You need really deep roots

during this time of life.

Wednesday afternoon at Lakeside on Lake Erie I attended a lecture about trees. The speaker told about the importance of a lot of water early in their growth; about the wrong way to mulch (volcano instead of donut--the roots will girdle the tree and strangle it); the danger locally of the Emerald ash borer; how to prune; invasive species (Norway Maple, Tree of Heaven); and the problem of the silver Maple. Our speaker said they grow fast, but their life expectancy is about the same as a human. Also, they require a lot of care. One specie I wasn't familiar with was the Chinkapin Oak, or Chinquapen. He said the leaf was similar to a chestnut and that it was urban tree of the year.

However, Thursday evening we had a terrific wind storm in southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio, and we lost power--some for several hours, others for 2 days. When I walked around the grouds, I saw many damaged and fallen trees, a number were silver Maples. One huge tree on the lakefront had fallen on another and sheared limbs off of that one. At 2nd and Plum at that park, it looked like another fallen silver Maple.

But up on 7th street (7 blocks from the lake) a saw a huge tree had fallen in the yard of the old Danbury school (now boarded up). The root circumferance was huge, maybe 7 or 8 ft., sheared off almost at ground level, but the depth of the roots was very shallow because it was growing on rocks. There have been quarries around here even before the town. Trees perhaps are like people. You can get so far, but if the wind really starts to blow, you'd better hope your roots of faith go really deep. I brought a leaf home; I think it is a Chinkapin Oak.

Aging in Place

The Kiplinger Connection at AIArchitect says:

Lifestyle Trends

Remember when retirees headed in droves to the Sun Belt? No more.

Recent retirees seem to prefer aging in place, caring less about the weather and more about staying in their homes, close to their friends, family and community. City dwellers are also reluctant to give up cultural and entertainment opportunities. Overall migration from large cities fell on average by over 40% from 2007 to 2008. The recession is likely to compound the trend, but it’s far from the biggest factor.

The change presents problems for cities and states in some regions. Many aren’t equipped to provide the housing and services that older people need. Look for a realignment when the economy picks up, creating business opportunities from retrofitting homes so they’re senior friendly, to leisure and health care services.

Do you suppose it was all those hurricanes?

Exercise is important

In the 1980s I took a Jackie Sorenson Aerobics class. Eventually, I lost 20 pounds and really was in the best condition of my life. Here's a photo of my friend Nancy and me (I'm on the right) when the class was doing a Blues Brothers routine. We're not sure, but we think it is 1986.


I had to lose that same 20 pounds again in 1993, the late 90s, and again in 2006. Seems to want to hang around. Doesn't come off as easy as it used to.

Four Pensions

I talked to a retiree today who is having no problem in "this economy." He and his wife between them have four pensions--two social security and two defined benefit programs. Of course, those benefits are invested in the stock market, so he'd better pay attention. Or maybe not--he'll sleep better. He says they live on one pension and save the other three. Their home has been paid for for years. He drives a Prius and loves it. Their other car is a 1996 something with under 70,000 miles.

Good news for coffee drinkers

"Midlife Coffee and Tea Drinking and the Risk of Late-Life Dementia: A Population-based CAIDE Study." Marjo H. Eskelinen, Tiia Ngandu, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Hilkka Soininen, Miia Kivipelto. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Vol 16, No 1, January 2009 (in press). Link.

Abstract: Caffeine stimulates central nervous system on a short term. However, the long-term impact of caffeine on cognition remains unclear. We aimed to study the association between coffee and/or tea consumption at midlife and dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in late-life. Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study were randomly selected from the survivors of a population-based cohorts previously surveyed within the North Karelia Project and the FINMONICA study in 1972, 1977, 1982 or 1987 (midlife visit). After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1409 individuals (71%) aged 65 to 79 completed the re-examination in 1998. A total of 61 cases were identified as demented (48 with AD). Coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk of dementia and AD later in life compared with those drinking no or only little coffee adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and vascular factors, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and depressive symptoms. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found in people who drank 3-5 cups per day. Tea drinking was relatively uncommon and was not associated with dementia/AD. Coffee drinking at midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD later in life. This finding might open possibilities for prevention of dementia/AD.

Happiness

If in your domestic life you would be supremely happy you must not forget the old adage: "The husband must not see and the wife must be blind." The Gospel Messenger, December 18, 1888.

New Year's Problem Solving

The only item that applied to me in the New Year's Day "How to fix your life in 2009" article in the Wall Street Journal was this one. And many retirees need to be on the alert--especially if you live in the the mid-west.

Problem: You work indoors, live in a cold climate and wear sunscreen to protect your skin -- and you wonder if you're getting enough vitamin D.

