Category Archives: happy

Maneuvering through the Obstacles Seniors Face in Today’s Society

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As our society continues to evolve, the challenges faced by seniors have become increasingly complex. From healthcare to technology, seniors encounter various obstacles that can significantly impact their quality of life. In this article, I’ll dive into some of the prominent hurdles faced by seniors and explore potential solutions to address these issues.

  1. Healthcare Access and Affordability: One of the foremost challenges seniors grapple with is access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare. As medical costs soar, many seniors find themselves struggling to afford necessary medications, treatments, and even routine check-ups. Limited mobility and transportation difficulties can exacerbate this issue, making it harder for seniors to access the care they need.
    • Solution: Community outreach programs, increased availability of home healthcare services, and advocacy for affordable healthcare policies can contribute to a more accessible and affordable healthcare system for seniors.
  2. Technological Barriers: In an era dominated by technology, seniors often face challenges in adapting to new devices and digital platforms. From online banking to virtual healthcare appointments, the digital divide can isolate seniors and hinder their ability to connect with the modern world.
    • Solution: Implementing user-friendly technology, providing digital literacy programs for seniors, and encouraging intergenerational tech support can help bridge the technological gap.
  3. Social Isolation: Seniors may experience social isolation due to factors such as the loss of friends and family members, physical limitations, or the lack of community engagement. Loneliness and social isolation can have detrimental effects on mental and physical well-being.
    • Solution: Creating community centers, organizing social activities for seniors, and fostering intergenerational connections can combat social isolation and enhance the overall quality of life for older adults.
  4. Financial Insecurity: Many seniors face financial challenges, including a fixed income, rising living costs, and the potential depletion of retirement savings. Economic instability can limit seniors’ ability to enjoy their golden years without constant financial worry.
    • Solution: Implementing policies that support affordable housing, providing financial education for seniors, and expanding access to senior-friendly employment opportunities can contribute to financial security in later years.
  5. Transportation Limitations: Limited mobility can restrict seniors’ ability to travel independently, leading to increased dependency on others for transportation. This can hinder access to essential services and social activities.
    • Solution: Developing senior-friendly transportation services, promoting community-based transportation initiatives, and incorporating age-friendly design in urban planning can enhance seniors’ mobility and independence.

Addressing the obstacles faced by seniors requires a multifaceted approach that involves community engagement, policy changes, and technological advancements. By understanding and actively working to overcome these challenges, we can create a more inclusive and supportive society for our aging population. Ask not what a senior can do for you but what you can do for your senior is what we all should be doing. Most importantly, if you have an important senior in your life, remember to tell them you love them and keep smiling cause it really does look good on them. Make it a GREAT DAY!!!

Aging: Unveiling the Secrets to Senior Happiness

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As the sun sets on our busy lives, a new chapter unfolds—the golden years of seniorhood. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t retire with age; in fact, it takes on a new and profound meaning. In this journey of graceful aging, let’s uncover the secrets to being happy as a senior.

  1. Cultivate Connections: One of the greatest treasures of life is the relationships we build. As seniors, investing time in nurturing connections with friends, family, and community becomes paramount. Social bonds not only provide emotional support but also contribute significantly to our overall well-being.
  2. Stay Active, Stay Alive: Physical activity isn’t just for the young; it’s a vital ingredient for a fulfilling senior life. Engaging in regular exercise not only keeps the body fit but also boosts mental health. Whether it’s a daily stroll in the park, gentle yoga, or water aerobics, finding an activity that brings joy is key.
  3. Embrace Lifelong Learning: The pursuit of knowledge is a timeless endeavor. Seniors can find immense joy and fulfillment in exploring new interests, hobbies, and skills. Whether it’s learning a musical instrument, picking up a new language, or diving into the world of literature, the mind remains vibrant when it continues to learn.
  4. Practice Gratitude: In a world that often rushes by, taking a moment to appreciate life’s simple pleasures can be transformative. Seniors can find happiness in expressing gratitude for the experiences, relationships, and moments that have shaped their journey.
  5. Embrace Change with a Positive Mindset: Life is a series of changes, and aging is no exception. Embracing these changes with a positive mindset can turn challenges into opportunities. Seniors who focus on the present, adapt to new circumstances, and maintain a hopeful outlook find greater joy in their everyday lives.

As seniors navigate the golden years, happiness becomes a reflection of a life well-lived. By cultivating connections, staying active, embracing lifelong learning, practicing gratitude, and maintaining a positive mindset, seniors can unlock the secrets to a fulfilling and joyful life.

Happiness is a state of activity, a quote from Aristotle

In the words of George Burns, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” Embrace the wisdom of age, savor the richness of each moment, and let happiness be the guiding light on this remarkable journey. In other words, happiness is not given but something earned over time. Remaining optimistic and having a sense of purpose is what we all should strive for. With these thoughts true happiness will be found regardless of your age. Remember nothing in life is a race, life is a marathon and in order to win, you must continue to keep smiling and happiness will be found.

