In the past, most American citizens entered retirement owning their homes and completely free of debt. Due to the most recent shift in the world’s economics, this might not be the case in the future. The average debt of the elderly is up by 83% since 2001. This data was released by the federal reserve, so it needs to be taken seriously. At the moment the average debt-holder is standing at $50,000 in the hole.

As you probably guessed, the most significant part of that debt is made up of mortgages. In the past, many people invested heavily in their homes. They borrowed large sums of money, putting those same houses as guarantees. After the real estate bubble burst, mortgages became a heavy burden for most home owners. Although making up a large part of the debt, mortgages aren’t the only financial issues seniors are facing. Another part of older adults’ debt is coming from credit card charges.

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Credit Card Debt in the Elderly

Most people associate credit card debt with irresponsible spending on luxury goods that you don’t actually need. But when it comes to older adults, the situation is a bit different. Unfortunately seniors use credit cards, in most cases, only for the sole purpose of surviving.

There are numerous seniors who use their credit cards simply to buy essential goods. They are forced to do this due to various reasons. The most common ones include expensive medications, devalued real estate, and a volatile stock market. According to researchers, 75% of the elderly use credit cards to buy food, prescription drugs, insurance, and to cover their rent, bills, or mortgage.

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Inheriting Debts

You must be wondering who is responsible for paying the debt when a senior with a large amount of debt dies? Unfortunately, it falls on family members, but there are exceptions. If you are a co-owner of the credit debt, then you are obliged to pay the debt by yourself if the other co-owner dies. This type of credit card ownership often comes back to haunt younger family members who decided to help their loved one in the first place. What they didn’t know is that they become eligible for inheriting the debt by putting their name beside the name of their family member. The harsh reality comes their way only after their loved one has passed away.

In situations where no one can be made responsible for the debt, it will be paid out by the estate that the deceased owned. The people who are executors of the estate will use the money received from the sale of the given estate to pay the debt. If the money is not enough to cover the debt, it will be wiped out anyway.

Inheriting Credit Card Debt

In some states, there is community property legislation on the books. What this means is that you are going to inherit credit card debt of your loved one even if you are not a co-owner of the card. In those states, credit cards are considered community property. Because of this, the spouse of a deceased person is responsible for the debt of their other half.

In other states, there are exceptions to this. The majority of the states require the spouse to pay the debt that is a product of medical expenses. Because of all this, you would be wise to get legal counsel on the subject of local laws before starting to spend money on your credit card. Your loved one will have to deal with the grief of losing a loved one. Even without counting in the expenses of the funeral, the last thing they need is to have to pay a debt they weren’t even aware existed.

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When someone in your family has a severe disease or condition, the first thing you will think about is whether it runs in the family. The same thing happens when a loved one has dementia. You will most likely wonder if you are going to go through memory loss and the other issues that follow dementia patients. You will be glad to hear that most forms of dementia are not hereditary. Unfortunately, some of them are. We are here to talk about the hereditary types of dementia, and after hearing the basics, you will know if you should undergo genetic testing.

Understanding Genetic Risk

It doesn’t take much to develop a specific disease. All that it takes is one gene. Inherit one copy of the HTT gene from either of your parents, and you will have Huntington’s disease. If you receive that same gene from both parents, you will definitely pass on this disease to your children.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of gene mutations like Huntington’s and all of them pose a danger for our well-being. Because they are caused by a single gene, they are easy to be found through testing. But not all diseases are like that. Most mutations that pose significant danger come as a combination of different genes and are also affected by our environment.

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For example, you know there’s no such gene that carries the name “tall gene,” but our height is affected by genetics anyway. It is the same way with dementia. While it has much to do with genes, there aren’t any precise tests available.

Can You Inherit Dementia?

So even with all this information, we still don’t have an answer to the question, “Can dementia be inherited?” Well, it depends on the type of dementia. In some rare cases, dementia is highly inheritable. Also, if you have a combination of some common genes, the chance of developing dementia is high for you. Luckily, in most cases, dementia is not hereditary.

Despite not being entirely hereditary, people still want to undergo testing. The availability of tests again depends on the type of dementia you have. The available test can only show you the presence or absence of the genes that cause dementia. A single-gene disease like Huntington’s can be easily tracked. With dementia, you can never be sure.

