Dr. Mauk\'s Boomer Blog

Each week, Dr. Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.

5 Common Causes Of Eye Pain And Their Solutions For Older Adults

Eye pain is an inevitable part of the aging process. Your eyes will grow old along with you and there’s no stopping that.

The good news is that some of the common causes of eye pain can be corrected with do-it-yourself remedies, or with a visit to your eye doctor. Whether you want to relieve eye strain or say goodbye to blurry vision, we’ve put together the common causes of eye pain among older people, from the unalarming to the urgent, as well as how you can correct them today.

#1 Dry Eyes

As you get older, your glands won’t be able to produce enough tears to lubricate your eyeballs. As a result, you’ll feel symptoms of dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, an uncomfortable condition that causes your eyes to feel as if they’re on fire. Dry eyes can also lead to watery eyes (the dryness will “trigger” the overproduction of tears), which in turn can be the cause of blurry vision.

Consider treatment options such as eye drops to provide temporary relief from eye pain. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a humidifier at home. However, if you’re still suffering from dry eyes, it would be a good idea to go to your doctor to determine if you need eye surgery.

#2 Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the number one cause of blindness among adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 4.2 million American adults have DR. This condition is typically found in people with diabetes, and it can occur when the retina is damaged and grows where it shouldn’t be. Some of the symptoms of DR include eye pain, partial loss of vision, and the appearance of “floaters”.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for DR, but adults with diabetes can prevent permanent vision loss via laser treatment. However, the best way to prevent DR is to prevent diabetes. To do that, look into biohacking wellness, a do-it-yourself strategy that aims to boost your general well-being through lifestyle changes. You can also lower the risk of diabetes by working out regularly.

#3 Eyelid Problems

It’s possible for the cause of eye pain to not be the eye itself, but the skin that surrounds it. Certain skin conditions such as ocular rosacea can cause dry eyes and eye pain. The cause of this chronic skin condition is unknown, but it is believed that an overactive immune system may be the culprit. When you have ocular rosacea, the glands that line your eyelids will get blocked, and this will stop them from making tears they need to keep your eyes well-lubricated. As a result, your eyes will dry up and you will suffer from redness, swollen eyelids, and eye infections.

There is no cure for this condition, but you can practice proper eye care such as regularly washing your eyes with warm water. If you’re prone to flare-ups, stay away from spicy food that can trigger the symptoms of ocular rosacea.

#4 Glaucoma

Glaucoma is generally painless — that’s why it’s known as the “sneak thief of sight”. However, there is a type of glaucoma that can cause the worst pain you’ve ever experienced: acute angle-closure glaucoma or AACG. This can occur when there is too much pressure on the eyes.

This glaucoma is considered a medical emergency. In the event that you suddenly experience sharp eye pain accompanied by blurred vision, you have to see your doctor immediately. If left untreated, AACG can be the cause of blindness — in fact, over 3.3 million Americans over the age of 40 have suffered from vision loss due to this condition.

That’s why it is critical to get your eyes checked regularly. In this way, your doctor can detect the early signs of AACG and lower the risk of a glaucoma attack. In some cases, your doctor may recommend laser treatment to reduce the pressure inside your eyes.

#5 Eye Strain

Eye strain is a common cause of eye pain among adults. When your eyes are “overworked”, they will likely feel tired, and in some cases, they can even sting. Although dryness is one of the culprits of eye strain, there’s a good chance that your eyes are hurting due to the excessive use of devices such as your computer, smartphone, and more.

Remember that as you age, your body will lose the ability to generate enough tears to lubricate your eyes. So don’t be surprised if you can no longer stare at the screen for too long!

Fortunately, there is a simple solution to eye strain — all you’ve got to do is blink a lot. Follow the 20-20-20 rule where you have to look away from the screen every 20 minutes, and for 20 seconds, focus on something 20 feet away.

As an alternative, you can use over-the-counter eye drops for temporary eye strain relief, but be sure they’re preservative-free. Certain preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) and sodium perborate (SP) can irritate your eyes even more.

