Boomer Yearbook Blog » Articles http://boomeryearbook.com/blog Connecting Boomers for Fun and Profit Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:18:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Power of the People: An Indianapolis doctor’s letter to Sen. Bayh about the Health Care Bill http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/11/24/the-power-of-the-people-an-indianapolis-doctors-letter-to-sen-bayh-about-the-health-care-bill/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/11/24/the-power-of-the-people-an-indianapolis-doctors-letter-to-sen-bayh-about-the-health-care-bill/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:47:08 +0000 German Roig http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=5219 Baby Boomer Health Care Bill Alert: BoomerYearbook.com

Baby Boomer Health Care Bill Alert: BoomerYearbook.com

Everyone baby boomer should read this and pay close attention.

An Indianapolis doctor’s letter to Sen. Bayh about the Bill (Note: Dr. Stephen E. Frazer, MD practices as an anesthesiologist in Indianapolis , IN )
Here is a letter I sent to Senator Bayh. Feel free to copy it and send it around to all other representatives. — Stephen Fraser

Senator Bayh,

As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the health care bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government’s proposed involvement in the patient-physician relationship. The very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a health care system that works for all. Every physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our health care system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.

I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.

Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!

Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC benefits for you. You have no choice!

Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals’ finances & a ‘National ID Health card’ will be issued!

Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer.

Page 65 Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN).

Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the ‘Exchange.’

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans — The Govt will ration your health care!

Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. (Translation: illegal aliens.)

Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups (i.e. ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. (AARP members – your health care WILL be rationed!)
Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. (No choice.)

Page 12 4 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt monopoly.

Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what salary you can make.

Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. (NOchoice!)

Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time employees AND their families. (Employees shouldn’t get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)

Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (See the last comment in parenthesis.)
Page 150 Lines 9-13: A business with payroll between $251K & $401K who doesn’t provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll.

Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay.)

Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of the GOVT HC Admin.. will have access to ALLAmericans’ finances and personal records.

Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” (Yes, it really says that!)
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors. (Low-income and the poor are affected.)

Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors: It doesn’t matter what specialty you have trained yourself in — you will all be paid the same! (Just TRY to tell me that’s not Socialism!)

Page 253 Line 10-18: The Govt sets the value of a doctor’s time, profession, judgment, etc. (Literally– the value of humans.)

Page 265 Sec 1131: The Govt mandates and controls productivity for “private” HC industries.

Page 268 Sec 1141: The federal Govt regulates the rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!

Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the Govt deems preventable (i.e…re-admissions).

Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors: If you treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission — the Govt will penalize you.

Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. (The Govt tells doctors what and how much they can own!)

Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion. (The Govt is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)
Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?)

Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: The Govt mandates establishment of=2 outcome-based measures. (HC the way they want — rationing.)
Page 341 Lines 3-9: The Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. (Forcing people into the Govt plan)

Page 354 Sec 1177: The Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of ’special needs people!’ Unbelievable!

Page 379 Sec 1191: The Govt creates more bureaucracy via a “Tele-Health Advisory Committee.” (Can you say HC by phone?)

Page 425 Lines 4-12: The Govt mandates “Advance-Care Planning Consult.” (Think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)

Page 425 Lines 17-19: The Govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. (And it’s mandatory!)
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: The Govt provides an “approved” list of end-of-life resources; & nbsp;guiding you in death. (Also called ‘assisted suicide.’)

Page 427 Lines 15-24: The Govt mandates a program for orders on “end-of-life.” (The Govt has a say in how your life ends!)

Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced-care planning consultant” will be used frequently as a patient’s health deteriorates.

Page 429 Lines 10-12: An “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. (AN ORDER TO DIE FROM THE GOVERNMENT?!?)

Page 429 Lines 13-25: The GOVT will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order. (I wouldn’t want to stand before God after getting paid for THAT job!)

Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end-of-life! (Again — no choice!)

Page 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services = Non-Profit Organizations. (Hello? ACORN Medical Services here!?!)

Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover marriage and family therapy. (Which means Govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)

Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.

Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.

Furthermore, if you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor-patient relationship, I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.

Respectfully,

Stephen E. Fraser, MD

Dear Reader,
I urge you to use the power that you were born with (and the power that may soon be taken away) and circulate this email to as many people as you can reach. The Power of the People can stop this from happening to us, our parents, our grandparents, our children, and to following generations.