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are the most common types of dementia. Ten percent of cases of Lewy body dementia are hereditary. Having a hereditary case of vascular dementia is even rarer, but cases of having this dementia because of a mutation of the NOTCH3 gene were recorded.

The type of dementia that you have the most significant chances of inheriting is frontotemporal dementia. Almost 50% of recorded cases of this type of dementia can be traced to the genes called MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72. If you have these genes and live to a golden age, you will develop dementia without a doubt. Ten percent of people who have FTD also have it in their family.

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Getting Tested

If you have a loved one that has dementia, it means that you also are at risk of developing this condition later in life. But despite having a chance, it is not definite that you will develop it. Even if you undergo genetic tests for rare types of dementia, you won’t have a definitive answer. In most cases, testing is not able to give a precise answer and is almost unnecessary.

In the majority of dementia cases, genetics are not the main factor of risk. The primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is no other than age. Age, of course, can’t be controlled, but other things that lower the risk of dementia can. If you want to lower your chance of developing this condition, try a healthier diet, quit smoking, and take good care of your overall health.

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Some days you probably feel like you have energy that will last you forever. Also, there are days when you feel like you won’t be able to leave your bed for an eternity. In the elderly, situations like this also happen. Older adults usually blame their age when they feel deprived of energy or merely fatigued. The truth is, seniors lack the power they once had at their disposal. Compared to when they were twenty-one, many things have changed. But age is not the only reason for feeling fatigued. This is good news. A lack of energy can be the consequence of many things. Some of the most frequent reasons lie in your diet, the level of your daily activity, and of course your general mood.

Energy Boost for Elderly Adults

Luckily there are many ways older adults can boost their energy levels. The best thing to do would be to focus on your diet, but there are others. Below we have listed the best ways to increase energy level and feel much better as a result:

• Focus on nutrition
• Drink water
• Exercise

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Focus on Nutrition

Similar to an automobile which needs fuel to run, our bodies need food in order to be able to function correctly. In situations when we don’t eat adequately or miss meals completely, our energy levels will drop and we won’t have the strength to be productive. You will have all the energy that you can possibly need if you adopt a healthy diet. In addition to a proper meal plan, you will need to reduce or completely cut the intake of junk food. The foods that will give the most energy to seniors include spinach, honey, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, bananas, and eggs. By adding these to your diet, you will notice an increase in energy levels. Furthermore, if you replace white bread with more healthier whole grain bread, you will do yourself and your energy level a favor.

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Drink Water

You may have heard that drinking water is healthy. But it is impossible to stress just how important is to be hydrated for overall well-being. This especially goes for older adults. As age catches up to us, drinking enough water becomes essential for our health. With age, our bodies get lazy, so to say, and it’s harder for them to recognize the need for water. Dehydration is extremely unhealthy. In addition to slowing down our metabolism, it can also deprive even a young individual of strength. The recommended amount of water that every senior should drink on a daily basis is 7–8 glasses. Elderly adults shouldn’t focus only on drinking water, but should also eat foods that are full of water. These foods include most kinds of fruits and vegetables.

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Exercise

Most people put exercise and being tired in the same sentence. But things are actually quite the opposite. For those people who lack energy, exercising should be on the top of the list of things to do. The reason for this is simple. You will have more power if you are in better shape. Older adults who have arthritis also shouldn’t avoid exercise. Working out is a great natural lubricant for joints. By exercising, you will be able to lower the pain and aches that you have as a consequence of this condition.

Now, your energy levels won’t come back overnight. There is no magic that can do this. All you need to focus on doing is to make slight changes to your daily routine. If you decide to try some of the things we have listed above, you will feel more energetic with each passing day.

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It’s late October, and Halloween is just around the corner. You should start planning how to spend this holiday, because in a few days it will be too late. Luckily there are many things you can do. Eating sweet treats, watching a scary movie, or even having a party are just some of the options. If you are one of those people who have no idea what to do on October 31st, we are here for you. Below, you have a few quality ideas for how seniors can spend Halloween.

