When driving become an elderly problem?

By Boomeryearbook.com

One of the hardest things to admit in older age is that it may be time to hang up your driving gloves. For many men and women, the day they passed their driving test was one of the happiest in their life. Getting into your own car and driving on the open road is one of the most definitive expressions of independence a person can make. Aging baby boomers can find giving up a set of wheels the worst possible admission of being ‘over the hill’.

Being able to get into your own car at the supermarket and drive yourself home is a privilege many of us take for granted. Some people never learn to drive and so never miss the freedom of being able to get from A to B without assistance. For those of us who enjoy getting behind the wheel, however, the loss of liberty is hard to bear and even worse if you are a ‘petrol head’ – or car enthusiast.

For some elderly people, the road to giving up the driving license is hard travelled. Many elderly drivers are well aware that their faculties are less than adequate; that their reactions are slower and that their eyesight is not good enough for night driving. Some aging baby boomers are also sensible enough to undergo medical tests and sight tests voluntarily and make the right decision based on the results: others are less than co-operative and will recklessly turn the road and the family car into a death trap before they will admit their driving days are over.

As elderly reflexes slow down, peripheral vision becomes blurry and the ability to concentrate diminishes. The skills required to stay in reliable control of a vehicle reduce considerably, rendering the driver not only vulnerable to accidents but a danger to everyone else on the road such as his own passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. Leaving an elderly driver to decide on his own capabilities can have tragic results.

The question is: how to tell Grandpa his driving days are over? Well, you could try opening a general debate to see what his opinions are of drivers who persist in staying on the road when they are no longer competent. Ask him how old he thinks drivers should be when they quit driving. However, don’t get involved in a heated argument that will sure to end with Grandpa storming off in the car!

If your elderly driver has a good friend, try to enlist some help from that friend to break the news that the car should be off limits from now on. Be tactful and understanding: a simple issue of driving might sound like a small thing to someone who has thirty driving years left to run but to an aging baby boomer it sounds like a death sentence on independence and social freedom.

Check out traffic department guidelines on elderly drivers to find advice on safe conduct for this elderly problem and how to arrange for a re-test.

Grandpa Won’t Give Up His Driving License is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Diffuse Prickly Emotions in Baby Boomers or Elderly Loved Ones

By Boomeryearbook.com

Age brings a plethora of aches, pains, intense emotions and feelings of isolation and loneliness most people could do without. Getting old is scary for anyone to look in the mirror and no longer recognize the tired reflection. Some aging baby boomers cope beautifully with old age and gracefully slip into a twilight phase with smiles on their faces; others find the transition into being a senior citizen impossible to deal with.

For aging baby boomers whose acceptance of older age is less than whole hearted, objections to what is happening to their bodies and minds as a result of the onset of elderly problems surface in a number of ways. These objections can materialize as moodiness or irritability, a propensity to be overly critical of others, contrariness, jealousy, attention seeking, and other anti social behavior patterns.

Dealing with someone who is displaying these unfortunate behavioral difficulties can be a trial. It is not a good idea to be over accepting of aging behavior when it is presenting disruption for the rest of the family. However, the situation involves chastising an aging baby boomer or senior and so must be approached carefully.

Always talk to an older person about this kind of problem privately and never in front of children or teenagers. Try to arrange a situation where you are being sociable yet in a quiet atmosphere, perhaps make some coffee and have a chat rather than conduct a lecture. Older people hate being criticized at the best of times and remember baby boomers are used to being in control. Be as diplomatic as you can but be resolved to say what you intended to say and do not be de-railed by heated denials or objections.

Gently explain that you are aware of how difficult it must be and how well your aging loved one has coped with these problems so far but some adjustments to behavior are necessary if everyone is to live together in harmony in the future. Baby boomers are intelligent and intuitive and will know exactly what is being said without it having to be broadcast over a loud speaker. A tactful and affectionate talk about what the problems are and how they might be resolved should be adequate to let the person know their behavior must change.

It is important that everyone makes an effort to be considerate of the aging person’s emotions. Although it is not strictly fair to allow one person more margin than another in terms of how to behave, older people might already be struggling to deal with elderly problems such as arthritis, poor eyesight, painful joints, and restrictive movements. Such complaints understandably cause fractiousness.

The most important aspect of dealing with an older person’s emotions is always to make your affections clearly visible. Never raise your voice to an elderly person and insist that nobody else in the family does either. After such discussions have taken place, allow the person some space and privacy to sulk if they wish; they will come around in their own time!

How to Diffuse the Prickly Emotions Present in Old Age is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Resolving Elderly Problems in the home

By Boomeryearbook.com

Conflict in your home can be upsetting; especially if at the center of the conflict is an aging baby boomer relative you have been close to and fond of for many years.

Older age brings many discomforts, not the least of which are feelings of being isolated or ‘left out’ of things, even for aging people living in large family units who are exposed to younger company for much of every day. Elderly people are uncomfortably aware of their limitations and from time to time these feelings of being unable to cope alone surface and make the person depressed or moody.

Mood swings are part of elderly problems for many aging baby boomers living with younger people. Ideally, when moving an incapacitated boomer or elderly relative into your home, provisions might be made for giving the person a quantity of privacy and a ‘sanctuary’ from the necessarily noisy and busy hum drum of family life. Sometimes, however, such arrangements are out of reach due to budget restrictions and in these cases, the generation gap can cause a great deal of trouble.

One of the more aggravating aspects of aging baby boomer residents in the home is their propensity to ‘interfere’. Interestingly, the number of older people who will admit to ‘interfering’ with daily life within the bosom of their family are – you guessed it – zero! Most of them label their honest interjections as an effort to help only and see their input in the decision as to whether twelve-year-old Charlotte should be allowed to go to the movies alone or whether nineteen-year-old Andrew should re-sit his exams as invaluable!