Baby Boomers Health Care Bill Alert: BoomerYearbook.com

Baby Boomers Health Care Bill Alert: BoomerYearbook.com

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Clinical Hypnosis Explained for Boomer: What is Clinical Hypnosis? http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/11/06/clinical-hypnosis-explained-for-boomer-what-is-clinical-hypnosis/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/11/06/clinical-hypnosis-explained-for-boomer-what-is-clinical-hypnosis/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:31:50 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=4738 byb-hypnosis-dreamstime_390634[1]

By Dr. Karen for Boomeryearbook.com

According to the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Division of Psychological Hypnosis, hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests while treating someone that he or she experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. Hypnosis involves a lot of visual imagery and suggestions to induce relaxation and calmness. Clinical hypnosis is used to treat psychological disorders as well as to make people more responsive to medical treatment.

How does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis works by delving into the subconscious. Our subconscious is a storehouse of everything that we may or may not be consciously aware. Some unrealized potential, a forgotten memory, the cause of an unexplained problem…they are all filed somewhere in our subconscious. Clinical hypnosis induces a trance like state in which we can get in touch with our inner-self.

Can anyone be hypnotized?

People can be clinically hypnotized only if they are willing. Unlike what is depicted in films and TV soaps, people don’t lose control over their minds under hypnosis; it’s simply a different state of awareness. The degree to which a person may be hypnotized depends on his/her ability to silence the conscious mind’s chatter and accept the given suggestions. Generally people who meditate regularly are able to go into a deeper trance state.

Though clinical hypnosis is not a treatment in itself, it is often used as a means to treat some physical and psychological disorders. It is an effective tool as it works with the mind; the most powerful organ in our body.

Want to learn more about alternative therapies? Sign onto boomeryearbook.com for daily self-help and coaching techniques. Join others at BoomerYearbook.com and let your voice be heard. Boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers connect for fun and profit.

For www.boomeryearbook.com

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Baby Boomers Guide to Seeking Professional Sex – Pros and Cons http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/26/baby-boomers-guide-to-seeking-professional-sex-%e2%80%93-pros-and-cons/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/26/baby-boomers-guide-to-seeking-professional-sex-%e2%80%93-pros-and-cons/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:07:25 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=4052 Pros and Cons of Boomers seeking Professional Sex

Pros and Cons of Boomers seeking Professional Sex

Elderly Problems by Boomeryearbook.com

A youthful person can take an active sex life for granted. The kind of social life that is prevalent for twenties to thirties tends to provide a happy hunting ground for sexual partners.

For the same people in their fifties and sixties, however, emotional complications and lifestyle could interfere with their desire to find a sexual partner on ‘home ground’. Elderly problems can bring physical limitations to sexual performance and while an elderly man (or woman) might be willing to enjoy a certain sexual freedom with a stranger, the prospect of risking confidentiality with a partner on their doorstep is worrying and inhibiting.

The advantages of seeking professional sex are the probabilities of guaranteed physical satisfaction and the aspect of privacy; being able to separate a social life and enjoy the company of friends without the sexual complications that sometimes compromise a successful friendship with the opposite sex in later life as a result of elderly problems.

Men or women who have enjoyed long and happy partnerships and find they are unable to connect in the same way with a new sexual companion might seek professional sex as a way of dealing with sexual frustration yet still enjoying the company of a new friend socially. This arrangement can fall apart, however, as the relationship progresses and the other person begins to demand a deeper and more physical interaction.

A major drawback with a professional sexual partner is that all physical inhibitions are discouraged and although this can be a bonus of a conventional sexual relationship, transferring such sexual appetites to a new partner can be problematic; few people are able to perform to the standard of a sex professional.

Another problem is that seeking out professional sexual partners can be habit forming and sometimes result in a person wanting to have a more traditional sexual relationship with a new companion but being unable to break their habit of enjoying the anonymity of a detached physical performance.

Allowing a habit of professional sexual activity to develop can cause a number of difficulties and can have the opposite effect to the one originally intended, as a certain ‘isolation’ exists in people with elderly problems whose only sexual satisfaction comes from being in bed with a stranger.

