MY SUN DAY NEWS
December 16, 2021
It has been a long-standing tradition that we all gather for Christmas dinner. Last year, we forwent this tradition considering the COVID pandemic. This year, however, many are planning to participate. My elderly parents have hosted Christmas dinner for this group since my siblings and I moved out of their home as adults. As I was helping my mom make plans for Christmas, I sensed she was feeling stressed and anxious.
My wife of 51 years is battling cancer. She was in remission for a couple of years, but the cancer has come back in full force. While she hasnāt said sheās ready to give up her fight with cancer, her current treatment plan has taken a toll on her entire personhood. Sheās exhausted, emotional, and losing weight. Caring for her has become a burden for our adult children and me.
Iām a veteran of the Korean War. I live with my wife of over 65 years. We are fortunate to have family nearby to support us. Yet, I still struggle with feeling lonely. My wife has early stages of memory loss. I try to be patient with her, but Iām finding that I spend more of my time supporting her than conversing with her. I miss the woman I fell in love with, her humor and her wit.
Iām concerned about my mother. She lives alone and is in her late 80s. She used to be somewhat active, especially for her age. She would volunteer in the kidās ministry at her church, meet friends for lunch during the week, and participate in activities at the senior center where she lives. Since COVID, however, she has retreated to her home.
Q. Iām in my mid-70s and suffer from chronic joint pain. It seems to be worse during the late afternoon and into the evening. I have difficulty engaging in my favorite leisure pursuits, such as knitting and baking because the pain is so extreme. At times, the sensation even wakes me up in the middle of the night. I take over-the-counter pain medication as needed, as prescribed by my doctor. Iām starting to feel a little down because the pain only seems to be worsening.
My sixtieth birthday is quickly approaching, and I am starting to āfeel my age.ā My fifties were busy raising teenagers, carting them around to various activities, and preparing them to leave our nest. Now that my youngest is off at college, I finally have more time to focus on myself. While my career keeps me busy throughout the week, my mornings and evenings allow ample time to fine-tune my health. As I look forward to retirement in a few years, and hopefully grandchildren not too far behind, I want to enjoy my golden years.
My elderly mother-in-law lives in an apartment complex specifically for seniors. Her apartment is furnished with a full-sized kitchen. My mother-in-law used to enjoy cooking, but her age is slowing her down. Iām concerned about her because she seems disinterested in cooking and is losing weight. When I casually ask her about what she had for dinner, she says she doesnāt have much of an appetite or the will to cook for herself.
Iām finding it more and more challenging to pursue outdoor recreation in the heat of summer. Iām seeking recommendations on how to maintain my active lifestyle, despite the hotter weather.
Iām an older adult woman who is having increasingly more bouts of incontinence. I find it rather embarrassing, to the point of declining social invitations. I never know when the urge to go will hit me, so I prefer to stay home near my bathroom. Iāve had to rely more on my children for groceries and other necessities, as Iām afraid I might have an accident while shopping. I understand that incontinence is common in older women, yet Iām tired of this issue interfering with my life.
My siblings and I are planning a mini-family reunion this Independence Day. Two of my siblings have not seen our aging parents since the onset of the COVID pandemic, as they live outāof-state and couldnāt safely travel. Now that weāre all fully vaccinated, we cannot wait to see each other in-person. Weāre hoping to surprise our parents too. However, our parents are getting older and seem to get tired more quickly these days. As much as they love to see us and their nine grandchildren, I know the noise and energy can be draining.
My husband and I are in our mid-70s. Other than my husband being in the early-moderate stages of dementia, we are in decent health. However, over the course of the COVID pandemic, it became evident that I need more help.
As my husband and I get older, weāve noticed that we canāt seem to spend as much time out in the hot summer weather as we previously enjoyed. Weāre approaching our eighties and have tried our best to maintain an active lifestyle. I enjoy gardening, and my husband enjoys playing golf. We both like to swim in our neighborhood pool and have always enjoyed power walking in the mornings. However, last summer, my husband nearly suffered a heat stroke after our usual morning walk.
