BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE

STAIRLIFTS HAVE proven to be a blessing for seniors who want to stay in their own homes. Many of us live in two story houses, and have no desire to move into a cookie cutter, one story house in a new sub division. For years, my husband struggled up and down the stairs, until his knees gave out. Due to his age and various health issues, knee replacement surgery isn’t possible. Therefore, we invested in a brand new, Acorn stairlift. But now, a year and a half later, the battery is acting up, and the company is no longer responsive to our calls for repair and maintenance. Beware of bad stairlift service.

We looked into a stairlift several years ago, and even got a detailed estimate from a bright and personable sales representative who assured us that service was readily available. They even tout their trusty stairlift service on their website : “We employ highly-trained service technicians based all over the USA who are dedicated to servicing and maintaining our customers’ stairlifts” We were impressed. . And then, our fickle hearts lost interest, and we opted out of the installation. It seemed like a drastic solution, which would change the character of our 100 year old farmhouse. Then things got worse. Three years later, we called Acorn, and they had the old bids on file. They agreed to install the stairlift for the originally quoted price, which seemed like a very generous offer, considering inflation pressures.

BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE. If you can't get it fixed, it won't do you much good. — BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE. You can’t wait around for weeks on end if you need it fixed.

The first year, things went pretty well. Although, we did have to call and remind them that we were due for the yearly maintenance check which was promised as part of the deal. At that point, nothing was wrong, so all the service rep had to do was whatever is required just to make sure things are clean and running okay. Mission accomplished. When you have a machine that is in good working order, you take it for granted that it will always be that way. But it won’t. Like any other electrical appliance, it eventually develops some glitches. . And for us, that’s when the trouble began.

Our battery appears to be in need of charging. . At least, that’s how it looks to us , as the blinking numbers keep going down. But it could be something else. We called the Acorn phone number, and had to wait about 45 minutes on hold until someone finally answered. Actually, it was an answering service. Should you have to wait that long for a recorded message? Anyway, we left a message, and never received a call back. Finally, my husband drug out the original contract and found the phone number of the salesman who got the commission for selling us the stairlift. He assured us that we would receive a call by the end of the week. That was a week and a half ago. Still haven’t heard from them.

Now, we wonder what we’ll do if they’re in the process of going out of business. However, their website is active, so they’re still advertising their stairlifts for sale to gullible seniors. Beware of bad stairlift service.

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021

CITY BYPASSED WINDBLOWN SENIOR TRASH CANS

In case you haven’t heard, we’ve been getting some pretty scary weather here in the Midwest. Like, tornados in Kentucky. And high velocity winds barreling through towns . Last night, the wind was so strong that it blew down the trash cans I had set out along the street. Remember, we’re seniors who finally persuaded the city to give us two smaller cans instead of one big one. That was a fight we finally won. However, the waste management company isn’t happy with us. They showed us their ire by refusing to pick up our trash this morning. The city bypassed windblown senior trash cans.

There are usually two, strong, able bodied men in the trash collector’s truck. However, they rely totally on automation to pick up the cans. A big old vise that reaches out its claws, picks up the cans, then dumps the contents. Often , they then throw back the empty cans, leaving them on the ground. At any rate, when the truck passed our driveway early this morning, they could easily see that the strong wind had blown over our skinny trash cans, leaving bags lying in puddles of water. Did they care in the least? Hardly They turned up their noses and drove right on by, knowing full well they were leaving two seniors in the lurch. What were they expecting us to do? And why couldn’t they have stepped out of their comfort zone, got out of the truck, and set the cans upright?

I took a few deep breaths to control my anger, got dressed, walked out in the rain and set the cans upright, closing the lids. Then I called Republic at some out of state number. The person answering the phone thought I was calling from Indianapolis. I guess that’s what my address in Indiana made her think. Anyway, I told her what had happened, and she was kind enough to get in touch with the local office, She said she would take care of it, and she did. A few minutes later, I looked out the window and saw the cans had been emptied. Thank you, ma’am.

What if I hadn’t been awake early this morning while the trucks were still in the vicinity.? What would we have done about our trash for the coming week? It’s disgusting that the city would bypass windblown senior trash cans.

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021

AGE PROVIDED SUPER BOWL DRAMA

Did you know that only 39% of Americans regularly watch football? If we’re in the other 61% who doesn’t, we’re ashamed to admit it around this time of year. Seems like everyone you know watches the Super Bowl in February. It brings some excitement to an otherwise dreary month. And then there are the parties—the drinking, cheering, eating and adrenalin rush when your team scores a touchdown. Luckily, I married a man who shares my same interests, and neither of us has to pretend to like something we don’t. But we always watch the Super Bowl, and yes, my husband does understand the game. I was looking forward to it this year, because age provided Super Bowl drama.

Here we had the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s quarterback, 43 year old Tom Brady, pitted against a man who is young enough to be his son. Would wisdom prevail? Does experience matter? Any of us who’ve experienced ageism in the workplace believe that it does. And yet, we’re frequently pushed out by some recent college graduate who’s half our age. Last night at the 2021 Super Bowl, we saw the battle of the ages played out before our very eyes.

