Senior Living 101: Brain Building

 

Image via congerdesign of Pixabay

Have yarn–will travel!

There’s a certain satisfaction when your instincts actually prove to be right. One of the things that seemed essential, when I left my previous home, was to make sure I packed my plentiful supply of yarn for knitting and crocheting. Somehow just knowing those beautiful, soft and colourful wool balls were with me no matter what happened, was comforting during a stressful time.

It wasn’t just the sight of them. It was the winding around my fingers as I manipulated threads and turned them into complex creations. It was the peace in my mind as my brain sought out unfamiliar patterns, and quietly achieved success in interpreting them.

Yarn creators…they’re everywhere!

My passionate love for knitting and crocheting inspired me to seek others with similar feelings online. Surprise! There have been studies on this topic. There are get-togethers known as knit-ins where knitters and others gather to enjoy the process. 

True to my own limited personal study, neuroscientists have found that knitting “activates areas of the brain that are good for generating a sense of calm, (and contribute to) improved emotional processing and better decision making”.

A knit-in gathering

In a survey of 3,545 knitters worldwide, respondents who knitted for relaxation, stress relief and creativity reported higher cognitive functioning, improved social contact and communication with others. 

It doesn’t have to be folks who know how to knit. Just handling the fibres seems to help people be happier. One of my important yarn helpers here is Betty, who complains about my inability to keep my yarns in neat order, but thrives as she untangles my messes and restores the balls to something easier to use! 

Workshops worldwide  have been held for preschoolers, retirees and sufferers of dementia and depression. Participants have included students, library and mental health service patrons, university staff and scientists, with expert guests ranging from dementia carers and mental health workers to neuroscientists and university researchers.

Working with yarn, because of  its mental challenges, social connection, (meeting with others) and mindfulness, helps keep brains fit by solving creative and mental challenges, developing eye-hand coordination and fine motor dexterity and increasing attention span.

Don’t be content to be a “used to” 

There are neural studies using yarn to show interested knit-in participants how actual brain neutrons work, by making their own interpretations of neurons. In this post we won’t go there, but we will know with certainty that when we interact with fibres we are alerting our brains to wake up and move with intent to learn.

Living in an independent retirement home gives wonderful creative opportunities for increasing your brain power and excitement in each day of life. Knitting and crocheting provide endless scope for fun and imagination, both crucial for brain building.

We have a comfy living room in my independent living facility home. There’s a well-stocked library in addition to several chairs. There are ornaments and flowers: a piano for music, a barista machine, and all-day pastries supplied by our incredible kitchen staff. 

People chat together. It’s nice. But somehow I feel there’s still something lacking. I’ve always enjoyed keeping my hands busy, and continue to take my knitting and crochet projects with me whenever I feel like company in the downstairs room.

My friends admire my work. I ask them whether they do any crochet or knitting, and most times the reply is they “used” to do it. Thy report making  all kinds of items for family and friends. You see the momentary tenderness as they remember. Then my big question is, “so why don’t you do it now?”

I’m still waiting for a satisfactory answer to that one. With most, it’s a deep sigh, and possibly another dug up memory. 

There was a very active knitting and crocheting community where I lived before moving here. It was vibrant and fun at the library where we worked. We tackled all kinds of interesting projects. I even made a video of elderly hands in amazing action.

WarnerWords: Beautiful Hands

I am so determined not to be a “used to” crochet and knitter here in my new home. As older folks for the most part, this is now our season to impart our knitting and crochet skills to others who can carry on with them.

Upgrades

Renovations are happening soon on this side of the building, so there is a shortage of my own plants. But lucky us, there is a beautiful little park next door that can be walked any time, and is so available. It is carefully tended by expert city staff.

It’s amazing to have this extra garden always available.

Images via VickiW

Thank you!

Your journey with me is always appreciated! I look forward to your interaction and suggestions in the comment section and hope you'll visit again soon!

VickiW

Senior Living 101: Life Seasons

 

Image via Pexels of Pixabay

Finding home

Remember how I told you about taking the time to go to the condo ( now sold, yay) where I lived with the narcissist ex-husband for far too long? I was foolishly thinking I might like to go back there, just on my own. Buy him out from my savings…

After all, it was a beautiful place.

While sitting in the silence of what used to be my home, I mentally compared the intrinsic value of living there, versus enjoying the amazingly wonderful situation I find myself in nowadays. It was not difficult to realize that I have passed my time as a condo/apartment dweller, and wow, my retirement situation is the absolute best place I could possibly be in these days.

A phrase keeps running through my mind. For everything there is a season. I realize my season for living alone in an apartment is over. Combine that with fetching, carrying, planning and caring for a completely ungrateful heartless narcissist, and that season is over too. All that remains is gratitude for everyday enjoyment in my independent retirement living space. 