My father-in-law recently suffered a stroke. While he was fortunate to live, his life, as well as my mother-in-lawās, has been turned upside down.
I have always been passionate about gardening. I love the smell of dirt and the first sprouts of the season. As I’m getting older, though, I’m finding my passion to be more of a burden.
My mom is in her early 70s and has been living with Parkinsonās for about four years. Her symptoms have progressed from the mild stage to the more moderate stage. Iāve noticed her shuffling more, and her movements have definitely slowed.
My wife and I are in our late 80s and have received both doses of our COVID vaccine. Our adult children, in their 50s and 60s, have also received their vaccine. We also have grandchildren that live in the area. However, they are not yet eligible to receive the COVID vaccine.
My friendās dad recently passed away, unexpectedly. He was 69 years old and in rather decent health, so it came as a shock to everyone he knew. My friend is coping well considering the circumstances. However, she and her family felt completely unprepared to plan his funeral. They had a great relationship, but never discussed his funeral preferences. That got me thinking about my own parents.
My husband and I are approaching older age. I experience āsenior momentsā from time to time. I havenāt been diagnosed with dementia, but I am aware that thereās dementia in my family history. Although weāre rather active, we do realize that weāre slowing down.
Iām a concerned daughter-in-law writing on behalf of her 87-year-old mother-in-law. Her vision is declining due to glaucoma. While she is taking it in stride, Iāve noticed that she seems disheartened recently. She has always been a rather dignified person. She would never dare leave the house before āputting herself togetherā and feels that loungewear should only be worn in the privacy of oneās home.
As a part of my annual physical exam, my doctor ordered an EKG. My results indicated a 50 percent blockage in one of the arteries in my heart. I assumed that would mean surgery; however, my doctor recommended we start with medication. Although I am fortunate that I havenāt had a heart attack, this past physical gave me pause.
My wife and I are in our late 70s and live alone. Although I would be lying if I said that we havenāt felt our age encroach upon our lifestyle in recent years, we are rather independent. We live in a two-story home that only has a half bath on the main level. While we can navigate the stairs, we try to avoid going up and down multiple times in the day.
Iām writing because I am very concerned about my mother-in-law. She lives alone in an apartment and frequently forgets to drink water. She recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday and is somewhat frail.
I am at a loss for what to get my grandmother this year for the holidays. I typically give her something for her home, such as tea towels or candles. However, she moved to an assisted living community last January and no longer can use my go-to gifts. Iām not fortunate to live nearby.
I am the primary caregiver to my aging parents, and to be frank, I am exhausted.
I have a routine doctor appointment scheduled for this month and am considering canceling the appointment. Iām an 84-year-old male and have diabetes. I typically see my doctor every four months, but my last appointment was pushed back due to COVID. I know Iām due for blood work but am worried about being exposed to COVID while in the doctorās office. Do you have any advice?
My husband and I are in our 70s. Weāve made some wonderful memories with our grandkids this summer with social distancing visits outdoors. Now that the weather is turning cooler, weāre concerned that our visits wonāt be as frequent.
fter having to postpone their summer wedding, my grandson and fiancĆ© have decided to have an intimate wedding this fall. While they are keeping the wedding party and guest list small, I still have reservations about attending. Iām in my late 70s and am relatively healthy, aside from suffering from seasonal allergies.
My wife and I are in our late 50s and retirement is on our minds. We do plan to continue to work for a few more years, but weāre nearing the next season of our lives. We have three children, one in high school, two in college. We feel that they are adequately set for their futures, now we want to focus on us.
Within the last few years, Iāve noticed that my fingers arenāt working as they used to. Iām in my 80s and have always enjoyed crafting. Since I can remember, Iāve held knitting needles in my hands, creating scarves, blankets, sweaters, and more, for friends and family. Iāve since put my knitting aside, however, I recently learned that Iāll have a great-grandchild early next year.
