portfolio

- Proof that you've retired already from the company you last worked for

- Any other documents relating to your retirement plan like IRA statements and pension plan papers

- Valid IDs

Once again, we reiterate the need to apply for a retirement card ON TIME. If you fail to do so and the time provided for you to take care of your retirement card application has elapsed, you may not be eligible anymore to own a retirement card.

Your retirement card application shall also come with a fee so remember to bring money with you when you submit your application form.

When you reach retirement age, do not make the mistake of expecting the local retirement agency or office to give you a reminder call about your need to apply for a retirement card. They won't. The application for your retirement card, henceforth, is your responsibility alone.

For this reason, if you know anyone who is nearing retirement age, make sure that lend them a helping hand by reminding them about their responsibilities.

During the month that you submitted your application, you are still required to pay taxes. But after that, you shall not be charged for dues anymore as you are officially retired.

Now, let's say you wish to return to work once more. If so, you would need to return to the office where you obtained your retirement card and surrender it. When the time comes that you wish to retire once more, you are not given the privilege to take a shortcut in lieu of the application process. You need to accomplish everything again, from step A to Z! Now, a retirement card wouldn't be truly of any use to anyone if he didn't have any sufficient retirement plan to depend and lean back on for financial support.

The following shall provide you with several tips to ensure that you get to fully enjoy your retirement card benefits:

1. Based on extensive research, if you are able to limit your withdrawals to somewhere under 4%, you'll be able to rest in relative luxury, knowing that your money is destined to enjoy a longer life than you would - though that could be a good or bad, depending on your point of view.

2. Plan and establish goals for your retirement. These goals must be realistic but at the same time mirror your dreams.

Now that you have your goals, it is important to base all your actions and decisions from hereon forward on its relative importance to your goals. In short, everything you do must in a way bring you one step closer to your retirement plans.

Set up an IRA or Individual Retirement Account; if your company doesn't have any provisions for IRAs, you may contact your bank manager and ask for help regarding this matter.

Writing a Retirement Card

Since we did promise you that we're going to tell you everything you wish to know about retirement cards, we figured that there'd be some of you who were actually in search of another type of retirement card - one that comes usually in a folded paper and contains a personal greeting for an individual who's about to retire.

If you're looking for information regarding that type of retirement card, here are some suggestions:

- Choose a retirement card whose front cover says it all.

- Don't go for a retirement card with a greeting that leaves you little writing space to write on; remember that personal thoughts are always better than professionally written messages.

- Lastly, give the card as a surprise. It makes the card twice as sweet.

Healthy Aging Starts with Positive Thinking

How to think positive

Many people wander the earth believing they the lack the strength and power to achieve their goals. This negative mechanism holds them down. You can gain motivation and live healthier, by simply telling yourself "I can do it." Anything you put your mind to, you can do it if you want to.

How to tell self I can do it:
Just say today I am going for a short walk. Tomorrow I will walk a little longer then the first day. You have to be in control of your thoughts, actions, behaviors, etc by building your power of the mind. Nevertheless, if you do not put your mind to it and you decide that you do not want to become active, and then you are only living a life filled with shortcomings. Your negative reflections will defeat the purpose of getting your thoughts in control. Saying I will do it later, is another negative reflection. This is called procrastination, which leads to laziness. Laziness leads to weak muscles and joints, which gradually builds up to medical problems.

Take control of your thoughts. If you want to do something bad enough you will do what you have to do to get where you want to be. You need to make a goal and stick to it. Create plans that help you to reach your goals, and take action each day to achieve. When you give up, it is a sign that you lack faith in self and is a clear indication of weakness. You need faith to stay strong. As well, you need positive thinking to strive.

Good results:

Having a positive attitude will give you a jumpstart to a healthier life. Keep on pushing. Do not stop once you get started instead go until you reach your goal. When times get hard and you don't think you can go on just remember I -can- do - this always keep your head up and mind open. Don't dwell on something you can't change, rather focus on the things you have power to change.

How to continue positive living:

To stay positive you have to admit your feelings and express them. If you feel depressed or frustrated, just say it aloud. There is nothing wrong with showing emotions, providing you do not beat up your best friend physically to express those emotions. Stay in control and express what you feel.

You have to talk about how you feel and don't blame your self but try to figure out why you are so depressed or frustrated. Failing to discover your intentions or reasons will reduce your control, especially if you do not understand what you need or want. Do not worry about the cause, rather find your wants and needs and the cause will come to you.

Here is some pointer that might help you to get where you want to be. You have to look for a good role model and become acquainted with their way of thinking positive. Try to talk positive and avoid negative talk. Seek some support from friends and family.

Reward your self with a massage or listen to your favorite music. Make a plan and stay with it no matter what. Just remember you can do whatever you want to do and keep your mind set for the good things and not the bad things. This will make you feel better and make you a happier person. If you're happy, you will have a healthier life. Don't forget to create a goal. Don't make the goal so high that you won't be able to keep it, but make it so that you can meet your goals.

