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This is my dog. Her name is Grace. We fondly call her Gracie.

Gracie is a miniature pinscher, born just over 9 years ago, the last of a six-puppy litter. She was barely 3 inches long at birth and a third the size of the other puppies. We doubted she would survive. Her mother rejected her and tried to throw her out of “the nest” because she was different than the other puppies.

But my children and I believed in Gracie’s survival. We fed her by hand with an eyedropper as we cradled her in our palms, and we gave her the love and nurture she didn’t get from her own family of dogs. I had to lay her mother on my lap so that Gracie could be nursed apart from the others. When she was too weak to nurse, the kids and I took shifts to feed her around the clock and speak encouraging words of survival to her. Soon she became the strongest and most dominant of the pack, although still the smallest. She could fend off her five littermates from the food bowl with a fierce growl and scary glance. And Gracie repaid our faith in her will to live by returning the care and comfort she received from us with a lifetime of love and companionship.

Now that she is an older adult dog, she shows those signs of aging that we all do: gray hair, hearing loss, cataracts, stiff joints, and some excess weight around the middle. But like so many of us Baby Boomer humans, Gracie has the heart and soul of her younger years. She will still chase a chipmunk, but no longer catches it. She can still jump around with excitement, but then promptly falls asleep on the couch. Even in her old age, she continues to teach us about another kind of grace.

When I return from a business trip, Gracie is the first to greet me. Long before my husband or kids make it to the door, she hears my footsteps and comes running. You would think I was the most important person on earth as she jumps and whines and licks me, climbing in my lap for some affection. She makes me feel like a queen. It doesn’t matter to Gracie if I am in a grumpy mood, if I’m overweight, or if my hair is gray. She doesn’t care if I’m smart or not, or if others find me attractive. I am her person! She loves me the same in the morning, noon, or night and she never holds a grudge. In fact, I think that my dog seems to know more about unconditional love than many people do. She doesn’t hold my faults against me and she loves me just the way I am. She always shows it no matter what else has happened in the day. Gracie is the one at my feet in every room of the house. She sleeps next to me when I watch TV. She follows me everywhere. She is always at the door to protect me from strangers. She would give her life for mine in an instant if she could, and without a thought for herself. I sometimes find myself wishing that I had her strength of character.

It is a wonder to me that an ordinary, common, little runt of a dog without the powers of human reasoning could possess qualities that we so seldom see in people. The judgment and unforgiveness of others, sometimes even among our own families, is outshone by the loyalty and companionship that little Grace gives me every day.

So, maybe today we can learn a lesson from the simplest of God’s creatures. Show your enthusiasm for life and each other. Be a loyal companion. Take time to show affection. Miss each other terribly when you are apart. Be happy when you are together again. Forget past mistakes and harsh words. Practice forgiveness. And above all, love unconditionally.

Introduction

If you are a senior citizen, then you must know that Dubai is the perfect place to visit. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and has everything you need to have an amazing time. Not only is it filled with beautiful buildings and attractions, but it also has great weather all year round and you can get discount tickets for Dubai attractions! You’ll never run out of things to do here in Dubai; there are plenty of museums, restaurants, hotels and malls to explore when visiting this amazing city!

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. To get there, you can take a taxi or drive yourself.

The hotel has 730 rooms and suites, all of which are decorated with opulence and luxury in mind. The hotel is also known for its 5-star restaurants that serve traditional Arabic cuisine as well as international dishes such as steak tartare or duck confit salad. Other facilities include a spa offering facials and massages; an indoor swimming pool; an outdoor tennis court; a gymnasium with personal trainers on hand to assist guests who wish it; underground parking space for cars (or other vehicles); room service available 24 hours per day; free Wi-Fi throughout the entire building–and much more!

Dubai Festival City Mall

Dubai Festival City Mall is a great place to visit if you’re looking for something that has it all. It has a number of restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as cinema, bowling alley and roller skating rink. There’s also an indoor play area for children called Kidzania where kids can work in different professions such as doctor or chef.

The Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is one of the most popular places to visit in Dubai. It’s located at the heart of Downtown Dubai, which makes it easy to get there by public transport.

The mall has more than 1,200 stores that offer everything from clothing and jewelry to cosmetics and electronics. It also has a variety of dining options including food courts, fine dining restaurants and cafés. There are also plenty of entertainment options including an ice rink where you can skate during winter months (December through February). If you’re feeling adventurous try out one of their roller coasters or go on one of their rides like “The Falcon”. The mall also hosts events throughout the year such as concerts by international artists so check out their website for more details!

Sharaf DG Mall

Sharaf DG Mall is located in Al Quoz and is a popular destination for senior citizens. The mall has a wide range of shops and restaurants, as well as an ice skating rink, laser tag arena and bowling alley.

The mall stays open 24 hours a day, seven days a week so there’s no need to worry about your elderly parents getting bored or hungry while they’re there! It also has plenty of space for them to sit down if they want to rest their legs after walking around all day long (or even just popping out quickly).

