﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!--RSS Genrated: Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:15:35 GMT--><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:ev="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/event/"><channel><title>Rethinking Your Future - Elder Health</title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com:443/Home/rss/category/4135/elder-health</link><atom:link href="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com:443/Home/rss/category/4135/elder-health" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><description>RSS document</description><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[When memory changes, knowledge can become power]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-memory-changes-knowledge-can-become-power</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1972/worried-older-woman-1253x683.jpeg" length="15342"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ It started with a missed appointment—something small enough to brush off, yet just unusual enough to stay with her. 

 My friend Mary has always been organized, the one who keeps track of ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:40:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-memory-changes-knowledge-can-become-power</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1972]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Understanding the changes that come with age]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/understanding-the-changes-that-come-with-age</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1971/neck-xray.jpg" length="13526"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ At some point, many of us hear the same phrase after an X-ray or MRI: “You have degenerative changes.” It sounds ominous, and when you hear it - especially in connection with your spine - it can ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:42:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/understanding-the-changes-that-come-with-age</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1971]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[The dental gap too many seniors face]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-dental-gap-too-many-seniors-face</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1967/senior-woman-dental-treatment.jpg" length="13539"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I recently had a routine dental visit turn into something much bigger. 

 What began as a simple replacement of an old filling quickly escalated into a crown - $450 out of pocket - followed by ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:46:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-dental-gap-too-many-seniors-face</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1967]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Seeing what's ahead: Getting around as we age]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seeing-whats-ahead-getting-around-as-we-age</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1965/shadows2.jpg" length="27271"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I’m going to begin this column with two simple, everyday observations, both shaped by my experience as an older adult navigating our community. One happens behind the wheel. The other happens on ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:35:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seeing-whats-ahead-getting-around-as-we-age</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1965]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[When "fine" isn't the whole picture]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-fine-isnt-the-whole-picture</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1960/dinner-party-2.jpg" length="24128"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ My friend recently had dinner with a long-time neighbor who has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. 

 She told me, “He carried on a good conversation all through dinner. He seemed fine ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:56:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-fine-isnt-the-whole-picture</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1960]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Medicare open enrollment doesn’t have to be overwhelming]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/medicare-open-enrollment-doesnt-have-to-be-overwhelming</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1959/Medicare-and-You.jpg" length="15707"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ A few weeks ago, I received the thick  Medicare & You  government handbook that is mailed to every Medicare household each fall before open enrollment (Oct. 15–Dec. 7). 

 Seeing it immediately ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:55:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/medicare-open-enrollment-doesnt-have-to-be-overwhelming</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1959]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[When seconds count - be sure to have an emergency contact]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-seconds-count-be-sure-to-have-an-emergency-contact</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1955/file-of-life.jpg" length="8233"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ The Senior Concerns Director of Nutrition, who leads the Meals On Wheels program, recently asked if I would write a column about why older adults should designate an emergency contact. 

 She ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-seconds-count-be-sure-to-have-an-emergency-contact</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1955]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Age and reliance go hand in hand]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/age-and-reliance-go-hand-in-hand</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1954/arthritic-hand.jpg" length="14024"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Just when I begin to wonder what to write about next, life offers up a moment -a lesson- and I am reminded that these everyday experiences often hold meaning worth sharing. 

 Last week, my mom, ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:31:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/age-and-reliance-go-hand-in-hand</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1954]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[When making Medicare choices, don’t go it alone]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-making-medicare-choices-dont-go-it-alone</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1953/cobra-and-medicare-2.jpeg" length="10303"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I have been on the phone with my sister for the last few days. She has some big decisions to make about her Medicare coverage, and it can be a confusing process. 

 My sister turns 65 in October.  ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/when-making-medicare-choices-dont-go-it-alone</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1953]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[You’re not too old for hearing aids—only too young to miss out on life]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/youre-not-too-old-for-hearing-aidsonly-too-young-to-miss-out-on-life</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1951/mom-hearing-aid.jpg" length="20095"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ At age 91, my mother finally got hearing aids. 

