Congratulations if you are reading this. It means you are still mentally healthy.  Your mind is still functional despite your age. You can understand and make clear and sensible decisions; it doesn’t flit between fantasy and reality.

You still discern colors, sights and sounds around you; feel the warmth of your children’s hands and the smooth skin of their faces as you trace a finger over them. You heart still overflows with joy each time they say, “I love you Dad,” or “I love you, Mom.”

They don’t call you senile or be constantly reminded to take your medicines on time can feed yourself. Nobody is hovering over so you won’t fall or get lost around the neighborhood.

And of course, you want to stay that way for as long as you want – to be able to make choices, go places, play your favorite sport or fly a drone or assemble a remote-controlled car.

You can.

There is no limit to what you can do – even in your latter years.

How?

Read through until the end and be put up to speed about the following:

• What is “mental health”
• Mental health risk factors
• Mental health symptoms

What is Mental Health

Mental health is a person’s level of emotional, pasychological, and social well-being.

It shows on the way you think, feel, and act. Your mental health can be discerned by the way you handle stress, relate with others and make choices, among others.

Contrary to popular belief, mental health, per se, is not age-related.  But aging brings about changes that may affect you physically, emotionally and psychologically. Failure to cope with these changes will impacts your mental health negatively.

These days mental problems have become too common. You hear about mental health issues among, students, celebrities, sports superstars or, at home. Sadly when people talk about “health,” what they mean physical health – forgetting the fact that anything that affects the body, affects the mind as well. And vice versa.

Mental Health Risk Factors

For most, retirement is a time to celebrate. After working for the better part of their lives, they can now relax, stay home with family and friends, travel, or engage in a hobby or sport.

It is the time to enjoy and quench your thirst for a stress-free and enjoyable life.

However, life does not follow this script for some. More too often, the things you did in  your younger days will come to roost – like karma. Even if they don’t, your current circumstances such as loneliness and financial problems will wrankle your mind, affecting your mental health.

Aside from that, the following age-related issues brings about the same effect:

• Health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease.
• Chronic pains in the joints, neck, back, shoulders, and nerves
• Side-effects of medication.
• Loss of income, relationship, independence, self-worth, or mobility, etc.
• Change in living arrangement, i.e., independent living to a nursing facility.
• Social isolation
• Hospitalization.
• Anniversaries of traumatic or sorrowful events and experiences.

Nearly 95% of adults 60 years old and above have at least one chronic condition. And as previously mentioned, all these will affect mental health in varying degrees. And if not properly handled or managed, they can drive one to self-destruction

Mental Health Symptoms

Mental health disorders are treatable if detected early. However, these symptoms are often taken as a result of old age – which, most often, they are. But they should not be brushed aside as one of those things.

For example, if you feel any of these things, consult your doctor:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Shying away from people and usual activities
• Lethargic or feeling lazy
• Loss of purpose
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Smoking or drinking more than usual
• Crave for harmful drugs
• Being confused, forgetful, edgy, angry, or scared
• Showing episodes of emotional outbursts against family or friends
• Frequent mood swings that affect relationships
• Negative thoughts or recalling old memories
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Having suicidal thoughts
• Inability to do daily routine tasks

Don’t take them lightly, especially if they start affecting your daily routine.

How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Old Age

Depression, anxiety. and dementia are the common mental health conditions among people. They affect about 7% of people aged 60 and above. Though not many, they should not be taken for granted.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for its onset – if ever.

Be ready for the changes that come with aging

Being old and retired is a different ball game and you must be to embrace it with grace.

While it may be great to be spared of your daily rush-to-work routing each morining, but you must have a plan to take up the slack so you won’t fine yourself looking up at the ceiling wondering what you will  do rest of the day. God said, “Idleness is the handmaided of temptation.”

For live-along seniors, prepare for bouts of loneliness and isolation, chronic illnesses, and living off a meager pension. While being old age may be liberating, it also imposes limitations that may need assitance from within of without.