Final Thoughts

As you can see (pun intended), you can often find relief from the common causes of eye pain on your own. However, although certain conditions can go away on their own, others are actually signs of something more serious. What you thought were harmless floaters may be symptoms of a condition that can cause permanent blindness.

To keep seeing clearly for years, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor today. In this way, they can pinpoint any signs of serious eye conditions or prescribe you over-the-counter medication to treat your eye pain at home.

By Jim|2024-07-29T11:24:16-05:00August 9th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Growing Trend

A Profile of Older Americans (2012) revealed that over 480,000 grandparents had primary parenting responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them. AARP cited that over 2.5 million grandparents are helping with the responsibility of raising their grandchildren, and 7.8 million children live in homes owned by their grandparents. These statistics represent a growing trend in American culture.

I have several friends who have raised or are raising their grandchildren in their own home. Some have formally adopted their grandchildren. Others share parenting responsibilities with one or both parents. All of them share the common feeling that this is a blessing, not a burden, but that raising grandchildren in later life does have its challenges.

Whatever the circumstances that brought grandchildren into the home of their grandparents to be raised, it can come as a shock to the older adults who find themselves in this situation.

Here are some beginning considerations to raising your grandchildren in your own home.

Impact of aging

Older adults who are assuming primary responsibility for children should “cut themselves some slack”. Don’t feel that you have to do everything as if you were a first-time parent in your 20’s. Remember that you may be parenting, but your body knows that you are still a grandparent. You may have to limit the children’s activities because keeping up with the driving and multiple schedules is too difficult. The good news is that many grandparents in this situation are retired, so both Grandma and Grandpa can help with the kids. This teamwork might not have been possible with your own children because one or both of you were working, but now you can share the duties such as driving kids to school or sports practices, helping with homework, and taking them to doctor appointments. If the children are school age, allow yourself extra time to rest and relax during the day so that after school you have the energy required for these new-again activities with the grandkids. If needed, enlist the help of other family members or friends to help by giving you a break on occasion. Keep in mind that maintaining your own health is especially important if you have young ones depending on you.

Expenses and Education

Many older adults are on a fixed income and may not have planned to care for grandchildren. Your financial plan for retirement might need an overhaul with additional family members in the household. Several organizations have worked cooperatively to compile resources for grandparents in this situation. National and state fact sheets have been developed to link grandparents with key resources in their area. You can find out about resources available to help you at http://www.aarp.org/relationships/friends-family/grandfacts-sheets/ .These helpful fact sheets list local programs, public benefits, key state laws, and contact information for national resources. There may be funding or tax breaks to help with living or educational expenses.

Records and immunizations

It’s important to keep important documents together in one safe place. This includes birth certificates, legal papers, report cards, baptismal papers etc… Keeping a log or journal of important events is also a good strategy, especially when caring for multiple children. There are a number of immunizations for children today that were not available or required when you parented your own children. Immunizations are often free at your county health department, but can be very expensive at the doctor’s office. The health department can tell you what your child needs and when, and will help you by providing an immunization record that will need to be kept up for school. The CDC has a helpful chart of recommended immunizations for birth to 6 years that can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf A summary of vaccinations for birth to age 18 can be found at http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2010.pdf

Enjoy your Grand Family

Despite the obvious challenges of raising grandchildren in your older years, most grandparents describe the many joys that come with this new adventure. Grandparents share a special bond with their grandchildren, and when sharing a home together, that bond can be strengthened. Grandparents can share the wisdom of their experience with this younger generation and have the opportunity to shape their lives for the better. If you are new to this second round of parenting, AARP offers a helpful guide with tips to GrandFamilies, as they call them. These can be found at Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Growing Trend

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By Kristen Mauk|2024-07-29T11:23:36-05:00August 7th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: The Secret behind the Bond of Senior Citizens and Pets

The research demonstrates the importance of pets in older individuals’ well-being and life expectancy. The aim of developing measures is to ensure that older adults can sustain a high level of health and well-being must include approaches that encourage the importance of pet-senior relationships.