 It wasn’t the well-reasoned arguments that my sisters and I espoused, such as: 

  Hearing loss is strongly linked to dementia and cognitive ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:44:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/youre-not-too-old-for-hearing-aidsonly-too-young-to-miss-out-on-life</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1951]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Discharged from the hospital: what happens after that?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/discharged-from-the-hospital-what-happens-after-that</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1950/hospitalized.jpg" length="22023"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I recently received a letter from a reader concerned about a problem some of her friends are facing. Either they—or their spouse—have been released from the hospital but remain weak and in need of ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 22:47:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/discharged-from-the-hospital-what-happens-after-that</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1950]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Patients struggle to retain medical information]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/patients-struggle-to-retain-medical-information</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1945/medical-information.jpg" length="22196"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Whose responsibility is it to remind older adult patients of their next programmed appointment? 

 Let’s say a patient is supposed to have an in-office procedure every six months. For whatever ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:51:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/patients-struggle-to-retain-medical-information</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1945]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Federal funding pause could affect local seniors' food source]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/federal-funding-pause-could-affect-local-seniors-food-source</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1942/MealaOnWheelsWEBSITE.jpg" length="15381"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Last week, the administration sent a memo seeking to pause potentially trillions of dollars in government loans, grants, and financial assistance. That memo was later rescinded, but it did create ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:26:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/federal-funding-pause-could-affect-local-seniors-food-source</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1942]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Don't jump to conclusions about a loved one's symptoms]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dont-jump-to-conclusions-about-a-loved-ones-symptoms</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1938/swollen-feet.jpg" length="6275"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Right after the Thanksgiving holiday, while we were chatting on the phone, I asked my 90-year-old mother what she was doing. 

 She told me she was in the den in her recliner with her feet ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dont-jump-to-conclusions-about-a-loved-ones-symptoms</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1938]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Hospital discharge planning:  successful transitions are key]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospital-discharge-planning-successful-transitions-are-key</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1937/Hospital-Discharge-Planning.jpg" length="18986"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Recently, my mother’s 88-year-old sister fell. 

 As she went down, her husband said, “You just broke your hip.” 

 I am not sure if being a medic in the army sixty years ago qualified him to ...]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:49:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospital-discharge-planning-successful-transitions-are-key</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1937]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Tact is key when having tough conversations]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/tact-is-key-when-having-tough-conversations</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1936/mother-and-daughter.jpg" length="15041"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[  Conversations with aging parents require compassion  

  I recently witnessed a conversation at a restaurant between a woman and her mother. The woman appeared to be in her fifties or sixties and ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:10:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/tact-is-key-when-having-tough-conversations</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1936]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Get educated about sepsis and you might just save a life]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/get-educated-about-sepsis-and-you-might-just-save-a-life</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1932/Sepsis2.jpg" length="5490"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Many years ago, I volunteered at a hospital.  

 One of my duties was filling in for the floor secretary (remember, it was years ago) when she went to lunch or was on break. 

 As part of the ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:09:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/get-educated-about-sepsis-and-you-might-just-save-a-life</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1932]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Do memory problems come with age?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/do-memory-problems-come-with-age</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1928/memory-loss.jpg" length="13707"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ With the issue front and center in President Joe Biden's bid for reelection, discussiions about age-related memory challenges are receiving much attention these days. 

 Here at Senior Concerns, ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2024 22:08:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/do-memory-problems-come-with-age</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1928]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[“Dem bones” can cause pain as we age]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dem-bones-can-cause-pain-as-we-age</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1925/dem-bones.jpg" length="18874"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Our body is a wonderous interconnected organism. 

 We learned that fact as kids. Remember that old song, “Dem Bones.” The leg bone's connected to the knee bone. The knee bone's connected to the ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:56:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dem-bones-can-cause-pain-as-we-age</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1925]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[End of life talks are difficult but important]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/end-of-life-talks-are-difficult-but-important</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1921/end-of-life-conversation.png" length="242164"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I am unsure how it came to be, but over the last number of years I have become rather involved in the topic of end-of-life choices. 

 For one, I sit on the Steering Committee for the Ventura ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 17:32:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/end-of-life-talks-are-difficult-but-important</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1921]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Men are reluctant to share health concerns]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/men-are-reluctant-to-share-health-concerns</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1918/fear-going-to-doctor.jpg" length="18103"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I’d like to start a campaign to encourage older men to address their health issues with their doctor. 