Have someone to talk to

Each time I feel like being pressed from all side, I go out to a coffee shop near me. Or I get in touch with my daughter of sister who lives nearby. These may not help in getting rid of the demons of lonliness but they can surely provide relief. It’s always good to have someone to talk to.

Don’t be a hamster of a wheel. Go out and talk to someone – anyone. If you do, don’t unburden your problems to them. That is the surest way of driving them away. Talk about the weather, about politics, religion, of anything under the sun, except your worries.

Talk to a:

• close family members or friends
• a specialist, someone who can help you in a professional way
• someone who shares your concerns
• trustworthy and won’t make your mental problems go viral.

Make it conversational. For God’s sake, don’t cry a bucket of tears in front of other people – if you can help it. Keep it simple. Skip the drama and don’t come out as a cry baby.

Listen, too.

A good conversation is a two-way street. Doing a monologue will defeat the purpose. Besides, nobody really wants to know about your problems, but being lent a sympathetic ear is blessing enough.

Seek help

Follow this formula, “If you need anything, just holler.”

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. It is not a sign of weakness, but acceptance that things are going as well as expected. Acceptance is the first path in untangling the knots on your

Seek help from:

• family and friends
• health professionals
• support groups
• online sources or social networks.

Make a  plan

If my daughter and her hubby (both doctors) go out of town for several days, they make arrangements with a nearby hospital and a fellow doctor to attend to me should I need medical attention.

Though I have never availed of such a plan so far, it is reassuring to know that help is available if needed.

Life is uncertain at best. At our age, each day is a blessing. While the life of an elderly is a toss of the dice, you can improve your odds by having a  plan.

For example:

• Plan whether you will spend the rest of your days at home or in a care center
• What measures to take in case of health and mobility problems
• Are your finances in order
• Do you have quick access to medical facilities and transport
• Who will take care of you when you no longer can’t?
• Have you made your will or funeral arrangements in case of death?

Never leave these things to chance to prevent chaos for those you leave behind. Having them in place is mentally reassuring.

Exercise and have enough sleep

Exercise is important to people regardless of age. It is a must when they hit the 60s and beyond. Not only is it physically good, but mentally as well.

Here’s how exercise keeps you mentally healthy:

• Boosts self-esteem, raise self-worth and self-confidence
• Helps lower blood pressure, strengthens the immune system and many others
• Promotes better sleep
• Provides a good opportunity to meet other people.

And sleep?

Don’t fall for the fallacy that elderly need fewer hours of sleep each day. Sleep is as important as food and you should get the full serving of 7 to 8 hours a day. Anything less will result in:

• poor concentration
• bad mood and irritability
• feelings of lethargy
• a weak immune system

Eat well, drink moderately and stay hydrated

Eating well is not going on a diet – as the word is commonly defined. It is getting the right kinds of nutrients in your meals.

Eating well helps you maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure and the energy to stay active. It is a hedge against arthritis, diabetes, and various heart conditions.

Old age affects a body’s ability to absore alcohol – too much of it. But it is healthy if taken moderately like one or two drinks in a day. However, consult your doctor regarding this as it doesn’t sit well with certain medications and may exacerbate some forms of medical issues.

And don’t substitute it for water. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can result from some pysiological changes due to aging. Several studies have shown that dehydration has a negative impact on cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and critical thinking.

Relax and enjoy life

If there is a time in your life to relax and enjoy life, it is now. The kids are done through college, mortgage payments are done with (presumably), and you have all the time in your life to do whatever you wish to do – travel, write a book, engage in a hobby or your favorite sport.

Reach out to old friends or establish new ones. Don’t withdraw into your shell, but be in the hub of activity, of action and adventure, of laughter and merrymaking. Your brain’s synapses never stop growing and these things are the nutrients for their perpetual growth.

Make your life as stress-free as possible.  Stress makes your thinking murky, as a drop of ink does to a cup of water.