One can be very socially isolated in old age. Nearest and dearest as well as mates shift somewhere or may die of old age, and it becomes increasingly tough to engage in once-loved hobbies. But there is one source of comfort and affection that helps seniors in many ways. These pets need affection and care, but they will surely offer their owners as much or more love in return. These should be handled nicely and taken care of as well. One can find lots of tips online on PetSafe’s official website that guides regarding pet handling and health concerns.

Researches have also shown that it can be physically and psychologically helpful for people of any age to own a pet. For elderly people, only 15 minutes of animal interaction causes a metabolic chain of events in the mind, reducing the stress and anger hormone, cortisol, and increase the release of the happiness hormone serotonin.

Pets are buddies, partners, mental state boosters, and perfect for fitness and social connections. Dogs and cats can add profound meaning to the life of an elderly person.

Let’s discuss few benefits of keeping pets for seniors

This reduces loneliness by having an animal companion with you. Some pets make perfect friends for traveling, as well. The elderly with pets have less anxiety than the elderly without pets. You get a chance to interact with other fellow humans as you take your dogs outside for a walk. And maintaining better relations with people around you is good for mental health so that pets implicitly make you more social. Pets allow you to frequently wake up, eat, work, exercise and sleep. Routines provide the objective and rhythm of your day that is helpful for dealing with depression.

Keeping pets can keep you healthy.

Let’s dive deeper into few health benefits associated with having animal companions:

Heart Benefits

Those with dogs or cats are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. Pet owners have much higher chances of surviving the heart attack, lesser resting pulse rate, and blood pressure. Also, it is being shown that pet owners have smaller increases in heart rate and blood pressure in reaction to stress and anxiety, and faster recovery from stress.

Mental Health Benefits

Many older adults are isolated, and dog walks can assist them to interact with others. Plus, when the house itself is quiet, a pet friend becomes a center of affection, which decreases the sense of loneliness.

It turns out that pets are a big inspiration for their owners. In general, dogs are perfect for inspiring owners to exercise, which can be good for depressed people. They can help to relax and ease the mind by petting, lying next to an animal, or playing. Pets are like members of your family and give you a sense of being the one with whom you can share your everyday routine.

Active and sound body

A person who walked with pets increased their usual walking pace and duration and was much more inclined to go out for a walk than others who walked with a human partner. Human partners sometimes discourage one another from walking. In addition, dog-walking was correlated with lower body mass index, no other commitments in daily life, fewer medical visits, more regular moderate exercise.

For elderly people, other advantages of pet companionship also include decreases in blood pressure, cholesterol, and pulse rate. A study revealed that seniors who’ve had pets are 21 percent less likely to visit the doctor’s office and exhibit reduced symptoms of aging.

Seniors’ Pet Therapy

Those working to care for the elderly claim that walking and pampering the pet, helps seniors come out of their isolation, offers mild exercise and cardio, as well as provides a way to feel valued and engage with the world. Pet therapy can also assist with the Sundowners Syndrome of Alzheimer’s. For older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, nighttime can be very disturbing and discomforting. This is when certain people with Alzheimer’s decision to run away or leave their families. Having those with Alzheimer’s associated with and distracted with a pet can prevent this problem.

By Jim|2024-07-29T11:21:53-05:00August 1st, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Estate Planning: 10 Common Mistakes Seniors Cannot Afford To Make

We plan on having a good day, a good year, and a good life. But usually, we stop there. We often disregard planning for a good end of life, but it is important to consider how the world will continue to feel the effects of our lives when we are gone. Estate planning is a crucial step in preparing for the future.

Estate planning is the process that involves the management of your assets and the distribution of your wealth after you die. Keeping your estate planning up-to-date is important to ensure an efficient and smooth transition for those you leave behind. And while it is uncomfortable to plan for the end, all of us know that no one will live forever.

Mistakes in estate planning commonly occur because many people do not understand how their assets (real estate, bank accounts, etc.) will be distributed after they pass away. Therefore, it is extremely crucial that you have all the information on hand before finalizing any decisions regarding your estate.