A sexual relationship with someone who is close emotionally can be a comfort as elderly problems cause progressive disabilities. For those with a sex life conducted exclusively outside the home, sex becomes inconsistent with deep affection and therefore something sought only for physical satisfaction rather than emotional comfort.

The other practical downside of professional sex is of course the cost. The price of sexual favors is necessarily high if one is to have the security of knowing a sexual partner is free of disease and that the sexual service takes place in clean and safe surroundings. A common problem for the aging baby boomer or booming senior when seeking professional sex is the lack of freely available funds to finance it and also for people who are in a relationship, being able to spend the money without a partner knowing.

Pros and Cons of boomers seeking professional sex

Pros and Cons of boomers seeking professional sex

The Psychological Article on Seeking Professional Sex – Pros and Cons 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!

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A few thoughts for Boomers on dealing with death (and life) http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/26/a-few-thoughts-for-boomers-on-dealing-with-death-and-life/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/26/a-few-thoughts-for-boomers-on-dealing-with-death-and-life/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:44:03 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=4040 byb-death-danger-dreamstime_85916651

Psychological Articles on Elderly Problems

by Boomeryearbook.com

A great mystic once said, “A man who is afraid of death will be afraid of life also, because life brings death. If you are afraid of the enemy and you close your door, the friend will also be prohibited.”

Baby boomers are plagued with a number of fears – fear of isolation, fear of not having enough money, fear of change, fear of old age and the fear of losing the lime light are just to name a few. But the root of all these fears is definitely the fear of death. All other fears seem to be just by-products of the fear of death.

The basic idea here is that even though we boomers intellectually know that we are going to die someday; very few of us truly believe it. The reason I say that is because, had we truly believed it; we would be living life very differently.

The bitter truth is that we live a sleepwalker’s existence by doing things automatically without thinking about whether it’s really essential or not – we do things and say things in certain ways just because its how we have always done it. Thinking about death breaks the shackles of this sleepwalker’s existence and forces us to think of the essentials.

The Buddhists recommend imagining a little bird on your shoulder that asks the question, “Is today the day? Am I ready and doing all that I need to do by being the person I ought to be today?” this little practice will not only eliminate the fear of death, but it will also eliminate the fear of life – somehow remembering death tends to cleanse our life by reminding us of what’s really important and freeing us from all that’s not important.

Understanding death is essential in understanding life. Embracing death equals embracing life. Leaning to die equals learning to live. This thought is summed up beautifully by the Lebanese poet, Khalil Gibran,

“You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”

It is futile for boomers to try to trick themselves into believing that we are not going to grow old and die. Wanting to be young again simply means that one is not in awe of the wisdom that comes with being old. Instead of wanting to be young again, isn’t it a better idea to relish in the wisdom that comes with old age. After all growing old isn’t simply about white hair and wrinkly skin; it’s about a mental, emotional and spiritual transcendence of everything that’s not important – it’s about moving away from the fear of death to an understanding of life and death; and then to live a better life based on that understanding.

Positive Psychology Map

Positive Psychology Map

Remeber to practice Positive Psychology and ask yourself “Is today the day, little bird… is it today?”

The Psychological Article on A few thoughts for Boomers on dealing with death (and life) 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!

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Baby Boomer Guide to Somatic Experiencing – navigating beyond trauma http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/25/baby-boomer-guide-to-somatic-experiencing-%e2%80%93-navigating-beyond-trauma/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/25/baby-boomer-guide-to-somatic-experiencing-%e2%80%93-navigating-beyond-trauma/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:22:08 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=4009 Elderly Problems by Boomeryearbook.com

Foundation for Human Enrichment: Undischarged Trauma

Foundation for Human Enrichment: Undischarged Trauma

Somatic Experiencing: Low Nervous System
Balanced Nervous System
Healthy Nervous System

Healthy Nervous System

What is somatic experiencing? It is a process by which physical and psychological problems are healed by dealing with a person’s body sensations – or somatic experiences. This form of therapy was first introduced in 1997 by Dr. Peter Levine in his book Walking the Tiger. The premise of this form of therapy is rooted in studying (and later replicating) wild animals and their ability to negotiate and come out of life threatening situations. These wild animals seem to have mastered the skill of avoiding traumatization by being highly adaptive in their approach to life-threatening occurrences – this is the key to healing the symptoms of various physical and mental trauma-based problems.

