The Senior Scene

When I was a kid, animals worked for a living.

Our dog Laddy lived outside and was a true watchdog. He patrolled the grounds at night and kept raccoons out of the chicken house. He slept on the back porch. We loved him, of course, and gave him treats, but he knew his place.

Cats and kittens lived in the barn – they were Mouse Patrol. With occasional moles and shrews thrown in. One cat even brought in a rabbit, just to prove what a good worker she was.

Cows gave milk, chickens laid eggs and provided the occasional Sunday dinner. Our bull only worked part-time, but he was dependable about it.

Our animals had their rights – the food was good and the hours weren’t that bad.

Today’s animals are welfare queens. Coddled beyond belief. Dogs live indoors. Cats not only live indoors, they sleep in their owners’ beds and refuse all but the fanciest of cat food.

The other day at a store, something fuzzy brushed my arm. It was a small dog, wrapped in a blanket and tucked in his owner’s arm.  This was not an outdoor market where we’ve come to expect dogs wearing sweaters and raincoats. It was indoors, and apparently room temperature was too harsh for it.

He wasn’t the only dog I’ve witnessed being carried. I see dogs plunked into baby carriages, being wheeled by their owners who appear honored to chauffer. I’m surprised the animals can still walk, although maybe they can’t.

My friend Linda lives on a lake and every night after sundown she feeds the neighborhood raccoons on her deck. Dog food and marshmallows. They line up for their nightly treats–mother and babies, waiting patiently until the door opens. Linda tosses the treats to each one in turn, and they know the routine. They queue up. They don’t fight. They are, by now, third-generation freeloaders.

Pets have become accessories and designer items. Facebook shows photos of cats sleeping decoratively on fireplace mantels and window sills. Tiny dogs wear rhinestone necklaces with ribbons in their hair. Bigger dogs wear Halloween costumes, or St. Patrick’s Day or Seahawks attire or reindeer horns.

I’m glad Laddy didn’t live to see any of this. He would have looked at a dog in a raincoat and snickered. And probably offered to help him escape. Our cats would have been appalled: You have to stay inside? You don’t get to hunt? You can’t go out in the moonlight?

It’s a sad day for animal rights. They need to unionize.

With hearing loss ranking as one of the most common chronic health conditions that U.S. adults experience, affecting an estimated 48 million people nationwide, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has polling results that reveal an overwhelming disconnect between the high value that Americans say they place on their hearing and their low willingness to be treated for any hearing loss.

The poll of a nationally representative sample of nearly 2,500 U.S. adults ages 18 and older was commissioned by ASHA and conducted by YouGov in mid-March 2021. Key results, according to ASHA:

• 80 percent of Americans say their hearing is extremely important or very important to their quality of life. Yet, only 20 percent have had a hearing test in the past five years, compared with 61 percent who have had their vision tested.
• 51 percent of all adults reported having hearing problems, but only 11 percent of them have sought treatment.
• 78 percent of those with hearing problems have had them for at least one year—and 35 percent have had trouble for five or more years.
• 42 percent understand that mild hearing loss can impact a person’s life or daily functioning. Yet, 56 percent of those with untreated hearing problems say they would be unlikely to treat the problm unless it was severe.

“These results are extremely concerning,” said A. Lynn Williams, ASHA’s president. “We know and are consistently learning more about how untreated hearing loss can not only impact a person’s quality of life and mental health, but that it can also be associated with cognitive decline, dementia, and preventable hospitalizations. This inaction on hearing health is especially unfortunate because there are effective treatment options that can enable adults with hearing loss to live fuller and more satisfying lives.”

The polling was conducted during a time of psrticular focus on hearing. Last year, the World Health Organization projected that 1 in 4 people worldwide will experience hearing loss by 2050.

Information about hearing loss and locating an audiologist is available at ActNowOnHearing.com, an ASHA website.

Seattle is the second-best city in the U.S. for book lovers, according to a study that ranked cities on access to public libraries, bookstores, Little Free Libraries, book clubs, and book-related events.

Seattle has an abundance of book swaps and book sellers, and also leads all cities in literary events per capita. It also doesn’t hurt that Seattle is a UNESCO-designated City of Literature with its very own civic poet. Topping the 10-best list is Pasadena, Calif. Rounding it out after Seattle are Jersey City, N.J., Eugene, Ore., New York City, Portland, Ore., Alexandria, Va., Garden Grove, Calif., Oakland, Calif., and Denver, Colo.

The study of 200 cities and what they offer bookworms was commissioned by Lawn Love, a lawncare and landscaping company whose locations nationally include Seattle and Tacoma. The connection between the lawn business and books isn’t clear, except people who hire a lawn service perhaps have more time for reading.

Many people look forward to their retirement for years. However, once it begins, they may find all the newfound free time overwhelming.

If you’re planning on retiring soon, having a plan for how you’ll spend your time is important for your health and happiness. Here are five ideas for staying mentally and physically active, as well as engaged in your community:

1. Start a walking meet-up: Host a morning walking group in your neighborhood. A brisk morning walk is a low-impact way to get in shape and keep your heart healthy. Plus, the fresh air and camaraderie is good for your mental wellbeing. To ensure the group’s success, keep meet-up times consistent and let participants know in advance the pace and distance you plan to walk. You may even want to start a fun tradition, such as ending every stroll session at a local coffee shop.
2. Become a tax expert: Consider taking an online course on how to do taxes and become a resource for friends during tax season. Get prepared by visiting the IRS site, which provides information on tax return preparer credentials and qualifications, as well as details about how this year’s tax laws have changed and how they’ll impact deductions. Equip yourself with a good printing calculator, such as the HR-170 from Casio, which features two-color printing and Cost/Sell/Margin functionality. The calculator allows you to check and correct up to 150 steps and print your calculations after correction so you can maintain accuracy. Plus, its clock and calendar features will help you stay organized.
3. Volunteer your skills: Many recent immigrants need logistical help getting situated in the United States. If you speak a foreign language, consider volunteering through your local library or community center. Become a literacy buddy to your new neighbors or help them complete essential paperwork, such as job applications and school enrollment forms.
4. Learn music at your own pace: It’s never too late to begin your music education. Whether you’re learning to play the piano for the first time or revisiting an old passion, new tools will allow you to hone your skills independently and effectively. Check out Casiotone keyboards, which are portable and well-suited for any level of play, as most of the models have features that will guide you through its built-in songs by either a key-lighting system or an on-screen step-by-step process. With the ability to slow the tempo to aid in practice, or learn melodies individually by selecting left-hand or right-hand parts only, you can quickly master favorite tunes and build your musical confidence.
5. Read the classics: Are there classic books you’ve always wanted to read but have never gotten around to? Use your abundance of free time to finally make your way through your literary bucket list. Whether it’s “Moby Dick” or “Ulysses,” consider inviting friends to participate. Challenging titles will be more easily and enjoyably tackled with friends and a discussion schedule.

To promote your health and happiness in retirement, keep your body and mind active and engaged.

Source: StatePoint Media