Driving is one of the activities that we sometimes take for granted as we age. We assume our abilities to drive will mostly stay intact but in reality, driving can become very dangerous as you get older not only for yourself but for others. If you are someone who is a care taker for an aging person that still drives, how do you address this issue if you notice their abilities to drive becoming unreliable?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why we decided to start a "Care Taker" series of episodes and how this topic of addressing driving and aging is important to discuss.

2). Some of the risks involved with allowing an aging person to continue driving well beyond their cognitive abilities to do so safely.

3). Why it's important to express your concerns about driving in a kind and gentle way.

4). Some examples of how you can bring up the subject and put it in a light of making sure everyone needs to be safe when in the car whether passenger or driver.

5). Making sure to be sympathetic to this change for the aging person in a respectful and caring manner.

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We hope the tips and suggestions in this episode are helpful if you are taking care of someone who is losing the ability to drive safely. It can be very difficult to talk to an aging person on why you think they shouldn't be driving, at least maybe not in the capacity that they are used to. Making sure to approach this situation with respect, dignity and care will be the best way to acknowledge a better path for all involved.

Team Meredith

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"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."-Zig Ziglar

This quote reminds us that we should reflect on who we are and what we go through as we strive to get to our goals.

Meredith

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Your skin plays an important role in contributing to your overall health. Making sure you take the necessary steps of caring for you skin especially as you age is a good habit to start if you haven't already.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). Why the topic of skin care in aging adults doesn't get enough attention and why this should be an important aspect of aging to discuss.

2). How new options of clothing and fabrics are offering better skin protection than traditional clothing.

3). Why using moisturizer has been stereotyped as "just for women" but why it's also just as important for men as well.

4). How staying hydrated directly affects your skin health.

5). How easy and cheap it can be to take care of your skin over time by developing these great habits.

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We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you especially if you are noticing more than normal skin degradation. Living an active lifestyle should always include some skin care especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Caring for your skin will pay off dividends in the long run and allow you to stay active and healthy for years to come.

Team Meredith

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"Limit your 'always' and your 'nevers.'"-Amy Poehler

This quote reminds us that we need to stay positive and working towards our goals, being mindful of what we can do without overdoing or getting negative.

Meredith

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Here at SFWM we've always embraced walking as one of the best exercises you can do on a regular basis. It's accessible to almost anyone whether walking outside, on a treadmill, at home or even in a chair. We also use walking movements in many of our exercise videos as well. For this podcast episode, we wanted to share a few reasons WHY we love walking and the benefits you will reap while taking your daily stroll.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). What inspired us to dedicate a full episode to the benefits of walking as regular exercise and why we though this was important for people of all ages.

2). How walking is one of the most accessible exercises to all levels of fitness and why you don't have to set boundaries on time, steps or distance. Just walk when it feels best for you.

3). How regular walking actually helps with joint aches and pains as it can serve as a natural lubricant for the body especially as we age.

4). The benefits of gaining strength and balance through regular walking.

5). How walking is low cost and can be done by all levels of fitness at any time which makes it one of our favorite exercises.

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We hope this episode is helpful to you or someone you know who may be just starting out with exercise or just loves walking like we do. There are many good things to embrace when it comes to walking and we're happy to share these amazing benefits with you.

Team Meredith

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"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."- Franklin D. Roosevelt

This quote reminds us that we must not live with doubts.

Meredith

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Going to the doctor regularly is an important part of maintaining a healthy life especially as you age. However, such trips can be difficult when taking an aging loved one or someone you may be caring for whom may not be comfortable with regular doctor visits. Fortunately there are some things you can do to make these trips more manageable and even enjoyable from start to finish for everyone involved.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

1). The growing number of people in America who are now in charge of taking care of their parents and how this is affecting all areas of care including regular doctor visits.

2). When it's important to know if a primary caretaker should be involved with taking the aging adult to their regular check ups.

3). Why it's important to plan the trip ahead of time and know what to bring with you like a list of medications etc. to ensure smooth communication with the doctor or PCP.

4). Why having a checklist of items to cover with the doctor during the visit is important and how doing so can maximize check up experience for all parties.

5). Remember to be respectful of the person you are bringing to the appointment and treat them with kindness and patience to ensure a low stress environment.

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We hope the tips in this episode help you or someone you know who is caring for an aging adult. Feeling comfortable about taking regular trips to the doctor is important during our later years and making sure the right steps that are being taken before, during and after the visit is important to maintaining a regular checkup schedule.

Team Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird /That cannot fly."-Langston Hughes

This quote reminds us that we must keep our dreams alive, hold on to them, and work hard towards them!

Meredith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.