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"It turned out the more grateful people were, the healthier they were. 'They had less depressed mood, slept better and had more energy' says Mills."
Thank you NPR for this informative podcast on gratitude. HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!
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 We’ve all heard the phrase: Youth is wasted on the young. But what if, at any stage of our life, we had access to the wisdom that comes with experience? This is precisely the idea that led Dr. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University to compile a catalog of wisdom from our elders. He calls it “The Legacy Project; Lessons for Living from the Wisest Americans.” Dr. Pillemer interviewed a thousand older Americans about the lessons they’ve learned through living a lifetime- and the responses they had to offer surprised him. Here are a few pieces of hard-won advice Dr. Pillemer has safeguarded for future generations: On Love : 1. According to our elders (some of whom have been married for upward of 60 years!), in matters of love the small stuff is the big stuff. Perhaps it’s true that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff- when it comes to real small stuff at work or in the mishaps of social gatherings- but when the small stuff is the everyday minutia that makes up a lifetime of our relationships, it carries big importance. Being positive with your partner and staying engaged rather than being dismissive, these are the things that breathe life into a long-term commitment. 2. Another surprising finding? While it’s true that opposites attract, older couples advise us to pair up with someone similar to ourselves. According to Dr. Pillemer, “based on 40, 50, or 60 years of marriage the elders say say: Marry someone a lot like you. Opposites attract, but they don’t make for long marriages. Find someone of similar background, interests, and most of all values.” On regret at the end of life : 3. What insight do our seniors offer about regret? Dr. Pillemer says “what they regret most in life is worrying too much.” According to those with years of experience to back them up, what we tend to worry about tends never to happen. The things that really challenge us are things we didn’t see coming to begin with. 4. Through his research Dr. Pillemer also discovered: “You are going to absolutely regret what you didn’t do rather than what you did.” So if someone offers you an opportunity and you don’t have a good reason to decline, then do it! The Legacy Project’s research shows that our elders encourage taking risks. 5. Another big regret? Dishonesty. I guess the old adage hits the mark: the truth will set you free. Eager for more good advice? Check out Dr. Pillemer’s books: 30 Lessons for Living; Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans and 30 Lessons for Loving; Advice from the Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships, and Marriage. Check out this very informative video about Long Term Care Insurance from LTC Tree  Hearing loss is a natural side effect of aging. About one in three Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 experience hearing loss. If you suspect a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to arrange a visit with a doctor.
Hearing loss not only causes a lot of confusion in everyday conversation, it can also become dangerous. Hearing is an important tool in being aware of our surroundings. If someone is suffering from hearing loss, they may not be able to detect a fire alarm or an approaching car, for example. Sometimes a person experiencing hearing loss may avoid social contact out of fear of not being able to follow a conversation. In this way, hearing difficulties can also lead to feelings of isolation. Straining to hear all the time can also cause fatigue and irritability. Here are some signs to look out for:
If you see signs of hearing loss in your loved one, it’s a good idea to encourage them to visit the doctor sooner rather than later. Their doctor may prescribe a hearing aid or other form of treatment. Many studies have confirmed that treating hearing loss greatly enhances quality of life. It’s a big relief to finally be able to hear clearly after struggling to keep up with conversation! From the Huffington Post: "Ernestine 'Ernie' Shepherd proves age truly is just a number. At age 79 she is a personal trainer, a professional model, a competitive bodybuilder and happier and more fulfilled than she's ever been in her life. In March of 2010, on stage in Rome, Italy she was given the title of World's Oldest Performing Female Bodybuilder by Guinness World Records." Read more here!  We create estate plans to make sure our family is taken care of. It’s important to remember that our family includes our pets. Our furry, feathery and scaly friends depend on us, and our estate plan should provide for their future if we’re no longer available to care for them.
1. Your pet could live for a long time, even without you. The average life span of a dog is 13 years, the average life span of a cat is 15 years and certain parrots and turtles can live up to 100 years old! If you become ill and can no longer take care of them, or if you pass away, your pet could still need care for many years to come. 2. Promises from friends or family may not stand the test of time. We can’t predict what will happen in our lives or in our relationships. Maybe your brother made a promise to take care of Fido a few years back, but he’s since taken a new job and moved across the country. Maybe he’s moved into a condo that has a strict no-pet policy. It’s always better to make formal arrangements. 3. It’s simple to include your pets in your estate plan. With the help of your lawyer, it’s fairly simple to include pets in your Last Will and Testament or to set up a trust for your pets. You’ll simply need to decide who to appoint as your Personal Representative to take care of your pets in the event of your death. Be sure to choose two or three people in case your first choice is unavailable. Keep in mind that whoever you choose to take care of your pets does not need to take them in permanently. They can agree instead to act as a temporary caregiver until they find your pet a good permanent home.
A drug that's already approved for treating leukemia appears to dramatically reduce symptoms in people who have Parkinson's disease with dementia, or a related condition called Lewy body dementia.
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WELCOME!Welcome to our blog at Legal Solutions for Seniors! 
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