I’ve been here for over a year now. In that time I’ve moved three times and divorced once. According to research on such things I should probably have succumbed to the trauma of it all! 

Some learned, powerful life lessons

1. Listen to your head when you see warning signals, and BEFORE you make the mistake. You don’t want to waste your precious time on earth catering to a lost cause. Saying this though, it’s never too late to change all kinds of things!

2. Family is hugely important. I don’t know how I would have managed to do everything required as a new life presented itself. But they all stepped up and have made sure I’m doing well, no matter what happens. Always show your appreciation, and NEVER demand. They have their own seasons in life.

Embrace your knowledge! As folks age, a lot of them will tell you about things they used to do. Looking back at your accomplishments can be satisfying. But looking forward gives you an opportunity to share your life learning constructively with others. In many cases, you’re able to learn new skills with new technology. Pure fun!

3. Conversation with others is crucial for the mind. As I continue living here I realize this is indeed an amazing benefit of being able to join others at any time in the communal lounge, or join in walks with friends. It’s all about communication with others, no invitation necessary, no planning required.

4. Use every strategy to manage stress. If you don't, your mind and body will let you know in uncomfortable and unforgiving ways. I haven’t been too great at that in the last couple of years. One of the ways I’ve paid for it is being unable to write. Hopefully, I will manage to regain some sort of momentum there. 

Micro-garden update

I have a small garden these days. It’s on my small balcony, and has been quite productive, thanks to a wonderful little planter. It was made in France, and is an incredibly clever way of growing my veggie plants. 

Only a few at a time, of course, but at the moment I have eight special, small cabbages under cover there, just starting to develop heads.

Earlier on, I had lettuce, beets and carrots. It was a lot of fun, and I still have a lot of beet tops in the freezer for later use. The interesting thing about the planter is the legs, and a certain area inside it is filled with cheap, extruded clay pellets, so watering is minimal. Also, I’m safe from pests with the easily adjustable covering.

Another fabulous planter is the one used for herbs. It can be turned around to advantage different plants. I supply many fresh herbs to our kitchen chef, and it’s wonderful that they are used in his delicious soups, etc.

Rotating herb garden.

Planter with cover on.

Planter with cover off, developing cabbages.

Extruded clay pellets.

Thank you!

I’m hoping now to be back on a regular basis. Thank you so much for your emails, and support whilst I’ve been away.

VickiW

Senior Living 101: How’s your brain development going?

                                                                           

 Still learning?

Can it be that youth truly is wasted on the young? Where did we get the idea that those plump young brains, active young bodies are all on the way up with their brain development? Does that mean after 60, you’re on the slippery slide of down?

You know how time flies when you’re a child? How years, months and even days just seem to disappear without any thought? They are so busy learning through new experiences that time is only measured in sleeps.

Be your own scientist

Maybe brain development is a lot slower than we think. Hah! Think it’s all completed at 21? That’s what we’re told by the academic studies, work done and evaluated by those supposedly much brighter and usually younger than us. 

Yes, the same guys and gals who at times seem to change their minds like their underwear. Yesterday coffee was bad. Today it seems that wasn’t quite right. It actually promotes a longer life. Wah, Wah, Wah…and so it goes. 

Lifelong learning

Those of us who’re moving on with life know that the knowledge we had at that young age is nothing when it’s compared to the brain building knowledge gained after experiences in a long life.

We all accept there are stages in life that healthy human beings go through on their quest for the next one.

Could it just be that maybe we’re not on an inevitable mental downside as we physically fumble our collective way through these last few decades of life? That possibly the amazing number of life experiences accumulated in our brains can actually increase our brain power right to the end?

Long-term

Yes, the main gist of long term memory main stories still seems intact. Love those 80-year-old stories! The ones that bore everyone else, but make me grateful to have them locked in the cranium.

Short-term

Short term, maybe not quite as reliable. But who really needs to focus on the bad news of a modern yesterday? Or what you had for dinner last night? Even doctors when they test you for your mental abilities only ask you if you know the day and date today. 

Just impress those on your mind from your daily list of to do, and to remind yourself. That’s all you need to remain brilliant in the eyes of those who watch your continuing progress in life.

Focus on finding fun

Another tip for the day, when you meet up with your buddies for meals or other events in the retirement home. Don’t get into any more conversations about health than you did as a child. Sometimes it seems that’s all your peers are interested in. Listen, but don’t get sucked in. So much else to deep-think about. 

In the recesses of my mind and getting gradually deeper there I cannot help but remember two bouts of mind-blowing Covid-19 events. (There we go, long term memory again!) I ended up with a long episode of Covid. Unpleasant after effects were a deep vein thrombosis in my leg, and tinnitus that still persists.