My Son is Turning 18? Now What?

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Boy how time flies when your having fun. I started blogging about family values quite some time ago, as my son and I embarked on a journey together. From single dad, to married dad, to a happy dad it has certainly been a ride. As I sit here and wonder what lies ahead for my son, I can’t help but think about all the responsibilities that he has ahead. Without question, here are a few things I’ve thought about and if you have a child the following could also be key pieces of advice you could share with them as he/she turns 18 and enters adulthood:

  1. Take Responsibility: Encourage him/her to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. Adulthood comes with accountability, so they should own up to his mistakes and learn from them.
  2. Set Goals: Help your child set both short-term and long-term goals. Having clear objectives will give them direction and motivation to work towards their aspirations.
  3. Financial Literacy: Teach them about budgeting, saving, and managing finances. Understanding the basics of money management will serve them well throughout their life.
  4. Continue Learning: Emphasize the importance of continuous learning. Whether it’s through formal education, self-study, or practical experiences, growth comes from a willingness to learn.
  5. Health and Well-being: Encourage a healthy lifestyle (my son actually passed this on to me). Things like regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and attending to mental health through relaxation and stress management techniques.
  6. Build a Support Network: Help them understand the value of building strong relationships with friends, family, and mentors. A support network is crucial for emotional well-being and personal development.
  7. Independence: Foster a sense of independence. Encourage them to learn practical life skills such as cooking, laundry, basic home repairs, and managing personal documents.
  8. Communication Skills: Teach effective communication skills. Being able to express thoughts, ideas, and concerns clearly and respectfully is essential in both personal and professional settings.
  9. Time Management: Share strategies for time management. Balancing commitments, work, and personal time requires effective organization and prioritization.
  10. Ethical Values: Reinforce the importance of integrity, honesty, and treating others with respect. These values will guide them in making ethical decisions throughout their life.
  11. Explore Interests: Encourage them to explore their interests and passions. This is the time to discover hobbies, talents, and potential career paths.
  12. Resilience: Life will present challenges. Teach them to be resilient in the face of adversity, to bounce back from setbacks, and to view challenges as opportunities for growth.
  13. Decision-Making: Discuss the process of making informed decisions. Weighing pros and cons, considering consequences, and seeking advice when needed are important skills.
  14. Networking: Introduce the concept of networking. Building professional connections can open doors to opportunities in various fields.
  15. Giving Back: Instill the value of giving back to the community or volunteering. Contributing to society can be incredibly rewarding and provide a sense of purpose.
  16. Travel and Exploration: If possible, encourage them to travel and explore new places and cultures. Experiencing the world firsthand can broaden his horizons and perspective.
  17. Adaptability: The world is ever-changing. Teach them to adapt to new situations, technologies, and environments.
  18. Enjoy the Journey: Remind them that life is a journey. Encourage them to embrace the present moment, savor experiences, and find joy in the process of becoming the person they aspire to be.

Remember that your guidance and support will be invaluable as your child navigates this exciting new phase of life. Of course this isn’t a complete list and surely if you have other items to add I would love to hear them? I introduced my kid to this blog several weeks ago and I hope he takes the time to read what I have written; otherwise, and as usual keep smiling cause it really does look good on you >:-)

Snapped During Senior Photo Shoot

Remembering a Great Man- Our Uncle

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As many of you already know, last week on April 16, 2019 in Arizona our dearest Uncle Bill passed in his sleep. During his short time there, he was in the care of some wonderful family members talking about all the good times spent with each other throughout his and their lives.

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As one of Uncle Bill’s God Children, I never knew a time where he wasn’t part of my life. He did the best he could throughout this time and my life to call on birthdays, holidays, and other special events. He was there sharing in these good times and even in the bad times including the final days of my own dads life.

In fact, I think I was about 10 when I realized that Uncle Bill was more than my God Father. That weekend that I spent with him changing the landscape of his yard was the first time, I realized if there was something you could be proud at a young age was hard work pays off in the end with a finished product. From that weekend on, we continued to share memories and stories. Memories of family vacations, reunions, dinners, and other events of enjoying each other’s company. These events combined with others would also continue to define who I would become as a person when he and my Aunt Kay moved to Florida to enjoy their retirement, as I attended school at the University of South Florida. These memories were not a coincidence and it’s not just me being selective in remembering, it’s because Uncle Bill was a good man and a man that AGAIN helped shape me into who I am today!

Even in his final years, months, and days Uncle Bill made every attempt to do right by his family and friends. Sometimes that meant he would call, visit, or help in any way he could with advice, new perspectives, or financially. He was an inspiration to many with his contagious smile and enthusiasm for life. He made differences in the lives of almost everyone he came into contact with. He was an example of what a true man can be, what a family member can be, or what a friend can be. Now that he is gone we must all learn to grieve for a man that gave everything to all those who knew him. Grieve that he is now reunited with his mom, dad, wife, brothers, sisters, and friends that have went before him.