The practice revolves around the theory that trauma tends to throw the autonomic nervous system (ANS) off its normal self-regulatory processes and that the procedures of Somatic Experiencing can reinstate the autonomic nervous system’s balance. A balanced nervous system will exude resilience, openness, a sense of mastery, emotional stability and the ability to be fully present. On the other hand, a dis-balanced and trauma-inflicted nervous system would exude symptoms of anxiety, chronic pain, sleeplessness, hostility, rage, depression, lethargy etc.

Somatic Experiencing is generally helpful, for two types of trauma – developmental trauma and shock trauma. Where shock trauma is caused by a single traumatic occurrence such as a war, a natural disaster or a road accident; developmental trauma tends to grow on a person (usually during childhood) – children who undergo a disturbing relationship with a parent or who receive little or no attention and appreciation, are prime examples of developmental trauma.

Somatic experiencing is all about healing the effects of traumatic events through heightened bodily awareness. The techniques are based on an exploration into why wild animals are never really traumatized despite the ever-looming threats that come with living in the wild. This understanding has unlocked the long-standing questions about trauma that mystified both laymen and professionals. Somatic Experiencing gives us the tools, techniques and steps by which we can free ourselves from the chains of the past and realize our fullest potential – something desperately sought by most baby boomers.

Baby boomers in particular will find great value in investing time, effort and money in understanding and practicing Somatic Experiencing. As a baby boomer it can help you heal all kinds of traumas – whether you are an ex military person who is trying to overcome the trauma of being in a war or whether you are a baby boomer who is trying to put the pieces of your life together after a broken relationship. The best thing about Somatic Experiencing is that it does not require any form of medication – somatic experiencing is a mix between bodywork and talk therapy aimed at heightening awareness of the physical body, breathing, sensations and their accompanying negativities.

Baby boomers are most likely to have a storehouse of feelings and emotions buried in their bodies – even though these feelings and emotions may have been long forgotten they still continue to shape and define our limitations and capabilities. Somatic Experiencing helps us navigate our way out of this maze.

The Psychological Article Baby Boomer Guide to Somatic Experiencing – navigating beyond trauma 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!

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Baby Boomers Alleviating Elderly Problems-Understanding the Tao – bending is living http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/17/baby-boomers-understanding-the-tao-%e2%80%93-bending-is-living/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/17/baby-boomers-understanding-the-tao-%e2%80%93-bending-is-living/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:24:51 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=3850 Alleviating Elderly Problems: A Taoist Approach

Alleviating Elderly Problems: A Taoist Approach

The Tao Te Ching is a sacred text containing eighty one verses that were dictated by a self-realized man, Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu lived approximately five hundred years before the birth of Jesus – the Tao Te Ching is the most widely translated body of text after the Bible and its eighty one verses are believed to be the ultimate commentary on living a harmonious life by observing nature – this seems to be exactly what the doctor prescribed for the Seventy-six million baby boomers.

The Tao is all about studying and learning important life lessons from nature. In the 76th verse of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu invites us to change our perception of weakness and strength. He teaches us how the most hard and stiff organisms in nature are actually very weak and easily destroyed. On the other hand, anything in nature that’s yielding, flexible and gentle; proves to be the most durable. Isn’t it true that upon nearing death and decay a tree would become hard and stiff making it vulnerable to strong winds and fire? The wood of the tree becomes frail, feeble and stiff as it ages. Lao Tzu rightly points out that it’s the wood’s inflexibility and hardness that tends to make it weak. Isn’t this akin to all other organisms as well that become completely stiff and inflexible (weak) at the time of their deaths?

Being baby boomers we have all probably seen newly born babies who seem to be complete yoga masters and have no difficulty in performing amazing physical feats (like placing their feet in their mouth). We have all witnessed toddlers bump their heads and limbs against the walls and furniture in the house – each time they manage to shrug it off in a matter of minutes only to resume whatever they were doing. Within minutes they would make friends, have fights and then make up with them. It seems as if their bodies and their minds are flexible and supple – they are unafraid of being hurt, injured or looking silly. On a different note, they are also least bothered about which God the next door neighbor prays to or about how much wealth their school mates’ parents possess . Somehow, as we grow older physically our minds, thoughts, judgments and feelings become too stiff, inflexible and rigid – it’s sad that society judges us according to how fiercely we hold onto our beliefs and concepts of what’s right and what’s wrong. In order to live longer and happier, baby boomers need to bring about a shift in that kind of reasoning.