Solution: Have your vitamin D level checked. Experts think many people aren't getting enough these days, and that can put you at higher risk for a variety of problems, including osteoporosis, heart attacks, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration, mental illness, chronic pain and many cancers. Your doctor can check your D level with a blood test, which costs about $100 and is usually covered by insurance. Make sure the test measures 25-hydroxyvitamin D, not 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D. A concentration of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter is considered deficient, and more than 30 npm is healthier.

If you are low, you can boost your level with inexpensive supplements. Current U.S. guidelines call for 200 international units per day from birth through age 50; 400 IUs from 51 through 70 and 600 IUs from age 71 on. Many medical organizations now think that's too low. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children should have 400 IUs a day, and the National Osteroporsis Foundation thinks adults over age 50 should have at least 800 to 1,000.

In most of the U.S., being in the sun for at least 20 minutes a day can boost your D level nicely but also raise your risk of developing skin cancer.

—Melinda Beck

I was tested for Vit. D levels about 2 years ago as part of my annual exam, and must say, I failed miserably. I'd never heard of "low vit. D" but my wonderful internist, Dr. Bill Wulf is always ahead of me.

Double whammy if you're 70 and a half

President Bush has signed legislation that will temporarily suspend the penalty for seniors who fail to take the required minimum distribution from IRA and employer retirement accounts in 2009, but you’ll still need to do the required distribution for 2008--and that’s based on your fund balance at the end of 2007. Not good, folks, not good. Imagine this (and I know you can with little trouble). Congress just had to rush through that horrendous September bailout which was supposed to create more credit from banks so they could help business. At least, that’s the way we were told it would work. But so far, all that’s happened is a run on the government for more bailouts, from the auto industry to universities to home builders. And the lending institutions have continued to give their year end bonuses and perks. But those mental midgets we elected just couldn’t figure out a way to rush through a plan to change the wording in the 2008 requirement--the year a lot of us lost 40-50% of the value of our accounts. How tough would it have been to change 70.5 to 71.5 or 72.5? I'm not sure this is the best source, but I'm going with it now because it doesn't require registration. Full text of HR 7327 here, but use your "find" command (control F) with the word "retirement" to get to the correct section.

Wants not needs

Christmas is a tough time for us retirees. The kids, spouse, sister/brother, buddy asks, What do you want for Christmas, and you can't think of a thing. I've been married 48 years, I'm 69, and if there's anything I need or want it's usually pretty small (Clariton, new pair of hose, mittens) I just buy it. But just let me walk through Macy's at the before 1 p.m. sale on a Friday, and all of a sudden, I'm standing at the "Take another 50% off" sale rack. It's not that I believe the "originally was" tag--clothes are never that. But when it's new and costs less than I could get it at a resale shop (my favorite is Discovery cancer shop here in Columbus), I do stop and push around the merchandise. Yesterday I bought this little jacket--full of bright colors and patterns--with western detailing and metal buttons. Not me, but $9, from the "original" $58, and I'm as big a sucker as the next mama.

Media hype wrong again

Cross posted at Collecting my Thoughts

So much for all the gloom, doom and disaster the media were promoting. Who are their sources? The people went out on Black Friday and increased spending by 3% over last year. And for once I'm glad. The jobs they saved may be their neighbors or their own. Now we'll get all the qualifying stories from the journalists and consultants who got it wrong. The "yes, but," excuses.

Anyone in retirement years can see we're heading for a bad time, just open your latest statement. It's not like 2004 when the Kerry/Edwards campaign continually bad mouthed the economy for over a year, Bush, new jobs, etc. and the media chimed right in. It's not 2006 when the Democrats took over Congress by campaigning on the bad economy (that wasn't) and then rode it into the ditch by making no corrections the president wanted. The week after the 2004 election it was all good economic news again. Because we don't have time for it turn around like it did in the late 80s, and the late 90s and after 9/11, it's going to be a challenge for retirees--especially if they don't fix that 70.5 age for drawing down IRAs based on Dec. 31, 2007 balances. People my age didn't grow up expecting everything, so we are probably better off than the younger boomers who thought life would always be a bigger house, or a new leased car every other year, or a vacation in Aruba.

Does Retirement Kill You? No.

Didn't think so. All the retirees I know are too busy to die. Now, retirement accounts. That's another matter.

Abstract:
The magnitude of the effect that health has on the retirement decision has long been studied. We examine the reverse relationship, whether or not retirement has a direct impact on later-life health. In order to identify the causal relationship, we use unexpected early retirement window offers to instrument for retirement behavior. They are legally required to be unrelated to the baseline health of the individual, and are significant predictors of retirement. We find that there is no negative effect of early retirement on men's health, and if anything, a temporary increase in self-reported health and improvements in health of highly educated workers. While this is consistent with previous literature using Social Security ages as instruments, we also find some evidence that anticipation of retirement might also be important, and might bias the previous estimates towards zero.