For a while I used a walker afterwards. Then came the cane. Exercises helped, but not as much as I’d like. Even in my present retirement living phase I initially used the elevator. 

Onward and upward!

The stairs that I could see through the glass doors on my floor fascinated me. They invited me to be daring, to conquer new heights. They were my private Everest mountain. 

Once I started using them, with their nice strong side rails, they became an addiction. Step by step I’d remember to use my strong foot first. Then bring up the weaker one. It was slow. The process reversed going down.

I looked for tips online. This guy, Shrey, helped my progress significantly through muscle development. I never used any equipment, just the stairs were available.

Now I can float up and down the stairs with ease. No side rails.My family is amazed. My daughter confessed she’d been thinking of the need for a home without stairs for the future, but now looks at them as a resource instead.

My astonished grandson told me I am now “boss” on the stairs!

Another tip. I discovered by turning my feet slightly outwards walking became easy. I’m now completely free of needing any support system, and can walk comfortably for long distances.

For me, this is another great advantage to life in the right independent living situation. Your time can be used productively. You can focus on and enjoy new ventures of many kinds.

Saffron corms update

Still no sign of life from the saffron part of my garden. Talk about easy-care crop. I dug up one of the corms planted. Seems healthy--just no action.

Original 30 corms

Image via VickiW

Markers indicate those corms should still be under there somewhere.
Image via VickiW

Thanks!

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VickiW

                                                                

Senior Living 101: Finding Your Own (Slightly) Club Med

 

Well, this is fun! 

In last week’s edition, I mentioned that retirement homes are considered by many to be your last stop in life. People when you confess your new living arrangements look at you with barely concealed pity, mixed with slight shudders. Will they end up in the same sad “fate?” 

Decisions, decisions...

For some reason it’s the same online. After last week’s blog  I had many emails expressing  shock at my decision to live in an independent living situation. Curiosity. Sadness. Bewilderment.  

After all, some folks have known me and my writing for many years. I guess this new step in living is part of me confronting the fact that life changes happen. 

Newsflash! 

Changes come fast and furious as you age! So amazing. So much to deal with. Such different perspectives that occupy your mind, if it isn’t in the process of being clouded by dementia. No one really knows what’s happening to others at that point. After all, not all dementia symptoms are created equal. There aren’t any dementia folks at my facility. Remember, it’s independent living.

There’s lots to love about being in my new situation. I’ve not met one person  who isn’t extremely grateful and proud to live here. Everyone lives here because of their life circumstances. Mostly it’s because of a bereavement in their lives that made them unable to continue living in their habitual ways. A few, like me, decide to jump in the deep end and learn to swim. 

Carolyn: Artist, friend to many, 7-year resident

One such person here started as one of my table mates, and has become a much-admired friend. She is 94, an ex-teacher, who used to ride a horse to a rural school for her classes. Carolyn has a wicked sense of humour, a deep appreciation of life, and loves to incorporate swear words into her conversation, “for emphasis” as she says. 

My friend, Carolyn, pictured in our diner/commercial kitchen area. The more formal dining room is one floor up.

She tried marriage once, as a very young girl. After ten years she decided it wasn’t for her, and divorced. After several more years she thought maybe it wasn’t as bad as she remembered and married again. It was. After another ten years she divorced. 

Now she has macular degeneration and a hearing deficit. But she also has a passion for both music and art. Go into her suite, and you are assailed by her wonderful paintings and numerous artistic model ships made from found pieces of bark and twigs. She has all the drawings for a children’s book that she plans. She just has to tell me the story!

Some snippets from this great artist 

Carolyn--the artist at work in her den

A small sample of her glorious art

Landscape–such a different mood

Interpretation of family kids as they’d look in a band

A collage of multimedia pieces

A singular multimedia piece

This is the wonderful thing about living in a caring, loving independent living facility. The major rule here is that you should feel happy, enjoying each day as you choose. Kindness to others is a given.

Choose a home that’s well established and has staff who’ve been in it for a long time. Many of the staff have been here for 4-7 years, and even longer.

You have time to enjoy your hobbies or work. You just show up for meals, no dishes to wash, no planning. No building maintenance, no taxes. Just concern for you and pampering if you need it. Hugs are always encouraged.

This is your very own quasi Club Med.

Edible eye-candy

In keeping with her free spirit, this year Carolyn has carefully tended an extravagant mixture of pumpkins, squash, runner beans, sweet peas, trumpet vine and other assorted flowering plants. This is guaranteed to fill your heart with joy and wonder. If you’re a humming bird it is pure delight.

Thank you!

Your comments and questions on this post are always appreciated and add to interest! Many thanks for coming here. Want to be notified when I write a post? Hit Subscribe and you’ll go on my weekly mailing list. It’s free, and I’m not selling you anything!

VickiW