Be grateful

No matter how down on your luck you may be, there is always a reason to be grateful. The grass on your neighbor’s yard may not be green but parched arid and overgrown with weeds.

You don’t have enough money Be grateful you are not in a shelter for the homeless.

Suffering from chronic illnesses Bear in mind that a lot of people your age are on life support or have but a few hours or days to live.

Be grateful that you are walking above the ground while many of your relatives, associates or friends are six feet beneath.

Things are never worse than you think they are. The Dalai Lama said,

“Gratitude is the healthiest of human emotions.”

Other than emotional health, gratitude:

• improves relationships
• is good for physical and emotional health
• enhances empathy and reduces aggressive behavior
• can help you sleep better
• increases self-esteem
• increases mental strength

Being mentally healthy doesn’t mean you won’t suffer the pangs of loneliness or the wretchedness of depression. You may hurt others due to occasional mood swings. But a healthy mind can recognize these as nothing but momentary episodes of emotions stoked by stressful events or circumstances.

Worldwide, avout 16% adults aged 60 and above suffer from a mental disorder. Not a shattering figure but still of serious concern as the population ages.  That leaves you with a choice whether to live among the ranks of elderly people living in the darkness of their thoughts or bask in the sunshine of a healthy mind.

And do help others by sharing this modest piece.

~oOo~

The post How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Old Age first appeared on Age With Charm.

Do you love yourself?

I bet you do but are mum about it for fear of appearing self-centered, vain, egotistical, or narcissistic.

Loving oneself, or self-love is none of that.  It is isn’t about impressing others of your virtues or blowing your own horn. If taken in its undiluted form, it is something people cannot go without. After all, if you don’t love yourself, how can you expect others to?

Self-love, in its deeper context, is the linchpin upon which your happiness and overall well-being rest.

To get a better understanding, read on…

What is self-love

Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. – Psychology Today.

Loving oneself means accepting your weaknesses and your strengths without being defensive about them. It’s being honest with your current situation and thought patterns and develop practices that reflect self-worth.

And developing self-love is a process, not a single shot in the arm.

Here is what famous people say about it:

1.  Self-love is the source of all other loves. – Pierre Corneille

2.  Our first and last love is self-love. – Christian Nestell Bovee

3.  Well-ordered self-love is right and natural – Thomas Aquinas

4.  I’ve learned to ignore the negative people and just be a living example of confidence and self-love. – Khoudia Diop

5.  Forgiveness isn’t just the absence of anger. I think it’s also the presence of self-love when you actually begin to value yourself. – Tara Westover

6.  Self-love has very little to do with how you value your outer self. It’s accepting all of yourself. – Tyra Banks

7.  Self-love is not something you get in one day or two days. It’s an ongoing process, and I go through it every day. – Khoudia Diop

8.  Self-love is really a foundation of everything, and however, you practice or express that is so, so important. – Solange Knowles

9.  If we give our children sound self-love, they will be able to deal with whatever life puts before them. – Bell Hooks

10.  People need to work on what self-love is and redefining self-love … it comes from within; who you are and how you carry yourself in this world. – Ashley Neil Tipton

11.  If you’re not happy with how you look, you have to question how much self-love you have. – Tyrese Gibson

12.  The deepest gift you can learn in life is about self-love, and it is not going to happen overnight. – Rumer Willis

13.  Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love. – Thomas Traheme

14.  Self-love, it is obvious, remains always positive and active in our nature. – Gordon W. Allport

15.  Allowing myself to love God completely has obviously shed light on my self-love because he loves me more than I could ever love myself. – Angie Stone

16.  Well, I think everyone struggles with self-love. – Philip Seymour Hoffman

17.  Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults. – Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

18.  I wish that more people, especially young people, were taught about self-love at a younger age. – Jamila Woods

19.  We often fancy that we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality, we suffer from self-love. – Walter Savage Landor

20.  If you have the ability to love, love yourself first. – Charles Bukowski

Hidden benefits of self-love

We all want to love and be loved. It makes us feel good, either way. But unless you love yourself first, both are nothing but mirages in a desert. You cannot give what you don’t have.