 I have a dear sixty-something friend who recently expressed frustration because her husband ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:56:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/men-are-reluctant-to-share-health-concerns</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1918]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Be diligent when taking generic medications]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-diligent-when-taking-generic-medications</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1917/generic-medication.jpg" length="18071"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ When it comes to taking prescription medications, I am fortunate that I take only one medication and it’s a generic one. 

 I have taken this medication for years now. Each time I get a refill, I ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:15:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-diligent-when-taking-generic-medications</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1917]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[For older adults, preparing for doctor’s appointments is essential]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/for-older-adults-preparing-for-doctors-appointments-is-essential</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1915/dr-appt-2.png" length="254125"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I call January my health month because it is when I schedule my annual doctor appointments, with my primary care physician as well as the specialists I see. 

 One certainty is that almost all of ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:15:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/for-older-adults-preparing-for-doctors-appointments-is-essential</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1915]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[The benefits of lipreading for older adults]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-benefits-of-lipreading-for-older-adults</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/1912/lipreading.jpg" length="18460"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Many older adults are relieved that most people no longer feel the need to wear face masks. 

 The reason is one you may not suspect; Unmasking gives us the ability to lipread. 

 Lipreading is ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-benefits-of-lipreading-for-older-adults</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-1912]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Nutrition requirements change as we age]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/nutrition-requirements-change-as-we-age</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/899/chicken-noodle-soup-meta.jpg" length="149479"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Restaurant dining has always been a joyful experience for me. 

 In terms of aesthetics – at lunch, I enjoy the respite from my workday and at dinner, conversations with my husband or friends. ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 23:12:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/nutrition-requirements-change-as-we-age</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-899]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Primary care providers are hard to come by]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/primary-care-providers-are-hard-to-come-by</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/898/woman-doctor-discussion-584x285.jpg" length="10005"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ In the past five years I have had four primary care physicians. No, I am not a difficult patient, I am the product of changing dynamics in the practice of primary care. 

 Five years ago, I had a ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:59:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/primary-care-providers-are-hard-to-come-by</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-898]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Change of pace: Consider walking for your next get together]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/change-of-pace-consider-walking-for-your-next-get-together</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/894/walking-benefits-seniors-6.jpg" length="16893"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ It might sound like a random invitation, but at a recent holiday gathering of women friends, a community acquaintance, Terry, invited me to go for a walk. 

 We had been talking about feeling a ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:31:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/change-of-pace-consider-walking-for-your-next-get-together</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-894]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Be mindful: Most bad falls have a cause]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-mindful-most-bad-falls-have-a-cause</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/886/fall-sign.png" length="29692"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ For weeks, friends and neighbors worked on planning a surprise block party for my friend Margaret’s 90th birthday. On the big day, over 50 people showed up with food, drink and gifts to celebrate ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:16:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-mindful-most-bad-falls-have-a-cause</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-886]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Getting a painful lesson in fall prevention]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/getting-a-painful-lesson-in-fall-prevention</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/879/Falls-prevention-1500x699.jpg" length="9180"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. 

 I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 17:02:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/getting-a-painful-lesson-in-fall-prevention</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-879]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Be mindful: Brain injuries can cause change in personality]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-mindful-brain-injuries-can-cause-change-in-personality</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/869/brain-injury2.jpg" length="7500"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ I have a 79-year-old friend who I have lunch with about once a month. We met many years ago by happenstance, as she had a weekly appointment that ended when mine began. 