Top Halloween Party Ideas For Seniors

• Outdoor Lantern Social
• Fall Drink Bar
• Pumpkin Painting
• Halloween Movie Marathon
• Host a Trick-or-Treat Party for Local Children

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Outdoor Lantern Social

Having an outdoor lantern social is a great idea, especially if the weather serves you. First, you should prepare lamps during the day. Most craft stores have kits in the shape of pumpkins. Other types that go with this holiday are bats, mummies, and more. The second step would be to find safe places to hang the lanterns. If you want to go with the full aesthetic, you should decorate with twinkle lights. As a bonus, you could have a bonfire to give you warmth if the night gets chilly. With a party prepared this way, all you need is a bunch of friends to create lasting Halloween memories.

Fall Drink Bar

If you are throwing a party, you should set up a bar where you can serve hot cocoa or apple cider. To enhance the beverages, you could add flavors or garnishes. For example, cider doesn’t need to be all apple, but you could spice it with ginger, cinnamon, or orange. Hot cocoa needs to be served with marshmallows. Also, if you have friends with diabetes, be sure to have sugar free treats for them. Other beverages you could serve include coffee, hot tea, and apple juice.

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Pumpkin Painting

Carving pumpkins is one activity that many people enjoy for Halloween. But for the elderly, this activity can be both difficult and dangerous. Instead, older adults could paint them. There are many types of acrylic paint that is ideal for pumpkins. Now the seniors don’t have to be too artistic. They can draw simple shapes or give it a full effort and paint whatever scenery they desire. At the end of the night, you could organize a vote for best-painted pumpkin, so those seniors who didn’t give their best effort put more into it next year.

Halloween Movie Marathon

Considering that all of your guests are going to be elderly, you should avoid modern horror movies. The emphasis should be on classics such as Young Frankenstein, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, and old episodes of The Twilight Zone. If you can’t choose which movie to watch, let your guests choose instead. If none of you has any idea, collect as many movies as you can and then pick the ones you like the most on the spot. The Halloween marathon can’t happen without snacks. Because of this, be sure to prepare popcorn, candy corn, and some hot cocoa.

Host a Trick-or-Treat Party for Local Children

Many retirement facilities organize trick-or-treat parties for local children. Older adults who spend their days at facilities like this can invite their children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, or other younger family members for a visit. In order to create a full Halloween atmosphere, the elderly can also dress in costumes. This way the party will be enjoyable for everyone. If seniors want a big party, they can advertise their event locally to attract youngsters that live nearby. And yes, don’t forget to prepare tons of candy.

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Do you know that over 4 billion prescriptions are issued in the United States every year?

That is around 12 prescriptions per capita. Most of these medications are taken by seniors. Reportedly 80% of seniors take one or more medications a day.

It is estimated that over a half of the medications are taken incorrectly.

To avoid taking unnecessary pills, wasting money and risking severe health problems, make sure you ask a pharmacist the following questions:

1)What is this medication for?

2)How often and how long should I take this medication?

3)Does it interact with certain food and drinks?

4)How should this medication be stored?

5)What are the most common side effects?

6)What to do when I miss a dose?

What is This Medication for?

Make sure you know the brand name of your medication. Also, ask about the generic name which is important to know if there’s no brand you need.

Always ask a pharmacist the conditions that medication treats. Nevertheless, you’ve been taking it for years, be certain you take the right pills.

How Often And How Long Should I Take This Medication?

Sometimes it is not printed how often the medication is supposed to be taken. Is it twice a day, every 12 hours? Or perhaps three times a day, every 8 hours? A pharmacist always knows the answer to this question.

Some medications are supposed to be taken for a short period (e.g., antibiotics) while some of the others are meant to be taken for a longer period (e.g., medications for treating hypertension). Learn when and if you should stop taking that medication at one point.

Does It Interact with Certain Food and Drinks?

Certain food interacts with substances in a medication thus it is important to know what food to avoid. Alcohol is almost always forbidden, while some other drinks may interfere with medications as well.

Patient information leaflet may include the list of food and drinks that should be avoided. However, if there is no any information, check with a person working in a pharmacy where you bought your medicine.

How Should This Medication be Stored?

Keeping drugs safe should be taken seriously. There are conditions that may change the structure of a medication. Many people keep them in the bathroom which is probably the worst place in a house to store a medication.

Thus a pharmacist should inform you about the proper conditions for storing a specific medication.

What Are the Most Common Side Effects?

The list of side effects can be quite extensive. Make sure you know the most common ones and learn them before the beginning of the therapy.

It is crucial to contact a physician as soon as you start feeling the symptoms. Don’t wait for the effects to get worse. React immediately and, in consultation with your doctor, stop taking medications.

