GROCERY DELIVERY CHANGES GAME FOR SENIORS

Shopping wasn’t much fun if you grew up during the WWII years of 1939 to 1945. Coffee and meat were rationed, as well as sugar and most other good food. Besides the rationing, money was scarce. After the war finally ended, I became a teenager, earning my own money at last. That was the start of my love for shopping, which continues to this day. When the Covid pandemic hit , I masked up, wore gloves, and persisted with my trips to the grocery store. But one freezing day last February, my arthritis flared. My heart wanted to shop, but my shoulders and knees rebelled. With trepidation , I ordered groceries online to be delivered. To my surprise, it was easy as cake. Grocery delivery changes the game for seniors.

A lot of people love to shop. In fact, over 80% of people prefer shopping in physical grocery stores. It’s fun to wander the aisles looking for unexpected treats and new products. Sometimes, you stop and visit with neighbors. Maybe glance at the tabloid headlines while in the checkout lane. And if you’ve been shopping the same place for awhile, you enjoy talking to your favorite cashier.

Delivered groceries seemed to me an extravagance reserved for spoiled, wealthy people, too lazy to shop, too snooty to mingle with the common folk. In the old days, stores that delivered groceries catered to “the carriage trade”–that wealthy upper crust who belonged to the country club and employed household servants.

And yet, when I looked at my receipt that first day, I found that I had saved enough money to pay for the delivery cost and tip for the driver. Because I was logged into my own account at that store, they automatically gave me all of their weekly discounts and coupon savings. Better yet, I saved on gas used while driving back and forth to the parking lot.

For an octogenarian who has always shopped in-store, this process took me way out of my comfort zone. But if you want to age in place, and stay in your own home, this may be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Grocery Delivery changes the game for seniors.

February 9, 2022February 9, 2022

DO TRASH COLLECTORS OWE US A REFUND?

Waste management is a big deal for seniors aging in place. If you’re going to fix meals and order stuff from Amazon, you will have lots of trash. Most everything you get online arrives in a cardboard box. Grocery products come in cardboard packages, or plastic containers. You can hire household help for most chores, but it’s not easy finding someone to get your trash from point A to B. And in our case, point C, because the trash can has to be dragged out to the street on pick up day. However, our Thursday trash pick up was canceled due to the big storm. Come Friday and Saturday, the cans were still frozen shut. By Sunday, we figured the city could send someone to empty our trash. Didn’t happen. Turns out they’re skipping a whole week. Was the waste management company paid for a week of doing nothing? And do trash collectors owe us a refund?

Here was Republic’s official statement:

“All routes were suspended due to hazardous conditions caused by inclement weather. Routes will resume on the next regular service day.”

So, instead of picking up one weeks’ worth of trash, they’ll be picking up after two weeks.. Unfortunately, they won’t empty overflowing trash cans. So, some of us may have to find another way to get rid of our pile of extra trash

It may seem like a small matter, but it’s not.

According to Mayor Bennett, the city of Terre Haute has a 2.6 million dollar annual contract with Republic Services for waste removal As a result. Republic receives around $50,000 a week for trash collection in the city. Since they didn’t have to do anything for one week, you can look at it as either a bonus or a big cost savings for them. Will they reimburse the city? I doubt it.

The pathetic thing was the lack of communication. A statement from the mayor or Republic Services could have come across the 6 o’clock news. But no one in charge told us anything at all. Only by checking on the internet could you find their official statement. Word of mouth doesn’t work well when you’re isolated due to a surge in covid cases and a major winter storm.

Does Republic owe the taxpayers a refund? I think so. Or maybe a bottle of champagne delivered to your door

February 6, 2022February 6, 2022

8 BLESSINGS IN THE STORM

If you live in this part of the country, you just got through one of the wildest snow storms we’ve endured for years. At our age, we’ve lived through many such storms and blizzards. Especially, my Nebraska-born husband. However, we’ve been spoiled the past few years, with some fairly mild winters. We forgot what it’s like to live through one of those whoppers that left our trash cans frozen in a mound of hard, icy snow. Housebound for three days seemed like an eternity for a person who likes to come and go as she pleases. Nevertheless, we were grateful for 8 blessings in the storm:

1. No power outage. . We called several stores to see if we could purchase a kerosene heater, but everyone was sold out. Consequently, we were prepared to find a hotel room somewhere if we lost power.. At our age, we simply aren’t equipped to deal with all the inconveniences. But for once, Duke Energy kept us all wired. I don’t think anyone in our city lost power.