 We started to chat in ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:33:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-mindful-brain-injuries-can-cause-change-in-personality</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-869]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Eating with others can provide an emotional boost]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/eating-with-others-can-provide-an-emotional-boost</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/868/SeniorsEating.jpg" length="32211"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ One thing the past few years has taught us is the value of breaking bread with family and friends. Holiday meals, casual barbecues, Sunday suppers and milestone dinner celebrations were sorely ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 18:16:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/eating-with-others-can-provide-an-emotional-boost</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-868]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Clearing the way for reading enjoyment]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/clearing-the-way-for-reading-enjoyment</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/865/eyes.jpg" length="5924"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ If your friends are anything like mine, casual conversations these days often turn to a discussion of the amazing television series they’ve been watching on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:48:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/clearing-the-way-for-reading-enjoyment</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-865]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[That cold might be COVID, so it’s best to play it safe]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/that-cold-might-be-covid-so-its-best-to-play-it-safe</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/864/flu-senior-adult-meta.jpg" length="29670"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ Last week my sister’s father-in-law, who lives on the East Coast, was mowing his lawn. After he finished, he started feeling respiratory discomfort, chalking it up to the grass and weeds he’d ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2022 20:54:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/that-cold-might-be-covid-so-its-best-to-play-it-safe</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-864]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Trip to the ER brings fresh insights]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/trip-to-the-er-brings-fresh-insights</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/850/waitingroom.jpg" length="17123"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[ A few weeks ago, I had a two-day stay in the hospital. I’m OK, but my eyes were opened by the changes I saw since my last visit to the emergency room three years ago. 

 I want to share what I ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:48:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/trip-to-the-er-brings-fresh-insights</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-850]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Knowing where to turn after a loved one’s health crisis]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/knowing-where-to-turn-after-a-loved-ones-health-crisis</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/843/img-nextdoor.png" length="20333"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/843/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-nextdoor.png" alt="" /> Right now I’m aware of several neighbors dealing with the sudden health crises of aging loved ones. 

 Once the short-term crisis is dealt with, they will have to decide where to turn next. 

 I ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2021 18:11:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/knowing-where-to-turn-after-a-loved-ones-health-crisis</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-843]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Dashed plans due to COVID cause stress and anxiety]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dashed-plans-due-to-covid-cause-stress-and-anxiety</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/835/img-covid-mental-health.jpg" length="20879"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/835/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-covid-mental-health.jpg" alt="" /> My husband keeps asking me why I cry at the drop of a hat lately. 

 I have always been prone to tears when really stressed or when something touches my heart. And I guess that is exactly why I’m ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dashed-plans-due-to-covid-cause-stress-and-anxiety</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-835]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Listening to our body when it whispers]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/listening-to-our-body-when-it-whispers</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/824/img-listen-to-your-body-when-it-speaks-you-wont-have-to-hear-it-scream-1-1024x1024.png" length="283039"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/824/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-listen-to-your-body-when-it-speaks-you-wont-have-to-hear-it-scream-1-1024x1024.png" alt="" /> Silent whispers from our body come in many forms and may include aches or pains, emotions, gut feelings or just a sense that something is off. 

 It’s easy to ignore these signs, but by doing so ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2021 20:40:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/listening-to-our-body-when-it-whispers</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-824]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Checking in with ourselves is more important than ever]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/checking-in-with-ourselves-is-more-important-than-ever</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/817/img-chronic-stress.jpg" length="10157"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/817/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-chronic-stress.jpg" alt="" /> I’m not sure anyone could have predicted what the beginning of 2021 would look like, particularly as we ushered out 2020 believing it was one of the most challenging years on record. 

 And now, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/checking-in-with-ourselves-is-more-important-than-ever</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-817]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[COVID creates tough ethical calls for care]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/covid-creates-tough-ethical-calls-for-care</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/815/img-covid-deaths.jpg" length="16536"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/815/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-covid-deaths.jpg" alt="" /> There’s no debating that seniors are most at risk during this pandemic. While COVID-19 deaths have spanned all age groups, the hardest hit has been the 65-and-older population, which accounts for ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/covid-creates-tough-ethical-calls-for-care</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-815]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[What should we expect from our doctors?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/what-should-we-expect-from-our-doctors</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/808/img-doctor.jpg" length="15019"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/808/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-doctor.jpg" alt="" /> What are our expectations when we visit our doctor? Do expectations differ with age? I pondered this question recently after an unsatisfactory visit to see a medical professional. 

 Two years ...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/what-should-we-expect-from-our-doctors</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-808]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Social isolation results in memory loss in later life]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/social-isolation-results-in-memory-loss-in-later-life</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/799/img-ThinkFit-Logo-w-Tagline-(004).png" length="42712"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/799/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-ThinkFit-Logo-w-Tagline-(004).png" alt="" /> Fifty-four years ago, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song “Eleanor Rigby,” signaling us to “look at all the lonely people.” 