Whom to See For Help with Elderly Depression

If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression, the odds are good that you already have a treating physician you can rely on for help and advice. Yet if you have just participated in a health fair sponsored depression screening or perhaps simply wonder whether or not you might be suffering from depression, you might feel at a loss whom to see for help with elderly depression.

Understanding that it is most likely not something that is most commonly handled by your primary care physician, you do have a lot of options to consider!

1. Believe it or not, but your family doctor, primary care physician, and other medical professional you see on a regular basis is a great first place to start! She or he may be a prime source of referrals, ideas where to seek out treatment, and may even work with a specific counseling center, psychiatrist, or clinic on a regular basis and know the staff by name.

2. A psychiatrist is an individual who has the power to prescribe medication if needed. She or he will also be available for psychotherapy and to diagnose if in addition to depression you may be suffering from other mental illnesses as well. In some cases, especially if there is a family history of mental illness, you will be well served to have her or him work up a psychiatric profile to exclude or include certain conditions.

3. When you choose a psychologist, you will be working with an individual who decided to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology rather than medicine, and who is thus extremely well qualified to treat your condition. If prescriptions are necessary, the psychologist may work together with your primary care physician, a step that also ensures that you will not experience any drug interactions with medications you are already taking.

4. If you are a home healthcare recipient, you will find that many home health agencies will also have specially trained nurses that make the rounds and have an extensive background in psychology and talking therapy. If you do not have a dire case of bipolar depression but instead fall into the group of individuals who suffer from unipolar depression, you may be a good candidate to benefit from these visits.

If all else fails, contact your local senior resource center or AARP chapter to be put in touch with an elder advocate who can help you find a psychologist or treatment provider who will meet your needs. You may be surprised to learn how easy it is to find qualified individuals close by your home. In the same vein, insurance companies now routinely cover mental health and there is no longer the cost prohibitive expense of seeking help that in the past may have kept some from getting the help they needed.

As a matter of fact, your insurance company may also be a great source of information and they should be able to offer you copious referrals to participating providers in your neighborhood!

Aging with health

Reaching old age is something that we all need to do throughout our lives, so there's no point in running from it. In order to get the best possible health and happiness as you age, you're going to need to make some adjustments. It may seem like a lot to take in, but it will pay off when you are in good health and spirits. In this article, we'll give you some tips that can help make the transition into seniorhood easier for you.

One thing that is of the utmost importance when it comes to aging is to have a healthy attitude towards the subject. Many people fear aging more than anything and adopt a negative attitude, which can be very detrimental to the quality of their life. Adopting a positive mental attitude towards aging means that you understand the fact that your body is changing and that you are going to need to make adjustments in order to ensure that you can be happy and healthy. Many of the adjustments that need to be made are minor; for one, you should ensure that you be more attentive to the signs that your body tells you. If you think you might be having a health problem that is worthy of a visit to the doctor's office, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Additionally, you should get to know your doctor and plan to go in for check-ups on a regular basis in order to ensure that there aren't any underlying problems with your health that you haven't noticed.

You also need to pay a little closer attention to the things that you eat and the activities that you participate in. Getting exercise is an important way of keeping yourself feeling young, and it is important that you try to get around a half hour of easy exercise once per day. Try participating in some types of exercise such as riding a bike or swimming. Also, you should work towards building a diet that is based around the food pyramid, ensuring that you get plenty of fruits and vegetables in order to ensure that your nutritional needs are met. You may also want to consider supplementing your diet with a multivitamin in order to ensure that you get enough of crucial compounds such as calcium.

You should also work towards cutting down on any bad habits that you might have. If you drink alcohol, you should try to moderate the habit to a reasonable level, as it can wreak havoc on your body when abused. Smoking cigarettes is another habit that you should cut from your life if at all possible. Additionally, you should avoid over-indulging on foods that contain high levels of fat, sugar, or oils, as they have few nutrients yet contain lots of calories.

These are just a few changes that you can make that will make your transition into old age all the more easy. With the right attitude and the proper health choices, you may find that old age is a relaxing and happy experience to go through.

A Retirement Letter Relates Happy Experiences

People seem to start dreaming about retirement soon after they start employment, and when the time comes to retire most people are ecstatic. Retirement letters relate the experiences of those who have taken the big step. Retirement letters are collected in different books so others can share the excitement. Workers read retirement letters to help them plan for the future, and retirees read retirement letters to plan for different activities in the coming days. Retirement letters provide specific information that makes some dreams come true. Retirement letters provide information that will help others avoid mistakes. These letters often offer advice to others that have similar problems. Senior citizens have similar interests and these letters can be very helpful to others.

Retirement letters often describe the best places to live for senior citizens. Some communities make special arrangements for those over a certain age. These letters provide information on the costs in particular places. Some places do not tax the residents so senior citizens can save some extra money by moving to one of these communities. The letters often provide information on the weather so people know if this might be an advantage or disadvantage. The letters usually provide information on the living conditions so people will have some idea of the quality of all facilities in a community.