So here are the common estate planning mistakes Seniors cannot afford to make:

10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Seniors Cannot Afford To Make

Fail To Have Real Plan In Place

Those who fail to plan for the future can find themselves without anything in place for their assets. And this can create many problems down the road. Planning is a process that requires time and effort on your part. You cannot expect your situation to change overnight, so you must have a realistic plan in place, to begin with. A good estate plan should address these issues: Who are my Trustees? Who will inherit my assets? (Spouses and children) What must be done with my assets after I die? (Include funeral arrangements, estate taxes, etc

Failing to Update Plans With Time

While time is on your side, it can quickly speed by without you taking any action to make sure you are on the right path. Losing track of time is a common mistake that commonly occurs with those who fail to update their plans with time. Death happens to everyone, and your plan must account for this fact. Estate plans need to be updated after significant life events, when your goals change, or when public policy changes. For instance, if you transfer to a new state, you must review your estate plan. Legal instruments like wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives often need to be changed from time to time.

Not Plan for Long-Term Care and Disability

Failing to include long-term care practices in your estate plan can be expensive for your loved ones down the road. No one plans ever to get old or disabled, but the reality is that both are common occurrences. Therefore, you must have a solid plan for both of these situations. A will is not enough when caring for yourself at home or when you travel out of state. Those who fail to plan and include long-term care provisions in their estate plan can find themselves in a significant amount of legal entanglements down the road as they depend on others to provide care for them.

Lacking Liquidity

All of us know that the world runs on money and items of value. Having enough assets to provide for you and your family should be a top priority. Those who fail to plan for liquidity can find themselves at a disadvantage down the road. Many people often make significant financial mistakes but do not realize that they are creating a trap. It is hard to plan for the future when you are stuck with bills that require immediate attention. Therefore, it is important to have enough liquid assets in place so that you can always provide for yourself and your loved ones when life’s unexpected events occur.

Failure to Plan for Estate Tax Liability

For many, estate tax planning is a nightmare they wish they never had to face. People finally realize the importance of estate planning after death occurs. While estate tax laws are constantly changing, one thing remains constant: death is the one thing we can be certain of. The government wants its share when it comes to inheritance, so you must be prepared with an estate tax plan to minimize any losses your beneficiaries may encounter when you pass away.

The Improper Ownership of Assets

Another common mistake is taking an asset you held for your lifetime but never transferred over to a beneficiary. Where there is confusion about ownership, there are disputes after someone dies. You can avoid these problems by properly transferring assets between loved ones. Do not just assume that assets will be distributed where they belong–transfer them after you pass away. This includes the transfer of title on real estate and bank accounts to the proper parties (beneficiaries). Also, it is important to make sure beneficiaries have the right powers of attorney so they can access your assets with ease when the time comes.

Not Taking Into Account The Financial Impact of Income Taxes on You and Your Beneficiaries

Proper tax planning can make an inheritance last for generations to come. However, not planning for the future can lead to significant problems. One of the common (and costly) mistakes seniors make is failing to plan how income taxes will affect their estate plans. For instance, you may be leaving a sizable inheritance behind after you pass away, but your beneficiaries may be forced to sell off all their assets in order to pay off estate taxes. You want to avoid this scenario at all costs since it will leave your beneficiaries with nothing leftover in their pocketbooks when they pass away themselves.

No Plans In Place for Underage Children or Beneficiaries

One of the most significant goals of estate planning is to make sure your kids are cared for in the case of you or your significant other’s untimely death. You must also have a proper will in place that designates a guardian. Beyond designating a guardian, spell out instructions for how the money should support the kids. This way, the money is properly allocated for the children to meet their needs.

Not Making Gifts to Reduce Your Estate Tax

The impact of estate taxes is felt the most by those who leave larger estates behind when they pass away. This can be curbed by making gifts to various people during your lifetime. Many people fail to make gifts while alive because they find it more difficult to part with their hard-earned money. However, there are ways to share your wealth with others without losing all control over it through gift trust, charitable giving, and family support trusts.

Choosing The Wrong Person to Handle Your Estate

The most important thing is to select the right person to handle your estate. This can be an attorney, financial advisor, or someone else with a lot of practical experience planning for estates. Experts recommend that you work with an estate planning attorney or a financial planner who has expertise in all aspects of estate planning and trusts. Trusts are complex documents, so you need assistance from someone who knows what they are doing, or it could cost you dearly later on.