What to Do When I Miss a Dose?

This happens, and it is more common than you think. Seniors tend to miss a dose quite often, especially if they don’t have anyone by their side.

Every medication is different so ask a pharmacist what to do in this case. Never take a double dose next time before you consulted a pharmacist. This can cause even more problems.

To avoid missing a dose, use a medication reminder.

Be careful when taking drugs and ask everything you want to know while you are at the pharmacy. Prepare yourself on time and solve all doubts.

Read more about the common medication problems and how to avoid them.

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Caring for a loved one is not an easy task. It’s a hard one, as a matter of fact. It is not easy to find a balance between giving care to a loved one and other responsibilities, such as work and personal life. More than 60% of all family caregivers also have a job, which takes as much of their time as caring for their patient.

If you are a caregiver, you should know that taking breaks from your duties is essential if you want to avoid burnout. It is known that overworking yourself while trying to help someone can lead to health complications. So if you find yourself in a situation where you are exhausted and need to take a break from your caregiving duties, here’s what you can do. Of course, all of our suggestions have the well-being of your loved one in mind.

Ask Friends and Family for Help

The first people you can turn to are your friends and family members. They are the most likely to know your patient personally, and most of all, they are people you can trust. Having your friends and family stepping in for you and replacing you as a caregiver has many advantages. Here are just some of them:

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• They will gain firsthand experience of what it is to be a caregiver and what you go through every day.
• Your loved one will be in the safe hands of people they already know and probably trust because of you.
• Most importantly, they can handle part-time caregiver duties free of charge as a favor to you. Of course, you can repay them by returning the support or by giving them gifts for helping you.

Friends and family are definitely the best choices when you need someone to fill in for you for only a couple of hours. This way you won’t have to find and pay for professional assistance or call a respite care service.

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Look to Elder Companions

If you are considering primary respite care, look to find an elder companion for your loved one. Their duties include meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping, and running errands along with many other things. But the most important thing is that they provide companionship to your elderly loved one.

An elder companion can even be a volunteer, so you won’t have to spend money, but they also come as professionals. One of the most famous elder companion companies is Meals on Wheels. In addition to their meals, they also have the Friendly Visitor Program, which offers companionship free of charge. You should definitely consider them, even in situations when your loved one only needs assistance with a few simple tasks.

Consider a Personal Care Assistant

Personal assistants provide all the services that elder companions do, but they also offer assistance with grooming. They differ from elder companions, as they also deal with bathing, toilet use, and dressing. Some personal assistant agencies also have personnel who have licenses for the administration of prescribed medications.

In case your loved one doesn’t need medical assistance but has issues with keeping up personal hygiene, hiring a personal care assistant is the right move. They offer their services on a part-time basis, on weekly schedules of only a few hours a day. They can also be hired as live-in personal caregivers.

If your loved one has been your main preoccupation for a while, you need to have a break. Taking care of a dear person can be rewarding, but it also takes a toll on you. So you need to consider asking for help from family, friends, or even finding a suitable form of respite care.

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Quick question: Which state doesn’t celebrate Veterans Day?

The answer is Wisconsin.

Although we don’t know the reasons behind this, we can say Veterans Day is a state holiday in the other 49 states.

The holiday honors military veterans of the United States, and it coincides with Armistice Day. Armistice Day is celebrated worldwide as a mark of the armistice signed between Allies and Germany which ended World War I.

Since it is a federal holiday, some schools and companies are not open on Veterans Day.

The History Behind Veterans Day

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to all Americans who fought in the Great War. He appreciated their sacrifice and all the possibilities they gave to the American people by fighting for the country. The message was issued on November 11.

However, not until 1938 was the eleventh day of the eleventh month declared a holiday. At the time, it was known as Armistice Day, the name some countries across the globe still use.

Fifteen years later, a campaign was started to change the name to All Veterans Day. This way, the day would be dedicated to all military veterans, not just to those who fought in World War I.

The idea was finally accepted, and the word Armistice was replaced with the word Veterans. Traditionally, a moment of silence is held at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Parades are organized throughout the country every year, with the Veterans Day Parade in New York City being the most famous. It is estimated that more than half a million people gather on 5th Avenue every year.