Age provided super bowl drama/ 43 year old Brady against 25 year old Mahomes — Age provided Super Bowl Drama. 43 year Brady’s experience beat 25 year old Mahomes’ youth.

Betting odds on the afternoon before the game strongly favored youth. They predicted an easy win for 25 year old quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. But at the last minute, the big time gamblers put their money on Brady.

In a profession where physical fitness and agility is important, brains and wisdom may not win in the end. Brady could have stopped when he was at the top of his game. But you have to admire his courage in sticking it out. Are you over the hill at 40? Let’s hope not.

As it turned out, wisdom prevailed in the Super Bowl, with the Buccaneers out thinking, out playing, their younger opponents. Tom Brady deserves an award from AARP for a win in the fight against ageism

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020

STOP YELLING AT HEARING IMPAIRED

Do you have a parent or grandparent who is hard of hearing? Or maybe you’re noticing that your grandchildren need to speak up. If so, you may feel frustrated. If there’s one thing that upsets people, it’s when you ask them to repeat themselves. Instead of turning up the volume slightly, the tendency is to over react. Please don’t do that. It isn’t necessary. Stop yelling at hearing impaired people.

Just because someone is hard of hearing, you needn't yell at them — Stop Yelling At Hearing Impaired. Just face them and speak clearly. Raise your voice slightly until you can see they understand.

My Dad wore hearing aids for twenty five years. That’s when my hearing was perfect. I can remember getting upset one time when he didn’t understand what I said. I did actually yell at him. It was concerning a legal matter, and I was in a bad mood to begin with. Luckily, my Dad wasn’t the type to hold a grudge, and he didn’t get mad at me. But later, I was mad at myself for not being more considerate.

One of the unfortunate side effects of longevity is hearing loss. 50% of those over eighty years of age experience some. Mine began in my late seventies, when I started having trouble hearing my grandchildren. My husband’s hearing is much worse than mine, perhaps because he grew up around noisy farm machinery. I think my hearing loss is probably genetic.

Both of us wear hearing aids without embarrassment. However, we’re in the minority. Only a third of people who need hearing aids actually wear them. Most insurance policies don’t cover them. And even if they can afford them, most old people feel that they would be stigmatized if people knew they wore hearing aids.

But even the best hearing aids aren’t 100% effective. They don’t work well in gymnasiums or in places with high traffic. One of the worst problems we experience is talking on the phone to customer service representatives. For whatever reason, many tech support people have foreign accents. Not only that, they speak rapidly. And they do not suffer fools gladly. If you ask them to repeat themselves, or to speak more slowly and distinctly, they may become irritable and impatient. Often, they will simply hang up.

Friends and acquaintances are apt to be more tolerant when you explain you don’t hear well. But close relatives may find it hard to adjust to this new sign of aging. Why can’t you hear them like you used to? Maybe it scares them a little bit.

Here’s what to do if you are speaking to a hearing impaired person. Look at them directly, face to face, when you speak. Don’t turn your back or mumble. Don’t expect they’ll hear you if you’re in another room. All it takes is some common sense and a little patience. Make an effort to speak more clearly, and slightly louder until you’ve made sure they understand. Stop yelling at hearing impaired people. It’s condescending and demeaning. And there’s a good chance you’ll be in their same situation if you live long enough.

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020

IS AGE SIXTY-FIVE THE NEW EIGHTY?

After listening to the Democratic presidential debate last night, my mind was in a muddle. I couldn’t really tell what message Biden and Sanders were trying to convey. It sounded like a couple of angry old guys in a shouting contest. But just before we went to bed, I heard on the news that someone said all people over age sixty five should stay home during this coronavirus outbreak. I’ll find out today who said that, but it has me wondering: Is age sixty five the new eighty?

Should healthy people stay isolated just because their over sixty five? — Should healthy seniors be told to stay at home during the crisis? Is age sixty-five the new eighty?

Most sixty-five year olds I know are pretty healthy. Thanks to modern healthcare, the fitness movement, and plant based diets, these newly retired folks are In much better shape than our parents were. It seems like a bit of overkill to me. Retirees are the ones people fall back on to help out in a crisis—whether it’s babysitting,emergency housing , or other calamities that befall working people.

The recommendation is mostly based on the fact that seniors are most apt to die if they get sick with the coronavirus. But there’s a slight flaw in that statistic. It’s mostly the elderly who live in crowded nursing homes who have died. They don’t get out at all. They’re stuck in stuffy, stinky, crowded places where staffers are too busy to wash their hands as often as they should. And the air doesn’t move very fast in those little rooms.

Naturally, anyone who’s at risk should stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak. But not everyone over age sixty-five has heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes, or other serious health problems.