Remember, this is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Successful estate planning does not happen overnight. It is a process that takes time and effort on your part. If you begin to think about people’s common mistakes when planning their estates, you could avoid them yourself by having a well-designed estate plan beforehand. Remember that estate planning begins now, today, right when life begins. The sooner you start, the better!

Author Bio

Andrea Gibbs is the Content Manager at SpringHive Web company, a firm that offers web design services, maintenance, and Internet marketing. She specializes in content marketing, social media, and SEO. She also serves as a blog contributor at Wellness Home Care, devoted to encouraging healthy lifestyle choices in senior citizens. When she’s not writing, she can be found running hills or hiking trails, rooting for her favorite team (the Pittsburgh Steelers), or watching a good Netflix series.

By Jim|2024-07-29T11:21:26-05:00July 30th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Top 6 Things You Need To Work On For An Effective Education

Education is a tool that provides people with knowledge, skills, technique, and information. It enables them to know their rights. Proper and adequate education is essential for all of us. It facilitates quality learning throughout life among people of any age, group, caste, creed, religion, and region. Education is going out to institutes to gain knowledge, but there are online schools like online high school South Africa, which lets us understand without much effort. You can also read books of famous authors for their knowledge power, like Mike Holt books.

So as there are many benefits of education, it must be practical and purposeful. Here are some ways to make teaching effective:

Communication:

To know the art of communicating is very important in education. Information is delivered and received through communication, whether verbal, written, or any route from practical demonstration to artistic interpretation. Anything that gets your point to others is communication. Being a teacher, you need to have excellent communication skills to deliver your knowledge and ideas to the pupils. Simultaneously, the students must develop this ability for their future by joining a debating society or writing in a magazine.

Creativity:

For effective education, you need to be creative, and learning must be creative too. People learn best when something is fun and creative; according to the national standard of education, learning must be fun and exciting. You can take up an artistic hobby pr get used to sharing ideas and brainstorming. Creativity not only helps with a practical education but also enhances your thinking ability.

Patience:

As said, patience is the key to success. Patience is essential in education. You are supposed to do things as many times as it takes. If you are a teacher, you need to teach one thing to students every time they understand it. As for the student, education requires patience; you need to learn things with patience. You might need to try several times to learn something by heart, which needs patience. When you face challenging behavior, you need to stay calm and patient and not lose your temper. You can improve it by practicing before you speak or make patience your goal.

Enthusiasm:

Enthusiasm boosts your aim, and you aim to make education effective. If you have to do something boring, you can turn it into something you are enthusiastic about. You can make a game of data entry or write poems to help you memorize facts. But the most important thing to bring in enthusiasm is to do what you love. It would be best if you opted for the education of something you are passionate about. This will help you perform effectively in your education field.

Confidence:

One of the essential factors in making education effective is to build confidence in you. Being an education instructor, faith must be the priority. One cannot teach someone if he lacks confidence in himself because there is a vital element to pass to students’ confidence in teaching. A teacher must show spirit, so the students learn its importance and value. And for students, they must know how to gain the confidence required in every field of life. Also, learning involves belief.

Dedication:

Gaining or delivering education can be challenging at times, but you can succeed if you are dedicated. Energy levels are to be at their highest while learning and teaching. At times you will consider yourselves discouraged, but that does not let education have its effects. Instead, it is of no use if you are not dedicated. To make teaching effective, you need to be a dedicated teacher and a dedicated learner.

We need to get a high-level awareness about the importance of knowing more than before. Effective education is essential for each and everyone to improve experience, way of living, and social and economic status throughout life. Getting proper education is the birthrights of everyone restricting, which is a crime. Education is the ultimate way to get victory overall personal and social problems. It is essential to all of us as it plays a crucial role in our life. It transforms us entirely from inside and outside by changing our mind and personality and improving our confidence level. It changes our life completely as it is constructive.

By Jim|2024-06-10T09:58:33-05:00July 29th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

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