Quite often in these scenarios, there is an arbiter who steps in periodically and diffuses family tempers. If you are the arbiter between a crotchety baby boomer and the rest of the family, remember to allow a little honest interaction to take place within the family. It is not always necessary to wade in and pull the plug on a debate whether junior should be allowed to go to the movies – sometimes, difficult teenagers will go through hoops for Grandpa but criticism from Mom is hard to take.

The aging or elderly member of the family nearly always enjoys a deep affection with youngsters. Unfortunately, this affection can sometimes be sorely put to the test when teenage privacy is being invaded or when conversations are being interrupted by “senior” opinions.

Older people tend to be less likely to be cranky if they have some exercise each day and plenty of social interaction with peers during the week. Like anyone else, aging baby boomers get bored and require social stimulation. Pay attention to getting a good social life arranged for your aging resident and you might find things fall into place a little better!

When family life becomes a little heated as a result of an elderly relative being difficult, it might be a good time to diplomatically suggest a short break to give younger family members a rest from nagging and also to provide a change of scenery for your senior loved one!

Tough Love: Looking Alter an Elderly Person in Your Home Despite Disagreements is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Aging Baby Boomers avoiding Elderly Problems

By Boomeryearbook.com

Some Baby boomers who are beginning the years at the tail end of life may need relatives to help make decisions such as whether to live in a care home or with younger relatives such as a daughter or son with families of their own.

For people who have spent a good deal of their lives making decisions for others, the transition to being a dependent relative can be both difficult and fraught with anxiety. Sometimes the decision on whether to go into formal care is left with an elderly person who is not sufficiently informed of how life will be once they are installed in a nursing home or residential unit.

Should the decision for relocating an elderly relative rest with you, there are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration. Is the person safe enough to be able to retain a measure of independence? Are they susceptible to falls and do they experience elderly problems such as forgetfulness which might lead to accidents?

There are many combinations of care and supervision available for baby boomers and seniors living alone, some of which are concerned primarily with providing medical care on a regular basis. Quite often an aging baby boomer relative will be past the age where living in a three story house is practical but at the same time quite capable of living safely and independently with limited supervision and attendance such as help with driving, shopping and doctor’s appointments.

The line between caring supervision and unacceptable control is sometimes all too clouded and care should be taken that in the process of trying to arrange for the most favorable and appropriate accommodation for an aging baby boomer beginning to experience elderly problems, you do not step on feelings and alienate the person you are trying to help.

When considering whether to invite an aging baby boomer to live with you in your home, take into account the necessity to provide privacy and tranquillity for someone who is unaccustomed to living with a boisterous young family. Excessive noise and constant disruption to calm can cause real anxiety in an some baby boomers with a quiet, retiring personality who is unaccustomed to a house filled with young children. Make sure your home is suitable for aging residents before you jump in with a reckless invitation!

Should the decision for an older relative have been made already, prepare to become involved in some paperwork so that the correct preparations are in place, such as informing the welfare department of the new address if necessary, and making sure the doctor is aware of the person’s new address. Also, pensions and benefits providers need to be informed. Taking a person into your home is not as easy as it might first appear but if the proper preparations have been made, the administration will be easier later on.

If you have made arrangements in your home for an aging or elderly relative to have independent cooking facilities, remember to inform your insurance company of the change in status in your home and make appropriate adjustments to your policy.

How to Know What an Elderly Parent Needs: Where to Live: How to Live is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Keeping Aging Baby Boomers Safe

By Boomeryearbook.com

Some aging baby boomers experience health problems or become frail and sometimes need to move in with younger members of the family to sustain a safe way of living and also avoid some of the more unpleasant aspects of elderly life such as loneliness and isolation.

Having an elderly relative move in can be a blessing but there are one or two precautions that need to be addressed so that everyone can be confident that Mom (or Grandpa or Aunt Maud) is not living in a home that is a potential booby trap! Aging Baby boomers might be quite vulnerable and susceptible to falls and the resulting broken bones and bruises.

Start with the stairs. Obviously your aging loved one is going to need a sturdy handrail, so make sure yours is solidly fixed to the wall and not over polished to ensure elderly hands with a weaker grip can grasp the rail firmly. Make sure that if your stairs are carpeted, the carpet is properly attached to each stair and that if you have those smart brass clips that they are in good repair and holding the carpet securely.

Check for any loose carpet tacks and make sure the staircase is well lit. If you do not already have a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs, install one so that the light can be switched on both upstairs and on the ground floor. Never leave loose objects on the stairs, either at the top or the bottom and make sure loose rugs are never left where they might act as a slide and cause a fall. Ideally, a stair lift should be installed for the extremely frail.

Exterior steps should also feature a hand rail and if they are rickety or of different heights, this should be corrected. Outdoor tiling should be non slip, even after becoming wet. If there are any rusty or jagged edges to gate latches or door handles, repair them and make sure they remain in good repair.

Put a telephone within easy reach of your aging loved one’s chair or bed and try to set up an emergency alarm as soon as possible. This need not be a complicated electronic system; often a simple hand bell is sufficient to call for help.

Do not set hot water systems so that near boiling water gushes from the hot tap and take the time to explain to your new resident how to use all household appliances so that your aging boomer will not attempt to figure things out for themselves and end up being injured trying to assemble an ironing board or light a gas fire.

Use your common sense. Help your aging guest up and down steps and across roads and try not to make them feel useless or redundant in the process. Set some rules about opening the door to strangers and attempting to reach high shelves by climbing on chairs – always an absolute no-no!

Making Your Home Safe for the Elderly is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!