2. Children living nearby. My girls live too far away to be of any help during a storm. Fortunately, my husband’s twin sons are in town. They called every day to see if we needed help, and even picked up our mail. What a blessing to have adult children living in your same city

3. Hot beverages. Coffee in the morning, cocoa or tea in the afternoon. Sipping these warm drinks while watching the snow fall was so comforting.

4. Flannel sheets. Nothing helps a good nights sleep on a snowy night so much as snuggling up in their warmth. Go one step further and wear flannel jammies all day long.

5 .I phone, with all its apps. Our newspapers weren’t delivered, but my trusty smart phone kept us informed of all the latest news. Also, there are several meditation apps. I’ve been using Calm for years, and it’s helped through some rough times. It’s amazing what a few breathing exercises and inspirational messages can do for your peace of mind.

6..Library books. We loaded up on enough to get us through the storm. There’s nothing cozier than reading a best seller and sipping a cup of tea while the wind blows outside.

7. Amaryllis in Bloom. Indoor bulbs are a beautiful way to brighten winter days. Ours opened up just as the snow started to fall.

8. Jigsaw puzzle. As children in the post depression years, we always had one in progress . Without television, computers, or smart phones, these puzzles entertained us on dreary winter days . Modern technology rendered them obsolete. But all of a sudden, we realized how much fun they are. And they’re good for the aging brain!

When the snow melts and the sun shines, we’ll remember these 8 blessings in the storm of 2022 with gratitude.

May 10, 2021May 13, 2021

PLEASE DON’T WEEDEAT THE LILIES

Most people nearing retirement are determined to live in their own home. However, it doesn’t always work out that way if one spouse dies, gets sick, or disabled. But let’s suppose you’re lucky enough to age in place. You have the strength to shop, cook, and clean your house. And yet, maintaining a lawn is more challenging. If you are over eighty, chances are you are paying someone to do that. Unfortunately, our lawn man passed away , and we had to hire someone new this year. Beware: Just because someone owns a lawn mower, it doesn’t mean they can tell a flower from a weed. So, if you’re starting out with a new lawn service, you might say: Please don’t weedeat the lilies.

Please don't weed eat the lillies. They won't bloom if cut down too soon. — PLEASE DON’T WEEDEAT THE LILIES. A new lawn person may not be able to tell them from weeds.

Lilies are probably one of the most beautiful spring flowers, but their blooming period is short. For years, my husband and I planted bulbs along our fence in the fall. Come spring, we had a splash of colored lilies that brightened our yard and brought joy to everyone who passed by. Lilies only bloom for a short time, but they’re definitely worth waiting for.

This spring, it looked like the mild winter and spring rains were bringing us a bonanza of lilies. They were sprouting up everywhere, doubling what had come up the year before. We watched in excitement, thinking of all the beautiful blooms we were about to see. And then, along came our new lawn man with a young helper. A girl who didn’t even look sixteen. As I glanced out the window, I saw her calmly running a weed eater along the fence row, chopping down lily after lily in a matter of seconds. I raced out the door, yelling for her to stop. She seemed confused. Turns out she was the man’s daughter.. Heartbroken, I asked, “can you tell a flower from a weed?” To which she sharply replied, ‘No Ma am.”

The father was apologetic; offered to buy new lilies. But all the money in the world couldn’t restore those nineteen dead lilies, cut down before they were able to fulfill their mission on this earth. So my advice to you is this. If you’re starting out with a new lawn service, be sure to say : Please don’t weedeat the lilies.

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

UNPAID CAREGIVERS ARE UNSUNG HEROES

During this pandemic, city parks have provided much needed relief from enforced isolation. Every shelter is occupied on holidays and weekends, and the roads are heavy with traffic slowly navigating around joggers and walkers. Also, we’re suddenly seeing more caregivers of disabled children or aging parents. Did you know that approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months? Unless you are a caregiver, you may not realize what a difficult task these people are performing. Unpaid caregivers are unsung heroes.

There are varying degrees of caregiving, but all of them require patience and empathy. Aging parents may require just a bit of help with shopping and household tasks. But a sick or disabled child or spouse often requires full time commitment. Lately, at the park, I’ve seen many more children in wheelchairs with missing limbs or other handicaps. . My heart goes out to the parents who so lovingly devote their lives to the care of their children. Where do caregivers get their strength? I guess it’s the power of love.