So what’s a healthy senior to do? Should we wear hats to disguise gray hair, and sunglasses to hide our wrinkles. Shall we be arrested for going to the grocery store for a bottle of milk? Is sixty five really the new eighty?

And by the way. What were those two old politicians doing out in public last night? Both Biden and Sanders are over sixty five.

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020

SHOCKED SENIOR CARDED AT MARKET

It was a dark and stormy day, and I was out of fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Yes, we could have done without a salad, but dinner wouldn’t have seemed complete . Reluctantly, I bundled up, pulled on my mittens, and drove to the store. My nose dripped as I shivered against the wet snow. But it was good to be inside, where I usually recognize so many of the clerks. I wandered past the produce section and noticed my favorite chardonnay wine on sale. Only a few bottles were left, so I put them in my cart and proceeded to the checkout. That was when this shocked senior got carded at the supermarket.

None of the clerks looked familiar. I figured they must be training some new personnel. One checkout stand was empty. It seemed odd for a Saturday. Most of the time, there’s a long line in every lane. Happy at the prospect of a quick checkout, I loaded my salad makings and wine on the conveyor belt. The clerk started to add up my purchase, and then stopped. “I’ll have to see your driver’s license.” she warned. I gave her a blank look.

Because I I once got mugged in their parking lot, I only carry a credit card and my car keys in my pocket. No purse to be stolen.

Even if you look your age, you can still be carded at the supermarket if you buy wine. — Indiana law requires seniors to show their ID in order to buy wine at the supermarket.

Since I’ve been shopping at this store for over 30 years, and never been asked for my driver’s license, I was flabbergasted. “Can’t you just key in my birthday?” I asked. She frowned and shook her head. By this time, there were people waiting behind me. “You’re going to make them wait while I run out in this weather to get my wallet out of my car.” I asked. She nodded.

I asked to see the manager, but he was a stranger. Apparently, the one I know well had the day off. This unfriendly guy did not offer any support, and explained the clerk was simply enforcing the Indiana State law requiring retailers to check all ID’s for for alcohol sales. Is that crazy, or not? And why did they suddenly change their policy after all these years. ?

That law has been on the books for over ten years, but seldom enforced. This is the first time I’ve been asked for my driver’s license. I don’t look like a teenager. What would happen if they sold me a bottle of wine without asking my age? Would they end up getting arrested? Of course not. Common sense. Why they suddenly decided to enforce this antediluvian policy with an octogenarian on a freezing winter day will forever remain a mystery . But I was determined to have my bargain wine, so I ran to the car and got my wallet.

The idea of giving my driver’s license to a stranger was unnerving. I didn’t want it scanned. It felt like an invasion of privacy. Nevertheless, I handed it over, and left the store in a daze. But I did enjoy that glass of chardonnay wine with dinner.

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019

DOES A SWEET PERSON EVER LIE?

When we describe a man or woman as “sweet,” it means different things to different people. Conventional wisdom says that a kind, gentle, considerate person is sweet. Others believe it has a negative connotation. implying weakness and a lack of character. Remember Melanie in “Gone With the Wind?” Scarlet O’Hara called her a “mealy mouth.” even though everyone else thought she was a saint. Obviously, Scarlet wasn’t sweet, although she could pretend she was when the situation called for it. As my mother used to say, “you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” Sweet people are considered more trustworthy, But does a sweet person ever lie?

A SWEET PERSON IS REGARDED AS KIND AND GENTLE

Most little children are sweet, because they’re naïve and trusting. But by the time they’re teens, they’ve maybe been bullied, had an unhappy childhood, or found out the world expects more from them than their parents did. Then, they get a bit snarly and snotty. But sooner or later, they discover that doesn’t work so well, and they decide to smile and get along with others and at least come across as “sweet.” Thus, a veneer of sweetness may be manipulative. Conversely, some of the kindest most generous people I know have a cool, gruff , exterior.

It’s easier for some of us to come off as sweet than it is for others. If you have dimples, a soft voice, even features and pretty hair, it doesn’t take much effort , But what if you’re born with close set eyes, a perpetual frown, gravelly voice or down turned mouth? You may be a kind , good person, but you won’t come across as “sweet” upon first impression.

Grumpy people are not regarded as trustworth — A PERSON WITH A GRUMPY EXPRESSION MAY ACTUALLY BE KIND AND GENEROUS

Most of us are suckers for sweet people, especially when they’re trying to sell us something. Or get out of something. As a landlord, I’ve encountered many a sweet talking renter who lies about their background, doesn’t pay their rent, and burns cigarette holes in the carpet. Then there are the “sweet” co workers who leak your confidences and get you in trouble. The “sweet” service people who think they can sugar coat their way around shoddy work. The social climbing backstabber who is only sweet to people on the way up. Sometimes, you have to bite your tongue when you hear a person you know only too well described as “sweet.”

The elderly are especially susceptible to sweetness. Maybe that’s because ageism is rampant in our society, and seniors are often ignored or treated with disdain. But just remember folks, sweet people sometimes do lie.