Besides being a prerequisite of loving and being loved, self-love also gives the following benefits:

1.  Better physical health

Self-love motivates you to take good care of your physical health. It makes you adopt healthy lifestyles like proper nutrition, plenty of exercises, and enough sleep.

It makes you avoid things and situations that pose risks to your health and well-being.

2.  Better mental health

About 3 to 14% of American elderly people suffer from an anxiety disorder. They are those whose minds are so messed up with uncontrollable things on the outside, rather than ease the turmoil going on inside.

They have self-love problems.

Self-love promotes better mental health because it removes the negative thoughts and feelings which are the major sources of anxiety.

It stills the mind, making it focus on the more important things that matter to your day-to-day affairs.

3.  Promotes better stress management

Stress is a part of life. Young and old face stressful situations on any given day. Though the body has natural defenses against it, these defenses begin to deteriorate at the onset of old age.

Not only that. Old age brings other factors like financial problems, shrinking social circle, health problems, living alone, etc., that increase the elderly’s risk to the ravages of stress.

Self-love equalizes the situation by making you accept and embrace your new realities, rather than bitching about it.

Acceptance brings peace of mind.

4.  Allows you to sway with the punches

Self-love allows you to meet adversities better than those who meet life’s difficulties head-on. And even if you run smack into it, you can recover faster from the shock because you know how to deal with it.

You don’t wallow on self-loathing or self-pity because you have accepted that life is like that – once in a while it throws a haymaker at you. You can’t dodge it or evade it, but self-love allows you to sway to minimize its impact.

4.  More satisfied with life

“If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are,” Mother Teresa.

That is the essence of self-love – knowing what you are and who you are and accepting it without reservations. Doing so raises your optimism and, according to Buddha, “…What you think, you become.”

I love myself. Not because my life’s balance sheet is showing surpluses, but because I have everything I need and am grateful for them. I have long learned to keep away from things outside my control and enjoy those I can. Above all, I can pursue my passions for writing and traveling without impediment.

And I hope I can encourage you to spread self-love by sharing this article with other seniors.

~oOo~

//www.mentalhealthamerica.net/anxiety-older-adults

. Which did me a lot of

//www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-self-compassion/201703/8-steps-improving-your-self-esteem

The post 20 Self Love Quotes that Will Brighten Your Day first appeared on Age With Charm.

You don’t need to be lonely because you live alone, or lacking in social interaction.

Take a lesson from the 2 guys in prison who, one night, looked outside of their cells through the prison bars.

One guy saw the beautiful full moon set against a dark sky, dwarfing the millions of twinkling little stars in the background.

The other guy saw the mud below.

Of course, it is never nice to be behind bars, but there is always a silver lining in every situation you are in. And you have a choice whether to fixate on the dark clouds or peer through its thickness to see the bright sunshine behind.

You can wallow in your loneliness until death, or shake it off and live a happy and fruitful life – like many other elderly people do.

Loneliness is not peculiar to you. A study done by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), shows that 18% of elderly people in the U.S. live alone. Of this figure, 43% of them are chronically lonely.

That leaves more than half being able to shake off loneliness; more than half enjoying their golden years.

And it is not difficult to be one of them – just focus on the moon, not on the mud. It may take a lot of determined effort. But it is worth it. Besides, being alone has its own benefits not appreciated by seniors living with family.

Benefits of Living Alone

How to Banish Loneliness from Your Life

The post How to Banish Loneliness from You Life first appeared on Age With Charm.

What is Social Isolation

The post The Hidden Risks Of Social Isolation You Should Know first appeared on Age With Charm.

Are elderly people cranky Does their mood rise and fall like the tide, or follow the lunar cycle?

