Picking Your Grandparenting Name – How to Choose?

09/20/202009/21/2020

originally posted 12/28/2018 updated 09/20/2020 Author: Ellen Blake Your new grandparent name...how to choose? Congratulations if you are expecting a grandchild! What will they call you? Choosing a grandparent name is serious as it is a name that will follow you for many years. How to choose? Do you feel "Grandma" sounds old? If so,

6 Ways to Convince Your Aging Parent to Stop Driving

09/19/202009/20/2020

by Ellen Blake What to do if your loved one refuses to stop driving At some point, many of us start to fear our parent is no longer safe behind the wheel. My concern started two years ago with my dad, then 87. I, along with my siblings, saw worrisome signs, but

Do You Exfoliate? Why This Board Certified Dermatologist Does Not

09/14/202009/14/2020

By Dr. Fayne Frey, Board Certified Dermatologist originally posted October 3, 2018 updated September 14, 2020 The truth is, I don’t exfoliate. Why should I? Exfoliating the skin may remove some dirt and dead surface skin, but is it good for me? I have healthy skin and intend to keep it that way.

16 Ways to Cook With Turmeric, the Trendy and Super Healthy Spice

09/09/202009/14/2020

by Ellen Blake What is turmeric and why is it so popular? Turmeric comes from a flowering plant called Curcuma longa that is native to Southeast Asia. A cousin of ginger, turmeric is also a root, or more accurately, a rhizome. The turmeric spice gets lots of attention from both the medical

12 Signs Your Aging Parents Need to Stop Driving

09/08/202009/20/2020

by Ellen Blake How do you know when it's time for your elderly parent to stop driving? The last time I drove with my dad he made a left turn without his blinker on - from the right lane. He drove under the speed limit on a busy street, oblivious to the

Coping With Loss in a World Without Hugs and Kisses (Due to Coronavirus)

09/06/202009/09/2020

by Leslie Farin originally posted April 10, 2020 Updated September 6, 2020 Update: New ways to cope with grief Here we are still in the midst of the Covid19 pandemic five months after I wrote the post below. Crazy. Who knew the situation would continue through most of 2020? We are all ready to

Understanding the Narcissist and Why They Treat You That Way

09/03/202009/11/2020

by Ellen Blake Do you have a narcissist in your life? You might, but don't yet know it. The narcissistic personality is not always obvious at first. Often charming and fun, they flatter you and appear generous and accommodating. In the beginning. By the time you realize they took advantage of your

We Are All Older People in Training

09/01/202009/02/2020

by Leslie Farin It's OK to be old In a society where we value youth, I say its OK to grow old. In fact, it's a good thing. What's the alternative? Earlier today I participated in an online conference entitled, Sage 2020, hosted by Honor. Louise Aronson, New York Times bestselling author of

Is Wine Your Go-To Comfort While Quarantined? Will Your Drinking Continue After?

08/24/202008/24/2020

by Ellen Blake originally posted 4/30/2020 updated 8/24/20 8/24/2020 update - binge drinking and Covid19 It's August now and four months later, Covid19 continues to rock our world; no part of life remains untouched. Life is increasingly unpredictable and much of the economy devastated. People drink more than ever now to dull their pain,

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

08/12/202008/13/2020

Let your voice be heard...We at 50Plus-Today want everyone to be part of the November 2020 election. It's easy - spread the word! Helpful resources for voting in the U.S. in the 2020 election: CONFIRM YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION Check if you are registered to vote and verify your polling location. REGISTER TO VOTE Visit Vote.gov to register

Seriously, the Wine Glass Matters?

08/09/202008/10/2020

by Greg Indelicato Does the shape of the wine glass really matter? Wine is wine, right? What difference does it make if it's in the "right" wine glass? When I first heard there are unique glasses for many of the common wines, my thoughts were “This is just marketing nonsense. Who would

Four Benefits of Senior Cohousing During the Pandemic and Beyond

08/09/202008/09/2020

by Ellen Blake What is cohousing? Cohousing, a style of living that originated in Denmark in the 1970's, is an intentional community of private homes organized around common space, shared meals and group activities. In the U.S. cohousing started in the early 2000's. It is not the same as "house sharing", which

Covid19 Complicates the Expat Experience

08/06/202008/07/2020

by Edd & Cynthia Staton Covid19 in a foreign country (In our case, Ecuador) Last year we wrote a fun and informative series for 50Plus-Today readers called “Taking the ‘Foreign’ Out of Retiring in a Foreign Country.” The final installment focused on daily life in Cuenca, Ecuador, our home for the past

I See Myself and Wonder What Happened

08/06/202008/07/2020

originally posted April 14, 2018 revised August 6, 2020 By Harriet Gross Time perception When I was 20, I wanted to be 40 – more “mature,” more “polished.” When I was 40, I wanted to be 20 again – “looser,” less “burdened” by home and family responsibilities. Now that I am 83, I want

Mosquito Repellents: Which Ones Truly Work?

08/04/202008/12/2020

originally posted Aug 1, 2019 revised Aug 1, 2020 By Ellen Blake Do you know which mosquito repellents actually work? Most people do not. The marketing labels on these products are super convincing, but sometimes promise unrealistic results. Here are the facts. Effective Mosquito Repellents These mosquito repellents work well: DEET A repellent with DEET tells mosquitos

Why Older is Better (It’s Not Just Wine)

08/03/202008/03/2020

by Jane Laskey Older is better: Wear your age with pride Another birthday rolls around and you coyly announce: “I’m 29 (again).” Everyone laughs. We’re all in on the conspiracy. We all agree on one thing: younger is better. Say, what? How did this nonsense become the accepted wisdom? We don’t lessen with age,

When Life Throws You Curveballs: A Baseball Hall of Famer’s Journey

08/02/202008/02/2020

By Jaime Aron, Life wasn't easy I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, a guy who’s faced many of life’s fiercest curveballs. Raised in poverty, he was savagely abused by his father. The beatings were so bad that my pal once grabbed a machete to kill his dad, stopped only

4 Ways the Post Pandemic World Will Be Awesome

07/19/202007/21/2020

by Ellen Blake July 2020 quarantine update...It's not all bad Still home most of the time. And after five months of social distancing, I've run out of shows to binge, skills to learn and puzzles to finish. Despite my best intentions, some of my closets and drawers remain disorganized, but who cares.

Why You Should Buy Wine at Costco

07/16/202007/17/2020

by Ellen Blake Costco is the number one wine retailer in the U.S. Costco sells more wine nationally than anyone else because they offer a nice variety and great prices. While the selection is not tremendously broad, many of their brands are quite good, especially those in the under $20 range. And

Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide for Beginners

07/11/202007/16/2020

by Greg Indelicato National Wine and Cheese Day is July 25, 2020 As National Wine and Cheese Day approaches, my thoughts drift to my introduction to wine nearly five decades ago. At that time my generation’s favorite wines were nothing like those we enjoy today. Rather, they were more like the old