How to Celebrate Veterans Day with an Older Adult

Is there a military veteran living in your neighborhood? Go and meet them. Ask them about their experience in the war and how they feel about it.

If they don’t want to talk about it, don’t push. It wasn’t fun being in a war, that’s for sure. Spend some time with them and talk about other topics.

You can even make a greeting card and buy flowers. Write how much you appreciate everything they’ve done for the country and their contribution to peace around the world.

Take a veteran to a restaurant and pay for dinner. That is the least you can do. Also, there are many restaurants offering free meals to veterans on this day.

An even better idea is to make a meal at your home. Call them to come over for dinner and a drink.

If they are still mobile, propose the idea of attending a parade. Why not? After all, parades are organized in their honor. They should be appreciated as much as the other veterans who fought for the country.

In case a parade is not organized in your town, find the closest one. Give a ride to a senior and help them with preparations.

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Social isolation is a common problem in the elderly.  There are many older adults who live alone because their children moved away and their spouse died. They don’t go out much or mingle with others.

Being socially active is essential for numerous reasons.

Some people like to be alone, but the majority can’t be entirely happy without a healthy social life. And it doesn’t affect only our happiness.

A study conducted by Susan Pinker proved that the biggest impact on longevity is close relationships and social integration. Not diet, not clean air or exercising, but our social life.

Thus social isolation negatively affects people’s lives on many levels. There is even a TEDx talk on the isolation of older adults.

As a caregiver, it is important to address social isolation and react properly.

How to Recognize Social Isolation

All people are more-or-less at risk of being socially isolated. However, there are groups that are at a higher risk than others.

The risk of being alone depends on factors, such as:

• age
• gender
• health condition
• living location
• nationality

The older people are, the more likely they feel alone. We don’t contact our friends as frequently as we used to. Our children probably have their own families to take care of. As we get older, our mobility declines, so we spend more time indoors than before.

Women also tend to be more isolated than men. One of the reasons is they have a higher life expectancy. They usually outlive their spouse and stay alone. The loss of a loved one also increases the risk of loneliness.

Seniors with disabilities on average spend less time hanging out with others. Different health conditions also increase the risk of social isolation.

Living far away from your family means rare gatherings. Seniors who live in remote rural areas meet their family members only a few times a year or even less.

Some nations are simply more social than others. Latin Americans are more likely to start a conversation with a stranger than Japanese people are. Also, when you are a foreigner in the country you live in, you are likely to feel lonelier than nationals.

Coping with Social Isolation

Fighting against loneliness is not as difficult as it appears to be.

The key thing is to stay mentally active and exercise regularly.

Join a yoga or fitness class. Walk around the neighborhood every day. Keep your body young and meet others who take care of their health, too. People who exercise are usually more positive.

We’ve mentioned several times on our blog, but here we go once again – volunteer. Ask about NGOs or the Red Cross office in your area. Such organizations always need volunteers, and they will have special respect for an elder contributing to society. Not only you will meet new people, but there is a sense of accomplishment when helping others.

A new hobby is always fun. Find a few people who enjoy the same and make a group activity out of it. Is it reading books, playing table games, or fishing? Doesn’t matter, as long as you enjoy it and can invite others to join.

If your family has moved far away because of work, consider moving closer to them. You are more flexible since you are retired.

Last but not least, adopt a pet. Older adults who have adopted an animal feel less lonely and go out of the house more often.

Loneliness and social isolation are not healthy. If you feel you need more people in your life, reach out to them.

Read more on how to stay socially connected.

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Planning to enroll in a Medicare health plan, or do you already have one?

Then you definitely need to know what Medicare open enrollment is.

If you follow our blog regularly, you may have read about Medicare open enrollment. Today we will go more into the details and explain why it is so important.

What Is Medicare Open Enrollment?

Every year people covered by Medicare can make changes in their plans. These changes can help to improve coverage and save money.

However, people covered by Medicare can’t make these changes whenever they want.

The Medicare open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7 every year. This means now is the right time to revise your coverage plan for 2019.

Until December 7, you can make changes. After this date, no more modifications are allowed.

The effects won’t be immediate, but start from January 1 and last all of 2019.

Why Do Seniors Need to Make Adjustments to Their Medicare Coverage Plan?

It is likely that your health condition will change over the years.

Also, costs may increase, and the pharmacies that are in-network may change.