These are the common perceptions younger people have of elderly people.

While a few may fit the mold, but they are the exception rather than the rule. A lot of old fellas are friendly, jaunty, jovial and can give a toothless smile in a snap of the fingers.

That, despite the torments they have to live with every day.

What is bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder in seniors

Effects of bipolar disorder

Genetics

Family history

High mood symptoms

• Feeling of elation
• Energetic and active
• Feeling “jumpy” or excited
• Have sleep problems
• Talk fast about a lot of things
• Agitated and irritable
• Doing a lot of things at once
• Do risky things like spend a lot of money or have reckless sex

Coping with bipolar disorder

An estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives. It is an incurable disease and can have a severe effect on your health and well-being.

Image:https://bit.ly/2Qa6xqJ

~oOo~

The post What is Bipolar Disorder and How to Cope with It first appeared on Age With Charm.

Right now, a guy is struggling with depression. He could be the guy next to you in a coffee shop or sitting forlornly in a park. He could be walking along aimlessly in a shopping mall or sitting in the far corner of a dark movie house. Or it could be you.

You are listless and can’t seem to figure out what to do. Somehow you feel sad, yet not knowing why. The world seems out of whack.

Though you know something is wrong (with you or the world around you), yet you could not put a finger on it.

But you know you have to snap out of it, get back to the real world, before it sucks you into its dark womb, like a black hole.

You have to unfetter yourself from its deadly grasp.

What is depression

Often called major depressive disorder, it a common and serious mental disorder that negatively affects your feelings, thoughts, and actions.

It causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things once enjoyed. It is serious because it can lead to a variety of physical and emotional problems, decreases your ability to function at work and at home.

We all experience occasional bad days when everything seems to go wrong; feel adrift and listless, lose a sense of purpose and eating and sleeping are impossible.

However, if it lasts for weeks or months, you may be suffering from clinical depression – the kind of depression that is not caused by a loss or a loved one, or a medical condition like thyroid disorder. It could be a case of mental disorder.

Depression in the elderly

Simple depression among the elderly is common, but it is not a part of the aging process. It may be caused by important changes in life like a loss of a loved one, transitioning from work to retirement, or dealing with a chronic illness.

Chronic depression is something else. And it comes in many common forms like:

Major depression

This type involves severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat and enjoy life.

Persistent depressive disorder

This type usually lasts for 2 years or more. A person with a persistent depressive disorder may experience bouts of major depression along with persistent depressive disorder.

Diagnosing depression in the elderly is difficult because it often mimics normal age-related issues or effects of other illnesses and medications.

To make matters worse, victims are often not willing to talk about their feelings or understand its signs and symptoms.

Why is depression bad for the elderly

Elderly depression is usually caused by loneliness, medical illnesses and disabilities. They may last longer compared to that in younger people.

Whereas younger people can snap out of it easily, seniors are not that resilient, and failure to cope with it may result in serious medical conditions like:

• Cardiac arrest
• Increased risk of death from an illness
• A person’s inability to rehabilitate from an illness
• Increased risk of suicide.

Risk factors for elderly depression

• Being single, unmarried, divorced, or widowed
• Lack of a supportive social network
• Stressful life events
• Damage to body image i.e., amputation, illnesses like cancer, heart attack
• A family history of depressive disorder
• Living alone, or socially isolated
• Chronic and severe pain
• Loss of a loved one
• Substance abuse

Symptoms of elderly depression

The most common symptoms of this mental issue, according to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, include the following:

• Persistent sadness
• Feeling slowed down
• Excessive worries about finances and health problems
• Frequent crying
• Feeling worthless or helpless
• Weight changes
• Pacing or fidgeting
• Difficulty in sleeping and concentrating
• Somatic complaints (unexplained physical pain or gastrointestinal problems)
• Withdrawal from social activities

Treatment options for elderly depression

Clinical depression can be treated if diagnosed early. So if you think you are having depression episodes consult your healthcare provider or a doctor specializing in mental health conditions, i.e., psychologist or psychiatrist.