There’s an underground car park at the back of the building which makes it easy for you or other family members who may be with them when visiting this beautiful place 🙂

The Wild Wadi Water Park

The Wild Wadi Water Park is the perfect place for families and friends to spend a day. There are so many slides and rides that everyone in your group will find something they enjoy. The park also has food and drinks available, so you can keep your energy up while you’re having fun!

The park is open from 9am-6pm daily (except Fridays), though it does get busy at weekends so it’s worth booking tickets online if possible. Entry costs AED120 for adults and AED90 for children ages three-12 years old.

These are some of the places you can visit with your senior citizen relative.

There are many places to visit in Dubai, and you should take your senior citizen relative to them. You can also do other activities, like go shopping or eat at a restaurant. Some good places to stay are the Burj Al Arab Hotel, which has a very nice pool with dolphins; the Jumeriah Beach Hotel (it has a great view of the ocean), or even just staying at home!

Conclusion

We hope that this list has inspired you to visit some of the best places in Dubai for senior citizens. If you have any other suggestions, please let us know!

Background

Amputation is an acquired condition that results in the loss of a limb, typically from disease, injury, and/or surgery. There are approximately 278,000 new amputees each year in the United States (Amputation statistics, 2012). Seventy-seven percent of these cases are from circulatory problems, particularly peripheral vascular disease (PVD) related to diabetes, while most of the rest are due to trauma.

Warning Signs

Most amputations involve the lower limbs, above or below the knee. The greatest risk factor for amputation is diabetes with peripheral vascular disease, with African American men having a 2.3 times greater rate of amputation than Whites with diabetes. Advanced age and the incidence of diabetes in the elderly make this a potential problem in the older age group. Additionally, a recent study showed that HgbA1c level was a significant predictor of foot amputation (Palmer, et al,et al., 2011).

Diagnosis

In the acute phase of recovery after surgery, it is important to prevent contractures of the knee joint and maintain normal muscle power and range of motion in remaining joints. The limb should not be hung over the bedside or placed in a dependent position. Both in acute care and rehabilitation, the stump should be conditioned to prepare for the wearing of a prosthesis (an artificial limb). In certain cases, an older person may choose, after speaking with the doctor, not to wear a prosthesis. But, this is usually only when there are other health problems, such as poor balance from another disease or disorder that would make falling and injury more likely with the use of an artificial limb.

Treatment

Initially, there may be drainage from the surgical site, and a sterile dressing will be kept in place and changed at least daily. Eventually, the staples or sutures will be removed and a thick, black eschar (like a hard, dark scab) will form at the amputation site and gradually come off. An Ace wrap or stump shrinker sock (elastic) is used to help prepare the stump for wearing a prosthesis. Several factors should be considered when preparing the stump to wear this artificial limb. These include a movable scar, lack of tenderness/sensitivity, a cone shape, firm skin, and minimizing any swelling. All of these can be achieved by proper wrapping of the stump. The prone position (laying on the stomach), if tolerable, is an excellent way to promote full extension of the residual limb.
It is also important for the person to begin therapy right away. Persons wearing a prosthesis use more energy to walk. An older person with an artificial leg generally has a 40% decrease in speed but uses 80% more energy to walk than the average healthy adult (Chinn et al, 2005).

When using the prosthesis at first, an older adult may tire easily. Be sure to take into account any coexisting problems, such as heart of lung disease, when considering energy expenditure. However, the newest technologies allow prosthetics to be light, durable, and more comfortable.

Patients and families will need to learn about stump care, mobility, adaptation, coping, and self-care. Home maintenance, dealing with complications and/or additional health problems, wear and tear on non-weight-bearing joints, adapting to the environment, accessibility, stigma, depression, role changes, decreased energy, and chronic pain are all issues to be aware of related to amputation. It is likely that the person with a leg amputation will experience some shoulder problems over time due to the additional stress on the non-weight-bearing joints. Phantom limb pain, or pain sensations in the nonexistent limb, is more common after traumatic amputations and may last for weeks after amputation. Massage and medications may help with this type of pain control (Beers, 2005). Additionally, proper wrapping of the stump (in a figure-eight wrap) may help decrease the chance of phantom limb pain later (Kalapatapu, 2012). Also, people with an amputation may struggle with difficult feelings about the changed appearance of their body. They might worry if their spouse or loved ones will see them differently. They might fear what others will think and worry about getting their life back to what feels normal.
In general, older persons with amputation may return to a normal quality of life with some adaptations. The care provided by nurses and physicians in rehabilitation after amputation may make the difference in the person’s ability to cope with the changes that result after surgery. Nurses can help with the transition back into the community after amputation by educating patients and families about resources to assist with adaptation.

Adapted from Mauk, K. L., Hanson, P., & Hain, D. (2014). Review of the management of common illnesses, diseases, or health conditions. In K. L. Mauk’s (Ed.) Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Used with permission.

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