Retirement Letters Relate Exciting Experiences

Retirement letters tell of experiences that might motivate others. Retirees usually have much more time after they retire and they want to do something exciting during this time. Many retirees do not want to sit around and watch the adventures of others on the television set. There are many places that senior citizens can go for adventures. Many people would like to have a recreational vehicle to travel around at their leisure. Others with tips on the best places to visit in a recreational vehicle write letters to describe their experiences.

Retirement letters often provide information on exotic places overseas. Some of these places have great accommodations especially for senior citizens, and these letters will give information on the best locations. These letters might describe adventures in faraway places such as Thailand, Tahiti or Kenya. The letters often provide information on traveling to these places on a budget. The letters describe hotels and restaurants that have great services for a reasonable amount of money. The letters provide information on the exciting tourist attractions including information on admission fees.

Handy Tips to Keeping Warm as You Grow Older

You can grow old gracefully but being cold doesn't help matters in that area. Growing older means you are more susceptible to temperature changes. So if you have a drafty house or are dressed inappropriately, you could literally develop a cold. Therefore, it makes sense to do what you can to retain warmth around your body and your home.

Check out your home

Sometimes, it is your home that is the cause of your lack of warmth. When you are cold due to a drafty house, you are not only making yourself susceptible to illness, you are also losing money on your electric bill because the heat is escaping your home. Those cracks and crevices need to be plugged up and more insulation might be necessary in the walls of your home or even in the attic space.

When you lose body heat for prolonged periods of time, you allow yourself to become more susceptible to illness and you also compromise your immune system. A lower body temperature lowers your resistance to germs.

Helpful hints in the home that will keep you warm

Hire a professional to inspect your home for problem areas where cold air could be seeping in. Sometimes, it might be a matter of installing a storm door or just caulking around your windows. Weather stripping around doors is an important move too. You can also use draft stoppers around the base of your doors and windows. These draft stoppers can be purchased or you can make your own out of old socks filled with dried beans or dried rice.

Sometimes, some drafts cannot be prevented. Therefore, there are a few things you can do to get around that problem. First of all, you can purchase a few safety-rated space heaters, preferably the ceramic kind. These can quickly warm up small rooms. Just don't forget to unplug them when you are no longer in the room.

Reverse the rotation of your ceiling fans. Instead of pushing cool air out, the reverse rotation will push warmer air down toward the floor. Rearranging your favorite furniture that you use often could be a simple solution. Just move your favorite chair to a location where a draft is not felt.

Dressing up for warmth

Keep throw blankets handy in several rooms. A few on the couch or a favorite chair is easily accessible. Wrap the blanket around your shoulder or lap area for warmth. Fleece is lightweight and yet perfect for providing warmth.

Wear slippers for warm feet and several layers of thin clothes for body warmth. When you wear layers, warmth gets trapped between each layer. As you get warmer, you could always remove one layer; or add one layer if you get colder. Finally, you could use a heating pad or create a heating pack made from a material bag filled with dry rice or beans that could be heated in the microwave.

There are a variety of ways to keep warm so you should explore them and discover which ones work the best. Remember, your health depends on your ability to keep warm, especially during the cooler months.

Cut Prescription Drug Costs

Years ago, you may have never thought twice about taking the medicine that your physician prescribed for you. So why should you have to after retirement? The pharmaceutical companies offer many assistance plans that enable you to receive the medicine you need without zapping all your income!

There are lots of people at retirement age that are living on a fixed income and cannot afford all of these high price medicines. Here are a few ways to help you save some money on your prescription.

When the physician starts writing out a prescription for you to have filled, ask him if he would have any samples that he could supply you with. There are several drug companies that distribute samples to their doctors so they can hand them out to their patients. So take advantage of this one way to save a few dollars.

Also, many doctors' offices participate in drug savings plans and can possibly supply all your medications at no cost or at a minimum $5 or $10 a month co-payment.

Always ask about this possibility. It has saved my aunt hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in medicine costs over the long haul.

Since many drugs are so expensive, the drug companies have now made some equivalent generic brand drugs. When you go to your pharmacy to get your next prescription filled, consider asking for the generic brand. This strategy alone can save up to 50% on your prescriptions.

Another good way to save some money on your medicines would be to use over the counter medications. Ask your physician or pharmacist if any over the counter drugs would be close to your prescription and if you could possibly use them instead. These medicines are normally cheaper.

Comparison shopping for medicines may seem odd, but you may want to try it the next time. Medicine prices vary greatly among chain stores. And believe it or not, sometimes those small local drug stores have the best prices! It pays to check it out.

These are just a few ways to cut the costs of prescription drugs. Never just quit taking your medication without discussing it with your physician first. That could do you more harm than good. If you still have money issues, then ask around about a discount drug program or ask your doctor if you might be able to split your medication and take less.