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Although there may be a hole left behind by Uncle Bill’s passing, he will never be forgotten because he filled mine and other lives with memories of happiness and joy. Grieving must remind us of how memories of how hard work pays off. Memories of how time never stands still. Memories of personal triumphs and struggles. Memories of how Uncle Bill touched each one of us and how he helped shape our lives in the past and in the future.

I ask for all of those who knew Uncle Bill and even those who did not that you remember him in your prayers. Let heaven accept this great man and reunite him with others who went before him. My heart is broken but on this Easter Sunday, I pray for Uncle Bill and all those others that I am lucky enough to have or had him as a friend or family member. Please tell those you love how much you love them because we never know when the last time will be that we have to say it. Continue to be strong and enjoy your time spent with each other, so when it is our time to go we know we have not left any stone unturned in our own voyage to the heavens. Give thanks for memories of your past and continue to make memories for the future. It is all these memories (good/bad) others will remember in the end when you are gone. Memories my friends and family are what we have to give, so never stop giving, never stop creating, and never stop telling others how much they mean to you. God bless all and RIP our dearest Uncle Bill!

From left to right “Uncle” William Albert Dandaneau, “Dad, Grandpa, Uncle” David Alexander Dandaneau & “Son, Nephew, Uncle” David William Dandaneau

Happier: Is there Happiness as a Care-Giver?

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Is anyone really happy? What is happiness anyway? I’ve touched on this before in previous posts but let’s dive deeper into this thing they call happiness but from a care givers point of view! So many of us wonder through life looking for some reason to be happy but is happiness really just waking up and being happy, being thankful for those we have in life, that first cup of coffee, piece of toast, or that fruit?

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Let me be the first to tell you that true happiness is those things and so much more. Happiness is something that we have control over. Happiness is in fact, what we decide to be happy over. Recently, I became a care-giver of my father in his final weeks fighting stage 4 lung cancer. This made me very happy, as it was rewarding to be with dad during these troubling times, yet it was also very stressful seeing the decline in such a good man making me unhappy.

Care-giving while remaining optimistic and happy was a new concept to us in our newly formed family life but is something millions of people around the world do everyday and very challenging to say the least. Being cared for or cared by is a team effort no matter what side of the fence you are on and if everyone can remain happy during these times the easier it can be. However, how can anyone remain happy having to manage doctor visits, medications, hospice personal, and the mental/physical health of a loved one? On the flip side and as I have yet to find out… what toll did all this short-term happiness that I had during this time will/is playing on my overall real state of happiness both mentally and physically. I guess only time will tell huh?

Going at anything in life alone can be very challenging, scary, and filled with unknowns but trying to remain happy during these times is very important. Here are some things I found helped and are helping right up to this post.

Rule #1

Don’t do it alone. One thing I noticed over the last few years in fighting this cancer is that there is a lot of help out there for you whether it comes from the doctors, hospice crew, co-workers, or other family and friends. If you don’t ask or take any help think about how this will affect your overall happiness. Also think about how this will affect your health, finances, and spirit? Chances are you will see them all decline eventually and you will end up broke, depressed, and unhappy that you didn’t do enough. Yes? No?

Rule #2

Make it worth every minute. in my dads final weeks/month we were very blessed to have worked with amazing doctors (although dad was convinced they were only after his money), family, and an amazing hospice staff throughout the greater Tampa area. Over this time, I felt a great sense of happiness and continually told myself (even if I was NOT getting paid) that this time spent with him was worth every minute and every dollar of energy we all put into his full-time care. Even though my health and finances continued to decline throughout this time, I tried my best to remain happy and make every minute count. I think dad appreciated it although I still think sometimes he could see the stress mounting.

Rule #3

Tell those your with how much you love them. All to often in life, I think a lot of us get caught up in the moment regardless of what it is. Care-giving is no different. Care-giving requires all your time, energy, and effort, so how can you remain happy and tell all those others in your life that you love them? I by no means have excelled or am excelling in this category but did/do my best each day to tell others how much I love/loved them. Heck, I was even telling the hospice crew I loved them at the end. Now that both my parents have passed I will continue to work on this and hopefully when it’s my time those I touched throughout my life will tell me those exact words… I love you in the end!

 

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I know that I could create an endless list of how to remain happy as a care-giver but I’ll save those for another day. The fact(s) is that most of us choose to be unhappy and more people should choose to be happy, especially if you are or will become a care-giver. Life as a care-giver can be filled with spreadsheets, charts, sleepless nights, etc. but if you somehow can remain happy, I think that is what will carry you to a long end life, while not pissing off all those that you are so close to. And as Mother Teresa said “spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come without leaving happier.” Thoughts?

In memory of my AWESOME LOVING DAD!!!

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