by Sue Ellen Addicott | Nov 15, 2016 | Downsizing, Senior Move Management
Downsizing? Clothes you haven’t worn in years? Photos piled up in shoeboxes? Thinking about taking up that hobby again…someday?
Well, if the thought of downsizing has crossed your mind, perhaps it’s time to dig in. The FREE eBook, Traveling Light by Sue Ellen Addicott is a simple, yet profoundly cathartic exercise in getting rid of those things that simply don’t serve us any more.
Get the FREE eBook, Traveling Light by CLICKING HERE. Or go to https://myseniormoves.com/downsizing-tips/
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Oct 27, 2016 | Senior Health and Well-Bring, Senior Move Management, Senior Planning
Advance care planning is an uncomfortable topic — one that most people avoid. That’s why Begin the Conversation was created. Begin the Conversation encourages you to talk about that “elephant in the room” and let your family and physicians know about your wishes long before those decisions are faced. It provides you with the tools to help you figure out what is important to you and how to live your best life possible.
Tidewell Hospice, your community partner for Begin the Conversation, BeginTheConversation.org invites you to attend a special information program about advance care planning. During the presentation we will discuss living wills and healthcare power of attorney and provide you with tips about starting the conversation.
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: First Presbyterian Church
2050 Oak Street
Sarasota, FL
Please RSVP by November 14th to 941-955-8119
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Oct 21, 2016 | Senior Health and Well-Bring, Senior Move Management
Senior Moves provides senior move management services in the Sarasota, Florida area. Often, we are hired when a member of the family has had a health crisis and there is an unexpected and rather urgent need to move. Senior Moves encourages planning ahead of time and it is a topic we discuss with people on a regular basis. Planning also reduces stress for everyone involved in a family member’s health and well being.
Studies show that up to 80% of strokes can be prevented by working closely with your healthcare provider and managing your risk factors. These 10 tips from the National Stroke Association can add more years to your life and more life to your years.
- Stay active. Increased physical activity will assist with weight loss, reduce your cholesterol levels, and keep your arteries clear of blockages.
- If you smoke, stop. Smoking doubles your risk for stroke by weakening blood vessels and increasing your blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy. Cutting back on saturated fats and increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, will help you lose weight, clear your blood vessels and put less strain on your circulatory system.
- Have your cholesterol level checked regularly. Becoming more aware of your cholesterol will help you understand your risk for stroke and the effect diet has on your levels.
- Limit alcohol use. Alcohol can raise your blood pressure and harden your arteries.
- Control your diabetes. Increased blood sugar can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight will strain your circulatory system, increase your blood pressure, and put you at a higher risk for diabetes.
- Monitor your blood pressure. Be aware of your blood pressure and have it treated if it is too high. High blood pressure greatly increases your chances of having a stroke.
- Know your family history. If there is a history of stroke in your family, your chances of having one is higher.
- Talk to your health care provider. Your health care provider can help you map out an effective way to apply these prevention techniques to your daily life.
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Sep 3, 2016 | Senior Move Management
Most of us have 3 sets of clothing: those that fit, our “skinny “clothes, and our “fat” clothes. Then there’s the orphans: things we bought just because they were on sale, but don’t go with anything else in our closet, things that looked better on the hanger than on us, things that are out of style, things that need alteration, and our old favorites that are just too worn to wear now…
Start by discarding or donating anything you haven’t worn in over a year. If you’re not sure, try moving those items to another closet and see if you miss them. If you don’t, get rid of them.
If you haven’t lost enough weight to fit into your “skinny” clothes in over 6 months, it’s probably time to get rid of them. While you’re at it, get rid of your “fat” clothes or have them altered to fit. Hanging on to “fat” clothes will only make it easier to gain weight.
While you’re in there, set aside everything that needs dry cleaning, pressing, repairs or alterations. Look at each item and decide if you want to invest the time and/or money to deal with it. If the answer is no, get rid of it. If the answer is yes, do it right now. Don’t put it back in the closet until you take care of it.
Getting rid of clutter can be a truly cathartic experience and, once you get started, you will find it easier to move onto the next closet, shelf or drawer. If you need help, Senior Moves is there to assist you.
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Aug 29, 2016 | Senior Health and Well-Bring
Twenty-eight percent of Americans over the age of 65 live alone so it is very important for seniors and caregivers to be aware of potential social isolation and depression.
Social integration, the opposite of social isolation, has been found to be generally beneficial to health across adulthood into old age” (Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging, Research Review, March 2007). So, while it may seem that your grandmother is just playing Bingo, she is making valuable social connections that will help keep her mentally and physically healthy. Here are some tips on how to combat social isolation;
• Volunteer your time. There are opportunities to volunteer everywhere. Contact schools, hospitals, libraries, soup kitchens, churches and local charities for available opportunities.
• Find a hobby. Whether playing cards, scrapbooking, knitting, playing Bingo or fishing, make it a point to meet with friends regularly to enjoy a hobby together.
• Schedule a regular weekly time to meet with friends. A morning cup of coffee, lunch, tea or sitting at the park, make an excuse to have a regular meeting with friends each week.
• Schedule family time. Call your family regularly to touch base, laugh and share stories.
• Attend church. Even if you haven’t before, now is a great time to get involved. Church will get you out of the house and may open more doors for volunteering, hobbies and friends.
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Jul 16, 2016 | Downsizing, Estate Sales, Senior Move Management
If you love books, it’s hard to think about parting with them, but when they start overflowing the book shelves, it’s time to do some purging! Most books will fall into one of these categories:
• books for show (those with pretty covers, coffee table books, etc.)
• books you have read and enjoyed
• books you haven’t read but want to
• books you use from time to time
• and college textbooks!
Let’s start from the bottom, if you graduated over 40 years ago and you haven’t looked at your college text books in all that time, it’s probably safe to get rid of them.
For books you have read, ask yourself if you will ever read them again, if the answer is no, offer them to a friend or donate them to an organization that can re-sell them as a fund-raiser.
Keep the books you still want to read some day, the books you use and, as long as you have room for them, keep the pretty books that are just for show, but you will probably feel a great deal of relief from getting rid of the clutter.
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Jun 29, 2016 | Aging In Place, Senior Move Management
The Center for Disease Control defines “aging in place” as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Research conducted by AARP shows that 88% of Americans want to age in place, if you are part of that 88%, what accommodations have you made to prepare your home?
Some features of aging in place design include:
• Wheelchair roll under areas
• Pull out work surfaces
• Lowered countertops and stoves
• Tilted bathroom mirrors
• Shower benches
• Hand held shower fixtures
• Grab bars and handrails
• Wheelchair ramps
Senior Moves can help you age in place gracefully. For more information call 941-924-2842.
by Sue Ellen Addicott | Jun 6, 2016 | Downsizing, Estate Sales
One of the saddest things I’ve seen is a trash can filled to overflowing with old photos and slides. What would anyone do with photos of people they don’t know? Often people assume that they may be of no use.
This often happens when adult children or other family members need to clear out the home of a senior, and no one knows who the people are in the pictures. Who is that sweet-looking old woman in old-fashioned dress? Does anyone recognize that handsome young soldier? Are those adorable children building a snowman possibly some adults we know?
What about your own photos? Have you taken the time to identify the subjects in them? You know, at some point, all those who might remember them will no longer be around, as hard as it is to think about.
You have the ability to leave your children and grandchildren with some real family history, or with a pile of useless photographs. Spend a short period of time each day until the job is done. You may even want to jot down some interesting background information about the occasion of the photo-taking. But each word that you write and each person that you identify will be a gift to your family.