"Does Retirement Kill You? Evidence from Early Retirement Windows"
by Norma B. Coe, Maarten Lindeboom
(November 2008) IZA DP No. 3817

Cross posted at Collecting My Thoughts

Think Again Grants

I saw an article in the Columbus Dispatch that Columbus State has $3 million in grants for older, new students but can't find them. Columbus State, which was just a tiny, little thing when we moved here now has 24,000 students. The $1,000 grant is for tuition, for a new (or almost new) student taking at least 6 hours, spread over 3 quarters. Maybe now is the time for you to think about taking that college credit class?

What's wrong with this picture?

Reading through this LA Times article, you see that the current down turn is not the problem. These retirees had too much debt and were taking too much risk. All bubbles burst. There were recessions in 1973-75, 1981-82, 1990-91, and I personally know what was happening to my investments in 1999, and we know what happened after 9/11. So why does any retiree think the next 20 or 30 years will be different than the past?

“Three refinancings have left Dale Campbell and his wife owing $485,000 -- more than their Whittier home is worth. The interest rate on their mortgage is due to reset in November, and the payments will more than double to $3,800 a month. The 77-year-old retired truck driver figures it's just a matter of time before the bank sends the couple packing.

"We don't want to leave here, but we can't afford the payments," said Campbell, who spent the proceeds from the refinancings on home improvements.

The Campbells aren't alone. Homeowners ages 50 and over account for an estimated 28% of all delinquencies and foreclosures in the current crisis, according to a report released last week by AARP, the nation's leading senior citizens lobby. That translates into 684,000 older people who have lost their homes or are in danger of losing them. Many experts believe there are a lot more on the way.

The bad news doesn't end there. A separate AARP study found that, over the last decade and half, Americans 55 and older have experienced the sharpest increase in bankruptcy filings than any other age group, accounting for nearly a quarter of all filers last year.

Los Angeles bankruptcy attorney Scott Bovitz has noticed the graying of his clientele.

"In prior years, it was rare for me to hear from a grandma," he said. "Now we're talking to people 55 and older every day." "
The golden years have lost their glow

Testosterone therapy for men

Testosterone therapy: Can it help older men feel young again? According to MayoClinic.com (one of the Mayo Clinic's three main Web sites which provide health information and tools) the jury is still out on testosterone therapy for older men.

What are the risks of testosterone therapy?

Not enough study has been done to determine the risks of testosterone therapy in men with normal testosterone levels. In theory, a higher than normal testosterone level could increase a man's risk of prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). But studies haven't determined whether testosterone therapy could cause these complications.

Studies show testosterone therapy can cause sleep apnea in some men. This condition causes you to continually start and stop breathing as you sleep. Testosterone therapy may also cause your body to make too many red blood cells (polycythemia), which can increase your risk of heart disease.

Consider the list of pros and cons when evaluating testosterone therapy that are included in the article.

Arthritis and exercise

It may seem counterintuitive, but a recent study confirms that people with osteoarthritis can improve mobility and enhance their quality of life with modest levels of exercise. Take a look at the summary at the Johns Hopkins Health Alert Good News about Exercise and Arthritis

No senior discount here

There are some retirement places, like this one in Plano, Texas, where folks aren't worried about senior discounts or flat stock accounts.

Song of the Other Sister

Glucosamine chondroitin
maybe some ibuprofen
Viactiv with calcium
fish oil and Senior Centrum.

Ohioans need some D,
build those bones for all to see;
Stretch and bend, wear socks and shoes,
Take a walk after the news.

Breathe deeply, now in and out,
wave to your friends give a shout,
life is good we can't complain,
but we'd settle for less pain.

Summer poem

Bikes and grass and summer things
Tea with ice, a thought that clings--
Yellow roses, gray blue eyes,
Summer romance--a young girl's sighs.
Hot rod cars, loud and steamy,
Didn't we think they were so dreamy?
Now we smile and say good-bye,
while watching rain clouds in the sky.

Glucosamine chondroitin

On my last check up I mentioned to my doctor that I've developed some hip pain, that goes away within a few minutes after moving around. "Arthritis," he said, and suggested I try Glucosamine chondroitin.

"Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States and has a major effect on the health-related quality of life. In 2004, the estimated direct and indirect medical costs associated with all forms of arthritis exceeded $86 billion. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are the most widely used dietary supplements for osteoarthritis, with estimated sales in 2004 approaching $730 million."

This study looked at its use, but decided stricter standards were needed before a final decision could be made.

Time to Talk campaign

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched Time to Talk, an educational campaign to encourage patients—particularly those age 50 or older—and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, such as herbal supplements, meditation, naturopathy, and acupuncture. Read more