Treatment modes differ for each person. Sometimes your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments and number of treatment sessions. At any rate, it could be any or a combination of the following:

Psychotherapy

Also known as “talk therapy,” or “cognitive behavioral therapy,” psychotherapy focuses on helping you change negative thinking and behavior that make your depression worse.

It can help you understand or walk you through troubled relationships that may be causing your negative mood. Or it could be problem-solving sessions.

This type of treatment may last between 10 to 20 week depending on your need.

Anti-depressants

Anti-depressants help your brain improve the way it uses certain chemicals that control mood.

There are several anti-depressants in the market which are all under doctor’s prescription. Some may have side-effects like nausea, increased appetite, loss of sexual desire, insomnia, fatigue, and drowsiness, etc.

Antidepressants may take 2 to 4 weeks to work, and must be taken as prescribed. You can only stop if your doctor says so.

Be aware that they can result to addiction or dependency.

How to cope with elderly depression

Depression starts in the mind and must be stopped at its source. No matter what treatment options you take, if your mind is a fertile ground for this mental issue to thrive it will come back.

Here are some helpful tips to do that:

1.  Develop a sense of purpose

People 60 years old and above must have had several traumatic experiences already. While some can easily be forgotten, a few remain to haunt you. And it is tough dealing with shadows of the past. It can make you lose your bearings; make feel adrift.

To stop them from swallowing you up, do something interesting like like a hobby, or do something you are passionate about. Do volunteer work or teach out-of-school youths.

Having a purpose allows you to get your bearings back; enriches your life and makes you forget the past.

2. Develop a network

You must have heard the famous saying, “Misery loves company.” Don’t take it literally. People don’t want to be a sounding board of your life’s troubles and cares.

But do go out to get in touch with friends if you are in a depressive mood. if you do, don’t unload your shit on them. There is not faster way of driving away people than by saddling them of your problems. Talk about something else.

Be with people who are optimistic about life, not as miserable as you are.

Socializing with positive-minded people is a good antidote for depression and helps improve your physical, mental and emotional health.

3. Exercise

Exercise and depression are not the best of buddies. So if you start having depressive moods, put on your sneakers and work up a little sweat.

It need not be the pumping iron type (but it doesn’t do any harm). Hiking,  biking, zumba, or tai-chi are the prescribed activities for seniors with creaking bones and messed-up minds.

Or you can devise your own like going up and down staircases, brisk walking, deep breathing, calisthenics, etc.

Go for group exercises for extra motivation.

4. Eat brain-health foods

“Diet plays a huge role in depression,” says Shawn Talbot, PhD., nutritional biochemist and author of the book, 7 Days to Unlimited Energy, Focus, and Well-being.

Yes, most of us overlook the fact that just as there are foods good for the body, there are also foods for the brain.

For example, these are good to fight off depression:

• Dark leafy vegetables
• Walnuts
• Avocado
• Berries
• Tomatoes
• Beans, etc.

5. Go out and have fun

Going out for a long drive is my main elixir against depression.

Sometimes the suffocating familiarity of your home can be depressing; your daily routine can be depressing. And your neighbor’s dog (or the neighbor) can be depressing.

Getting away from all these by taking a long walk or drive can be very therapeutic. It takes your mind off the things that are eating you alive.

“Concerns should drive us into action, not depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.” – Pythagoras

Depression starts from the mind and it must be stopped in the mind.

~oOo~

The post Everything You Need to Know about Depression first appeared on Age With Charm.

When was the last time you went for a vacation If it was too long ago to remember, then it’s time to have one.

Do it now while you can. Going on a vacation and the traveling that comes with it is like a body-mind workout.

Navigating new cities, exploring museums, conversing with other people, practicing new languages, and seeing sights can flex your mental muscles, making your brain active.keeping your brain active.