Alleviating Elderly Problems by Learning to Bend

Alleviating Elderly Problems by Learning to Bend

It seems as if our ability to listen more than we speak, to bend when necessary, to let go of grief and grudges and to allow our point of views to change with time and experience is very similar to a palm tree amidst a hurricane whose flexibility (apparent weakness) turns out to be its greatest strength.

We baby boomers need to look at their opinions and beliefs about touchy subjects like birth control, abortions and the death penalty and consider being in the position of someone who holds a contrary opinion. We need to look at things from his/her perspective and try to shake loose our unshakable opinion. Similarly we need to put ourselves in the place of people from different religions, different countries, different social statures, the opposite gender and a different generation in order to attain mental and physical longevity. As someone rightly said “The essence of illness is the freezing of behavior into unalterable and insatiable patterns”.

Please read the 76th verse of the Tao and try to meditate on how these words ring true in your own life:

“Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plats are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry.Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death.Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail”

(From a translation by S. Mitchell)

Baby Boomers Understanding the Tao – bending is living 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.

Psychological Articles as Solutions to Types of Discrimination

Psychological Articles as Solutions to Types of Discrimination

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!

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FAST: The Four Vital Signs of Stroke and What to do When They Appear http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/09/fast-the-four-vital-signs-of-stroke-and-what-to-do-when-they-appear/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/09/09/fast-the-four-vital-signs-of-stroke-and-what-to-do-when-they-appear/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:55:13 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=3810 FAST: Signs of Stroke

FAST: Signs of Stroke

By Dr. Karen


By Boomeryearbook.com

As baby boomers age (it comes to us all!) we become more likely to suffer from diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes and strokes. Stroke victims’ lives often depend on the ability of their companions and carers to recognize the early signs of an oncoming stroke and act quickly enough to get prompt and effective medical attention.

The initials ‘FAST’ stand for: Face, Arms, Speech, and Time

Face: A person who is suffering a stroke will likely have also sustained some slackening of the facial muscles. Study the person’s face carefully: if you are in doubt, ask them to smile. The smile might be decidedly lop-sided. There might also be a severe headache or blurred vision and dizziness. Ask the person if they have a headache rather than wait for developments and bear in mind that a stroke is not a condition that should be monitored over a few hours: time is paramount when dealing with stroke victims. Aging Baby boomers and seniors living at home with the family are somewhat more fortunate than those living independently, as they are more likely to be diagnosed with stroke early on as a result of younger family members noticing facial features changing.

Arms: the arms will be sluggish and heavy as a result of suffering a stroke and possibly even become suddenly paralyzed. If facial features have already rung some alarm bells, check arm movements and see if the person can lift their arms up and down easily without involuntarily letting one or both fall. Stand close by when asking the person to lift their arms, as a stroke victim might over balance when attempting to lift their arms up and down.

Speech: A baby boomer with stroke symptoms might not be able to compute a sentence properly. Symptoms vary from person to person but when suffering from a stroke, few patients can repeat a sentence without slurring, getting the words jumbled or losing the ability to speak completely. The tongue simply refuses to perform properly and the person might appear a little dumbfounded as they slowly realize they are unable to speak clearly.

Time: The question of time is the most important one as it underlines the absolute urgency of seeking profession medical help as quickly as possible. The treatment outcomes for stroke victims relies on the windows of opportunity presented through the onset of symptoms; the quicker the better to assuage the most severe damage occurring within the brain. When it comes to a stroke, time is of the essence. The quicker treatment is received, the more likely the patient is to recover, either in part or in full. A popular phrase is ‘the quicker you act, the more of the person you save’ and it is true that a prompt 911 call at this time can make all the difference to a sufferer’s ability to climb back from the damage caused by stroke.

If you are living with an elderly senior or aging baby boomer, watch for the signs of stroke and if you think any of these symptoms have appeared, do not hesitate to call for emergency medical help as you could not only save a life, you could also make the difference to the quality of the life you have saved.

