Regarding Your Parents

Benefits for Veterans

Often times the elderly and their families need assistance with care and they forget that the VA can be an important resource to them. If you have an elderly loved one or are elderly yourself and are a veteran check out your Veterans Benefits (http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp). You may not have needed veteran’s benefits when you were younger, but as we all know things change as we age. The VA offers many benefits for our veterans such as;

• medical care
• medication assistance
• medical equipment
• insurance
• home modifications help
• medical alert bracelets
• education

The above list is just a few of the benefits that you can get assistance with through the VA. If
you want more information on Veterans Benefits go to http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA, it is chalked full of beneficial information.

In order to receive any Veteran's benefits you must register with U.S. Veterans Affairs. You can register at; http://www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

Elderly stay connected through Social Media

Many of the elderly are computer savvy these days and if they aren’t, they are willing to learn. Unlike in past years many families and friends don’t always live near one another, but thanks to the internet and social media we can still stay in touch rather easily. Social media is a great way for the elderly to not only stay in touch with family and friends, but get the support and information they are looking for.  According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, social networking use among internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled—from 22% in April 2009 to42% in May 2010.

Facebook can keep the elderly up to date on what is going on in their relative’s and friends’ lives.  Skype can let them see and have a conversation with someone.  Twitter can just be of daily updates. Blogging can be a way of expressing themselves about things going on in their lives or what their opinions are.

The key is that social media is not only letting our elderly stay connected and involved but it is also keeping their minds sharp. Stimulation and social activity is very important in keeping the elderly young and social media can help promote that.

So if your elderly loved ones and friends aren't connected already, get them connected, it will open up a whole new world!

Back to School… A trip down Memory Lane

When I think about going back to school it brings up memories of my mom and how happy she was to see the 7 of us go off to school.  After a fun filled summer of bare feet and days on Gunrock Beach in Hull, MA it was now time to go back to Randolph, MA and start a new routine.   Up and dressed in our new clothes and shoes walking to the Devine School. Those memories of having to wear new shoes every day comes to mind.  Oh the blisters that were to follow! 

Remember those earth shoes with the slanted bottoms, those colorful sneakers from Randy’s, suede shoes with tire tread bottoms and of course those Desert Boots.   Not sure if it is just a woman “thing” or those blisters, but I clearly remember most of my new school shoes.  What triggered my memory was to see those Desert Boots now being sold by Clarks shoes.  It so true, the fact that history repeats itself! 

So let my ask you, What comes to mind when thinking about Back to School?