And walking around city streets or museums, taking public transports and many other physical is good exercise.

Then, of course, the relaxation aspect, which is the main purpose of going for a vacation.

But things may not always go as planned. A lot of things can go wrong, i.e., missed flights, hotels below expectations, the weather is bad, and overshooting your budget, etc.

I’ve had so many vacations that went sour because of one thing or another; because I did not plan them well enough. And it can happen to you.

They gave me valuable lessons (and bad memories) and I am sharing these with you to spare you the anguish and waste of money.

1.  Choose where to spend your vacation:

With the ease provided by the Internet, choosing a vacation destination is not difficult. On the contrary, choosing one is a challenge.

There are so many things to consider like, distance from home, weather, places of interest, cost, etc.

My rule of thumb is to get inputs from friends and acquaintances. Ask around. It is better to get it from the horse’s mouth than from well-written, and often misleading, magazine sales articles.

2.  Decide when to go:

This is often dependent on the purpose of taking a vacation – for fun or relaxation – and your budget.

Go on “season” months if you want to have fun. But be prepared to spend a little extra because everything will be expensive, food, hotel or resort, souvenir items, and the like.

You will also be pushing and shoving against other tourists for a place to stay, a place to dine, a quiet spot on the beach, on public transports, etc. But it will be fun, right?

If you want to relax, go on “off-season” months. Everything will be cheaper plus the added bonus of not having to bump into people wherever you go.

I never go on “season” months. It defeats the purpose of having a vacation.

3.  Book a flight:

I always book a flight a lot way ahead than choosing a place to stay to avail of airline promos which have become common these days with the increasing penchant for people to travel.

The downside of this strategy is you won’t get a refund in case you miss the scheduled departure. It is a kind of “all or nothing” deal.

4.  Choose a place to stay:

Like choosing a place to vacation in, choosing a place to stay has become easy with so many travels cluttered across the Web.

Go through travel sites that offer lower rates for the same hotel or resort. Note down their contact details, i.e., email address, web URL, and telephone numbers.

Then check amenities to see if they offer everything to make your vacation remarkable and the Reviews section.

I go for hotels or resorts with a strong wifi signal in the rooms and a large swimming pool 

Read as many reviews as you can to have a good balance between the Pros and Cons. People have different tastes. Give emphasis on reviews similar to yours.

Once you have decided on a hotel or resort, give them a call or book your reservation yourself. Don’t do it online through travel sites. They may not be updated and you may not get seniors citizen discount privileges. It happened to me with Expderia.com during my last travel.

5. Make the necessary preparations:

Even if your scheduled departure is weeks or months ahead, it is better to start making preparations. Play them inside your head over and over again. In time, you will add or remove some items from your list of things to bring along.

Make a list of things and garments to bring along. No sense in bringing heavy clothing if you are going to the tropics and vice-versa. Never forget toiletries, undergarments, medicines, telephone numbers of family and close relatives or friends you can call in case of emergency.

Make sure your credit card can cover the trip or your bank account have enough funds to cover shortfalls if any.

Familiarize yourself with the place you are going to, and the hotel or resort you are going to stay. Know the directions in getting there and how. Read about the climate, the food, the culture, and most of all, the people – whether they are friendly and helpful or run away with your baggage. If possible, know the crime rates so you won’t fall victim to scam artists of crime syndicates.

This part of your vacation plans is the most crucial. It can make it memorable or nightmarish.

As people retire, they get bitten by the travel bug. A study was done by the AARP showing that 55% of American retirees want to go on domestic travel, 44% both domestic and foreign, while 3% plan to travel abroad.

It is very heartwarming to know that seniors these days no longer want to lead sedentary lives their counterparts did a few years back had.

Neither should you.

Please help other seniors by sharing this. Better still, subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly update of the exciting and bittersweet life of a senior.

~oOo~

The post Surprisingly Simple Ways to Have that Remarkable Vacation first appeared on Age With Charm.