Caregiving can be a lonely business, leading to caregiver burnout. Often, it falls on one person in a family. Other relatives and friends go about their lives without much regard for the day to day efforts required to take care of a disabled or handicapped person. When you’re the only one who can shop, cook, clean and run errands while taking care of a person’s needs, you often feel worn out and forgotten. What’s worse is seeing a loved one through episodes of pain or suffering with no one around to comfort them but you.

Unfortunately, caregiving is highly stressful and hazardous to the health. Thirty percent of caregivers die before the people they care for do. A 2003 study of caregivers by a research team at Ohio State University discovered a significant deterioration in the health of caregivers when compared to a similar group of non-caregivers. Even more disturbing is the fact that caregivers had a 63 percent higher death rate than the control group. Before the end of the 6-year study, 70 percent of the caregivers died and had to be replaced.

What can we do to help caregivers? If they’re strangers we encounter in public places, perhaps all we can do is open a door, or give a smile of encouragement. It get’s a little more complicated if they are family or friends. The last thing a caregiver wants is advice or implied criticism. What they really need is your emotional support and appreciation. A phone call or visit means a lot. Just let them know they’re not alone in all of this.

Unpaid caregivers are unsung heroes.

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

BEST GIFT FOR AGING DAD

Forget the shirts and chocolates this Father’s Day. If your Dad is aging in place, there’s something much better you can give him . Stop by his home and look around. Is there a flower bed that needs weeding? A broken screen door? A room that could use a coat of paint? If you’re able to tackle one of those small jobs, that is the best gift for your aging Dad.

A home visit, some home repairs, is the best Father's Day Present. — Best gift for the aging Dad might be a visit from great grandchildren, or some help with home repairs.

In our modern culture, many of us no longer have grown children living nearby. But what a blessing for those who do. My husband’s three kids are close enough to help out with occasional chores and home repairs. Recently, one son replaced our mailbox after it collapsed on the driveway. Another fixed a fallen down light pole. And his sweet daughter planted geraniums in our window box and outdoor planters. Her husband pitched in, too. Removing a picture window that hadn’t been washed from the inside for years, then putting it back more securely in place. And best of all, a visit from a great grandchild. Those are the most wonderful Fathers Day presents any man could ask for.

A few elderly widows live along our street. As we sit on our front porch, we see their children drive in the driveway. I don’t know whether they are bringing food, doing laundry, or just visiting. But they are making a big difference in their mother’s lives. Because of their help and loving concern, their parent can stay in her own home.

This may not have seemed as important before the coronavirus hit. But now, those folks who moved to retirement communities were confined to their rooms for months. Seniors living in their own homes had much more freedom and less fear of catching covid-19.

If and when the time comes that we need help with the ordinary activities of daily life, we will opt for assisted living. We don’t expect our children to be our caregivers. But for now, we feel blessed by their kindness. And just knowing they are there for us means a lot.

The best gift for your aging Dad might be replacing that flickering florescent light bulb in the kitchen. There’s a special place in heaven for those who look out for their elderly parents.

Happy Father’s Day!

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019

ARE YOU TOO OLD TO BUY A NEW STOVE?

About six years ago, my oven door became slightly loose. In order to shut it tight, I had to prop a kitchen chair under the handle. The repairman said that after 25 years, they no longer had parts to fix the hinge. That’s when I had to make a decision. When are you too old to buy a new stove?

I reasoned that I seldom used the oven, now that my days of hosting holidays meals were in the past. The burners worked fine, and I mostly used a small toaster oven. My husband was 82 and I was on the backside of 70. The possibility of one of us getting sick, and having to sell the house in the near future, seemed like a good reason not to invest in a new stove.

In the years that followed my children teased me when I had them over for lasagna and had to prop the oven door shut . And then, last year, the knobs on one of my burners got twisted and couldn’t be replaced. Now I was down to three burners.

At what age should you stoop buying new furniture and appliances? — Although we’re most comfortable with older appliances, you’re never to old to buy a new stove

My husband started making visits to appliance stores, coming back with pricing and information about a replacement stove. I looked at a new stove, and it appeared very little changed from the one I currently had. Seems they don’t make many changes in new appliances the way they do with automobiles. Anyway, how would I feel if I bought a new stove, and had to go into a nursing home a month later? What a waste!

Suddenly, this year, we got a tax refund for the first time in our 30 years of marriage. What would we do with this unexpected windfall? A trip to Hawaii came to mind, but unfortunately, our traveling days are over, due to various physical limitations. Having spent 93 days decluttering our house, we didn’t really want to start accumulating more household goods ..https://livingwellafter80.com/decluttering-diary-day-93/

And so, guess what we did today? Bought a replacement stove!

Tag: aging in place