The same plan that covers everything you need this year may not cover the same things next year. Thus it is important to revise your coverage plan. This way you will avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Be especially careful if you have a Medicare part D drug plan.

Keep in mind that changing to a different plan doesn’t always lead to a lower premium. The costs could rise depending on your health condition. However, in most cases, you should be able to change to a different plan without increasing the premium.

What You Need to Know

First, you need to check whether the premium is increasing. If it will cost too much, try to find a more-or-less similar plan that doesn’t cost a lot.

Apart from the premiums, make sure to know whether co-pays and deductibles are increasing.

The most important thing you need to know is whether the medication you need is covered by the plan. Go step by step and spend as much time as you need in reviewing your medication list. See if the medications you use are covered. The medications that are not covered may cost a fortune.

Next, you need to know whether the pharmacy where you usually buy medications is in the network.

With a Medicare Advantage Plan, doctors and hospitals are also covered. Check carefully if they are still going to be in the plan next year.

Find our more in the video below.

Need Help with Medicare Open Enrollment?

Everything you’ve read so far may be overwhelming. It is too much information, and you need to check a zillion things.

Luckily, there are sources that will help you revise your Medicare coverage plan.

Go to the Medicare website and search for the plan finder. There you will find an online form. By filling in the necessary data (location, medications, current plan, etc.) the script will show you what plans are available for you.

The second option is to call the Medicare office and ask them all the questions you want to know. It would be good to prepare the list of questions in advance, so you don’t miss anything.

Contacting a counselor at the state health insurance assistance program is also a good idea.

From the day this article is published, you will still have a lot of time before the Medicare open enrollment period ends. Think carefully and choose the plan that best fits your needs.

More about Medicare read here.

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Most criminals prey on the elderly because they look like an easy target. Older adults might look and be vulnerable, which often leads to them becoming victims of different crimes. If you are an older individual or someone close to you is, you need to know that seniors are primary targets for those who have ill intent. Older adults are the age group that is most often a target for purse snatching and burglaries. Knowing these facts, preparing for something unexpected, must become a priority for seniors.

Learning Self Defense for Seniors: Tips to Minimize Your Chances of Attack

Seniors who are training themselves in self-defense are not expected to become martial arts experts. Self-defense revolves around other things. It teaches seniors, and others who want to learn, how to be aware of things that surround you and how to more easily recognize those who would harm you. It is essential to learn the basics of self-defense and to know just how much you can do for yourself in a given moment.

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The easiest way to avoid any trouble is to learn how to behave so that someone looking at you doesn’t think that you are an easy target. For example, if your hands are full of bags with groceries during the night or evening and you look tired, you probably seem like an easy target. If your purse or something else of value is at open to sight, you are an even more attractive target. The best way not to look like a victim is to carry fewer items while shopping and keeping your bag hidden under your jacket or simply as close to your body as you can.

According to experts, all that you need to become a target is to look like one. Because of this, it is essential to be aware of your surroundings and act with confidence. If it’s possible, you should always look to conduct activities in groups. If you can’t, you should ask a store employee to escort you to the car after shopping. Another thing that can make you at least a little safer is to do your errands during the daytime. Considering that most crimes happen at night, this might be a good idea.

Defending Yourself

Self-defense for seniors isn’t there to make you stronger. Its purpose is to be ready for unexpected events or direct attacks aimed at you by an unknown assailant. What the person that attacks you wants is for you to think that you are weak. By taking self-defense classes, you will equip yourself with practice, techniques, confidence, and preparation, which will make you less prone to becoming a victim. Training for self-defense can be found at local police stations and martial arts facilities.

Armed Senior Citizens

Weapons can be helpful in defending against an assailant. But self-defense experts do not recommend carrying weapons such as guns or tasers. They can quickly be turned against seniors, which could have a deadly consequence. What we are talking about is not a conventional weapon. Seniors should equip themselves with a can of pepper spray. Pepper spray can be easily hidden, and if used correctly, it can easily be the weapon that overcomes all attackers.

Furthermore, what you need to have on your mind is that everything can be used as a weapon. If an attacker surprises you, the best weapon might be a can of food from your bag or the car keys in your pocket. Hit an assailant in the eyes or the bridge of the nose. You don’t need a genuine weapon or strength to defend yourself. Most attackers won’t be expecting resistance, and this is where your chance of protecting yourself lies.

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