Health News

KEEPING SENIORS SAFE

By Jodi Glacier, Certified Senior Advisor

In today’s digital age, social media is a great way for seniors to stay connected to friends and family. With the right guidance, seniors can join platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to create connections online. Although some may be hesitant to start using social media, it is important that they understand how beneficial it can be for finding new ways to connect with those they care about.

Getting Started With Social Media

For those who have never used social media before, the first step is to find what will work best for them. There are many platforms available for seniors to choose from; however, the most popular options are generally Facebook and YouTube. Both of these sites offer easy-to-navigate interfaces that allow users to quickly get up and running without needing any prior experience. Additionally, both sites have dedicated support teams that can answer questions or provide help if needed.

Once signed up, seniors can start sharing messages with friends and family members all over the world in just a few clicks. Through instant messaging apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, seniors can stay in touch with loved ones no matter where they are located. This makes it easier than ever before for seniors to stay connected even when they cannot physically meet up in person due to distance or other factors such as health concerns.

Building Connections OnLine

In addition to connecting with those who are already part of their lives, social media also provides an opportunity for seniors to make new connections. For example, on Facebook, there are numerous groups available for people in similar life stages or situations who want to share experiences or ask questions from other members of the group. This type of networking not only provides valuable knowledge but offers a great way for seniors to build relationships with others outside of their immediate circle of friends and family members.

Social media is an invaluable tool that allows seniors to stay connected and make meaningful connections online—no matter where they live! From staying in touch with loved ones through instant messaging apps to joining interest groups on Facebook and YouTube dedicated specifically towards baby boomers or adults aged 50+, social media offers a plethora of opportunities for anyone looking to strengthen their online presence while enjoying the convenience of connecting virtually from anywhere in the world!

While staying active on social media is fun and rewarding, there are certain risks that all users should take into account—especially when it comes to seniors. Read on to learn more about the potential pitfalls of social media for seniors and how best to protect yourself online.

Keep Information Private

When creating a profile, it’s important to make sure your personal information is kept private and that your passwords are secure. Sharing too much information or using weak passwords could leave you vulnerable to hackers or scammers.

Be Careful Who You Interact With

Another important safety measure is being careful who you interact with online. In today’s digital world, it can be difficult to know if someone is who they say they are–which means you should always exercise caution before engaging with strangers online or accepting friend requests from people you don’t know in real life.

Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

Finally, one of the most effective ways for seniors to stay safe online is by making sure their software is up-to-date at all times. This includes things like anti-virus software, firewalls, browsers, etc., which help protect against malicious attacks and hackers trying to gain access to sensitive data or personal information stored on your devices. Make sure all your devices have the latest version of any necessary software installed so you can rest easy knowing your data is safe and secure at all times.

Social media has many benefits for seniors—from staying connected with loved ones near and far away to exploring new interests— allowing everyone to stay safe when using these networks. By understanding the risks associated with using social media platforms, carefully monitoring who interacts with you online, and keeping all software up-to-date, seniors can better protect themselves while still enjoying all the perks that come along with being active on social media!

PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT?

Think About Time & Not Just Money!

Excerpt from Sixty & Me, by Deborah Voll

Edited by Elisa K Ball

You’ve set a date. The date is getting closer. We prepare for all things in our personal lives like weddings, birthdays, family gatherings, holidays, etc. – we make lists, we shop, we prepare. We do our homework.

Setting a retirement date is no different. Just stopping work on a certain date is NOT A PLAN. You’ve worked your whole life to arrive at this moment. These are precious years, yours now to enjoy.

It’s time to pay attention to things you might think about to make the transition more seamless and to get the most of out of this extraordinary moment in your life.

Here are some of the things Deborah has experienced with clients who are retirement-planning and what she’s doing to prepare for her own new chapter.

In previous articles she has talked about being intentional with your time, making sure you are living an authentic life life for who you are now. She posed the question: What is fun for you?

Most people think retirement planning is about money, and yes, that’s important. You might want to start cutting back your expenses little by little before you retire. But the other issue is time. Time is tricky. Time is priceless – you can’t buy it and it’s finite. If you take some time to think about how best to use your time, you’ll have a more seamless transition.

When you officially retire, take some time & just relax, no schedule, no commitments, just enjoy this freedom. One of the ways to get more out of retirement is to set up your own schedule. She knows, you’re thinking you’ve lived with a schedule all your life & now you just want to go with the flow. She suggests giving it a try, it’s a different kind of schedule than from the past.

She suggests planning your days, prioritizing what’s important for you, and to schedule it into your life. This will help you to feel directed & with purpose. Using time, not wasting it. You’re now the boss of your time. Use it to do the things that are important to YOU and what makes you happy.

Think about the rhythm of your days. Now that you can design your day, what will your mornings look like? Scheduling your life in retirement is more about organizing your time in a way that’s most pleasant and fruitful to you. You don’t want to be wandering aimlessly through your days & suddenly it’s five o”clock & you wonder where the time went or what did I do?

Retirement is something that you craft. It’s not something passive that “happens” to you. It is one of the most creative, fulfilling moments of your life if you give it a good think before the day arrives.

You’ve worked hard all your life to save money for this moment. How will you use your priceless & precious time? Don’t let it drift away. Define what’s important to you, what brings you joy, and be sure to schedule that into your life.

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(content courtesy of AAA)

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