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Senior Women: 8 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Health
“I’m alone, but I’m not lonely. I like who I am. I like who I’m becoming.”—Deena Kastor Today, because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the digital mental health market is exploding. Stress and anxiety have accelerated the demand for virtual behavioral health services. According to the European Connected Health Alliance, more than 380,000 health apps are available through Apple and Android operating systems, and around 20,000 of them address mental health. But what about emotional health? Emotional Health Vs. Mental Health In researching this topic, I did not find apps specifically to help with emotional health. I believe this is because mental health and emotional health are two terms often…
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Family Caregivers: Why Kindness Matters
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”—Albert Schweitzer. Are you caring for an ill loved one—a parent, child, or sibling? If so, you are one of the 53 million US adults doing so. You are a “Family Caregiver.” Shelly’s Story: “Mom is becoming increasingly incontinent. She hates being cleaned up and changed. She insists on keeping her soaked in Depends diaper. She fights me tooth and nail when I am trying to help her. She screams, cries, and gets us both worked up. “I know this is due to the disease, but in the heat of the moment,…
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7 Keys to Stop Passive-Aggressive Behavior
“We cannot become peacemakers without communication. Silence is a passive-aggressive grenade thrown by insecure people who don’t want the accountability of starting it.” Shannon L. Alder. Meet Barbara: “Rant alert! As if caring for your loved ones through terminal illness or behavior issues isn’t bad enough—or even navigating health care systems that promise to offer help but are broken, at best. “But what gets me is when your f*****g siblings can’t find any f*****g compassion or consideration or even give you a f*****g chance to get back up on your feet after you’ve been knocked down time and time again for years—whether it be emotionally, physically, financially or mentally. “My…
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Harmful Myths and Stereotypes About Older Women Versus the Real Truth
“Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.”—Joseph Campbell. What is myth? “A widely held but false belief or idea.”—Oxford Languages According to Oxford Languages, other popular terms for myth are misconception, fallacy, mistaken belief, false notion, and misbelief. Myths are stories that create stereotypes. Stereotypes are only valid if we allow them to affect the way we live. Example: Older women are content to stay home, chat with friends, shop online, and watch soap operas on TV. Does it not anger you to hear that many consider older women irrelevant, unmotivated, and unimportant?!? How dare they!!! Yes, such beliefs get me riled up! Have you heard the stories about…
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Navigating the Return to Work: A Guide After a Long-Term Illness
By Guest Blogger: Sandra D. Polster Embarking on a journey back into the workforce after a long-term illness is a nuanced endeavor that requires careful planning and self-reflection. This transition demands a strategic approach that marries an honest assessment of your health with a proactive search for fulfilling employment. The aim is to find a professional path that respects your physical and mental well-being and aligns with your career aspirations. Golden Pen Empower Mature Health Blog shares more: Evaluating Your Health and Capacity The initial step towards reintegration into professional life necessitates thoroughly evaluating your current health status. Understanding persisting limitations is critical to identifying work environments and roles conducive…
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Achieve What You Want: Continued Education and Skill Development for Older Women
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”—Albert Einstein. Oh, how I love learning! Sometimes, I think I left my mother’s womb with a book in my hand. I can’t remember when I wasn’t engaged in learning something new and exciting. Yes, I’m a bookaholic, a bibliophile, and a literary addict! What about you? Are you an older woman wondering, “What now?” If you are in good health and free of childrearing, you can enhance your personal life by continuing your education and developing new skills. Skill development for older women is a valuable and empowering process that can enhance your personal life and make you happier…
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Harmony Within: A Journey to Spiritual Wellness
Emily writes: “I’m beyond furious right now! Both Mom and Grammy are irresponsible with money. Without my knowledge, they let the power bill slip for a couple of months. Mom made a small payment in December, barely enough to leave a dent in the bill. “Mom had an appointment today that was three hours away, and Grammy was nice enough to take her so I could sleep in. I woke up and discovered the power had turned off! The house’s temperature was already down to fifty-seven and continued to drop. We had an electric stove, so I couldn’t cook. “All but three dollars of my check went to rent this…
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5 Key Principles of Functional Fitness: Improve Your Ability to Perform Everyday Tasks
“Nothing will work unless you do.”—Maya Angelou It was a Saturday afternoon. Marie had just started her weekly household chores. Suddenly, Marie couldn’t get her breath and slumped down on the sofa. Was Marie having a heart attack? How could that be? Marie was only fifty-seven years old but somewhat overweight. “Statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA) state the average age of a person at the time of their first heart attack in the United States is 65.5 years for men and 72 years for female. However, heart attacks can happen to anyone.” (Source: medicalnewstoday.com) It would be sad enough if Marie’s situation were an isolated incident. But every…
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How to Build Confidence in 7 Easy Steps
“Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions … do your thing, and don’t care if they don’t like it.”—Tina Fey Marsha’s story: “I worked on my idea to start a relationship coaching business for months. “I finally completed coaches training, awarded my credential, and had marketing ideas to attract clients. “However, I started to have self-doubts. After all, I was a divorced mother of three children. Who was I to offer my services as a relationship coach? “What if I fail? “I lost my nerve and my confidence.” What is confidence? The word “confidence” originates from the Latin word confidere, which means “to believe in yourself completely” or “to…
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Listening to the Family Caregiver: Stories from the Frontlines
“There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.”—Rosalyn Carter There are numerous family caregiver stories—one for every family caregiver. And exactly how many family caregivers are there? Key Facts: In 2020, 41.8 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult over the age of 50. That’s nearly 17% of the U.S. adult population. 89% of caregivers care for a relative or other loved one, such as a spouse. 7 hours per week is the average time caregivers spend providing unpaid care for loved ones they don’t…
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Charting the Course Through Loss: Strategies for Healing and Growth
By: Hazel Bridges, Guest Blogger Navigating the aftermath of loss requires resilience and a deliberate approach to healing. Establishing goals conducive to well-being is not just beneficial; it is necessary for regaining balance. This article delves into actionable strategies to construct a foundation for recovery in the face of grief. Creating a Structured Routine Amidst the turmoil that loss can bring, establishing a daily routine is akin to introducing a compass in a storm, offering direction and a semblance of order. Consistent routines serve as anchors, providing a rhythm to our days that brings solace and a predictable structure during times of upheaval. This consistency becomes a source of comfort,…