FAST: The Four Vital Signs of Stroke and What to do When They Appear 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!

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6. Co-Dependency: The Effects of Alcoholism on a Marriage http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/08/29/6-co-dependency-the-effects-of-alcoholism-on-a-marriage/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/08/29/6-co-dependency-the-effects-of-alcoholism-on-a-marriage/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:30:39 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=3767 By Boomeryearbook.com

Co-Dependency Alanon

Co-Dependency Alanon

People who have been married a long time, especially those who are old enough to experience elderly problems, have usually fallen into a routine with their husbands or wives. It is true that the first flush of passion usually steps aside to allow a more mellow affection in later years and occasionally this comfortable friendship can lead to a certain amount of carelessness between long term spouses and partners.

The first signs of alcohol dependency in a partner can be a passing observation of your husband or wife having ‘one too many’ drinks at a social gathering and then repeating the process at every opportunity. Watch for it and take note of it…

Alcohol dependence can begin with having one or two drinks before leaving for an evening with friends, instead of waiting to have a drink in the company of others. This need for alcohol to provide the ‘buzz’ of sociability can be an early warning that all is not well. Elderly problems are certainly not the cause of alcoholism in the elderly but sometimes the symptoms of elderly problems can cloud a more serious addiction to alcohol.

Alcoholism is a cruel and invasive condition that all too often lulls the sufferer into believing he or she is not in any immediate danger of addiction. Once the addict finally understands he is the throes of an addiction, he might pursue a program of denial for some time before finally admitting he needs help to restore his ability to say no to alcohol. Elderly problems can sometimes complicate this process but with gentle encouragement from a marriage partner the elderly addict can arrive at the point of seeking help as promptly as anyone else.

While the alcoholic is in this tragic stage of denial, all of his or her relationships, including long term friendships and associations with business colleagues, are at risk of breaking down. The addict begins to display unpleasant character traits such as dishonesty – telling lies when the truth will suffice; duplicity – making excuses for being unable to attend work or attend to family commitments; the ability to set aside every consideration other than the need to find another drink.

Most successful marriages are based on trust, love and friendship. Alcoholism actively threatens the alcoholic’s ability to be trusted; to offer affection and also to be a reliable friend. Almost all of the basic requisites for a successful marriage are compromised by an alcoholic addiction. It is hardly surprising then that so many alcoholics land in the divorce courts either prior to, during or after attending a recovery program.

The human desire to survive is as finely tuned in the wife or husband of an alcoholic as it is in the alcoholic himself. A person who has been lied to and abused for years, while his or her husband or wife drank away life savings and the means to pay the household bills can hardly be blamed for wanting to leave, even if the alcoholic is well on the way to recovery.

An Alcohol has a lot to answer for, but it is also imperative that the partner seek out help and support such as an Alanon program.

The Effects of Alcoholism on a Marriage 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!

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Obama Care and Baby Boomers: The Cunning Plan http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/07/13/the-cunning-plan-obamas-health-care-impact-on-baby-boomers/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/07/13/the-cunning-plan-obamas-health-care-impact-on-baby-boomers/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:26:39 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=3607 The Cunning Plan

The Cunning Plan

by Boomeryearbook.com

The popular baby boomer concept of enjoying a healthy and stress free old age could very well be capsized by President Obama’s much publicized Stimulus Plan, especially with regard to plans under discussion for care of more elderly citizens. Baby boomers fall into the category of elderly patients whose health care might be considerably more expensive than the average spring chicken, the cost of which will be carefully tracked and monitored by Federal agencies whose job it will be to decide whether further funding is appropriate on a given case. Yikes!

Where specific guidelines are requested to outline exactly what kind of policies will be adopted in the care and medical attention of the older persons, Obama’s Plan waffles and drifts into vague references which describe ‘meaningful users’ instead of using the term ‘patient’, which definitely implies a duty of medical responsibility. Giving a Federal agency the right to decide who qualifies as a ‘meaningful user’ is like leaving the rat in charge of the cheese. The temptation to weed out seriously ill and vulnerable elderly people as a poor investment would be tantamount to ‘cleansing’ – an unpopular process on which Americans took a stern view when it was practiced by Saddam Hussein (no relation, one presumes).

‘Don’t worry!’ Barrack assures us, in his inimitable and jocular, ever so winning manner which appears to have charmed the birds from a number of international tree species over recent months, ’47 million Americans without health care are going to be taken care of under the new healthcare system!’

Okay. Uh – where is the money going to come from, Mr President, Sir? Not from the resources paid for by many thousands of tax-faithful baby boomers over decades of hard work and industry, right? Mr President…? Hello…?

The unfortunate fact is that as people age, their health problems become more serious. Obviously, those naturally nearer through age to death will experience failing health as life draws to a close. The Stimulus Plan carries a sinister and not that well concealed policy of discarding elderly health as a waste of resources in favour of promoting better health facilities for young families.

Baby boomers are among the country’s more elderly citizens and although some enjoy robust health into their old age, the possibility of sickness is greater as one passes sixty and seventy. Health Secretary Tom Daschle’s proposed controls provide a sieve-like opportunity for hard working tax payers to fall through the holes left by an administration bent on healing the masses at the expense of the few. It didn’t work in Europe: it is not going to work in America.

The winds of change in health structures in the US will blow the tax paying older generation away when the time comes for practical patient care and specialist intervention for conditions widely associated with old age – some of which have been suffered by baby boomers for years.

Amidst the blowing of trumpets and the waving of flags associated with Mr Obama’s new health policies, one hopes that someone, somewhere, is keeping an eye on the vulnerable, the elderly and the aging tax payer.

Obama Care and Baby Boomers: The Cunning Plan is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of articles poking fun at politics and current events in the hopes of shedding light on baby boomer 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!

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How Nationalized Health Care Would Impact Baby Boomers http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/07/01/how-nationalized-health-care-would-impact-baby-boomers/ http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/2009/07/01/how-nationalized-health-care-would-impact-baby-boomers/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:34:17 +0000 http://boomeryearbook.com/blog/?p=3504
Boomers Beware: National Health Care is Coming
Baby Boomers and Nationalized Health Care

Baby Boomers and Nationalized Health Care

By Boomeryearbook.com

Baby boomers have always sought private health care simply because nationalized health care has never been an option. In the debate whether boomers and older people would benefit from a nationalized health system, a number of factors need to be considered.

Baby boomers pay taxes like everyone else. A nationalized system of health care is an expensive commodity and likely to require enormous set up costs in its initial stages, increasing the tax bill for consumers. Baby boomers, unlike the younger generation, have invested a great deal of money in private coverage over the years and built long term relationships with their medical providers. Although private coverage can be expensive, the majority of baby boomers have finance in place for medical cover and have the added advantage of shorter waiting lists for treatment.

In a government controlled health system, baby boomers would encounter the same problems experienced by older patients in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, where older people are de-listed when their illnesses become too great a burden on state resources.

Unpopular decisions are also made via administration in nationalized health, when a patient in extreme old age is considered for an expensive operation. Younger patients receive priority in such cases, especially when recovery involves a degree of disciplined exercise and physiotherapy. Older patients are judged (sometimes unfairly) to be a poor risk and are refused operations on grounds of practicality. This never happens in private health care where a patient will always get what he pays for regardless, unless his extreme age so limits his chances of recovery that the procedure is deemed dangerous to his own welfare.

Policies concerning age and eligibility are not factors to be considered in the private health sector. Each patient is a paying customer and is treated as such. In a nationalized health situation, baby boomers would likely not be considered for what is generally viewed to be border line cosmetic treatments, such as mole or wart surgery. Private health companies view such issues with the same degree of care as any other ailment.

Many baby boomers would be likely to hang onto their private health cover in the event of a nationalized health service being introduced, for obvious reasons, so would end up effectively paying for both systems. Baby boomers accustomed for years to being treated at the head of the line might find the tedium of changing their system somewhat unpalatable. It would probably be necessary to change doctors, change clinics and physiotherapy centers, in fact to change everything concerned with health care and start over with a new team. For those who cling to tradition and routine, change can be a trauma best avoided in older age.

On the whole, Boomerland is probably better off staying private… or risk being discarded with Nationalized Care

Boomers Beware: National Health Care is Coming

This Psychological Article on How Nationalized Health Care Would Impact Baby Boomers 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!

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