 Studies in the U.K. show that half a million people over ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:03:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/social-isolation-results-in-memory-loss-in-later-life</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-799]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Feeling sad amid COVID crisis]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/feeling-sad-amid-covid-crisis</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/781/img-coronavirus-grief.jpg" length="15478"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/781/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-coronavirus-grief.jpg" alt="" /> Lately a lot of people have been asking me how I’m doing. They know I work with seniors. 

 I’ve been answering that question by simply saying we’re very busy. I’d like to elaborate, but the truth ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2020 16:15:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/feeling-sad-amid-covid-crisis</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-781]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Five steps to kick that out-of-control feeling]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/five-steps-to-kick-that-out-of-control-feeling</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/779/img-out-of-control.jpg" length="25995"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/779/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-out-of-control.jpg" alt="" /> For most of us, our daily lives have been disrupted by the novel coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shelter-in-place order. 

 Work, social and family life has been upended in ways we may ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:43:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/five-steps-to-kick-that-out-of-control-feeling</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-779]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Virus presents greatest risk to seniors]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/virus-presents-greatest-risk-to-seniors</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/775/img-virus.jpg" length="19007"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/775/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-virus.jpg" alt="" /> One of the first references to “getting old ain’t for sissies” was published in 1968. Fast-forward 52 years and whoever made the statement had no idea how true it would become. 

 In a world where ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 2020 18:07:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/virus-presents-greatest-risk-to-seniors</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-775]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Seniors at risk during outages]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seniors-at-risk-during-outages</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/708/img-hot-power-1311845.jpg" length="15502"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/708/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-hot-power-1311845.jpg" alt="" /> Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his famous “hierarchy of needs” theory in 1942. At the time, he saw food, water, sleep and shelter as the most basic of all human needs. 

 I would contend ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 21:44:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seniors-at-risk-during-outages</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-708]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Listen to this advice about hearing loss]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/listen-to-this-advice-about-hearing-loss</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/691/img-hearing-loss-750-million.png" length="43413"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/691/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-hearing-loss-750-million.png" alt="" /> On weekends, my husband and I walk our dog, Rolo, together. Rolo is blind and deaf, but is a joyful 10-year-old pup in otherwise good health. 

 Me, on the other hand, while I am in good health, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2019 16:41:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/listen-to-this-advice-about-hearing-loss</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-691]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Another reminder not to ignore symptoms of heart attack]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/another-reminder-not-to-ignore-symptoms-of-heart-attack</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/682/img-man_holding_chest.jpg" length="14704"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/682/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-man_holding_chest.jpg" alt="" /> A few weeks ago, as he was walking his dog around his neighborhood, my friend Jerry experienced pain and pressure in his chest. He’d forgotten his cellphone, so he continued up the hill to his ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/another-reminder-not-to-ignore-symptoms-of-heart-attack</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-682]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Health scare takes emotional toll]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/health-scare-takes-emotional-toll</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/630/img-healthscare.jpg" length="10145"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/630/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-healthscare.jpg" alt="" /> Most of my medical challenges occurred when I was young. Years later, I can’t really remember my feelings after those experiences. 

 But as I contemplate my recent health scare—a piece of steak ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2018 18:13:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/health-scare-takes-emotional-toll</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-630]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Don’t ignore symptoms of acid reflux]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dont-ignore-symptoms-of-acid-reflux</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/626/img-acid-reflux.jpg" length="7188"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/626/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-acid-reflux.jpg" alt="" /> Every once in a while, the person upstairs gives you a wake-up call. Mine came a few weeks ago. 

 Looking back, all the signs were there. 

 I’d been keeping a supply of Tums in my purse for ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2018 17:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dont-ignore-symptoms-of-acid-reflux</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-626]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Timeless fitness for brain, body]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/timeless-fitness-for-brain-body</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/625/img-AG-BRAIN-HEALTH-FITNESS-LOGO.jpg" length="11688"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/625/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-AG-BRAIN-HEALTH-FITNESS-LOGO.jpg" alt="" /> It seemed too good to be true. 

 A set of exercises that, if practiced just 10 minutes a day, could make a positive difference in the quality of our body and brain. Activities that can be done by ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2018 21:12:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/timeless-fitness-for-brain-body</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-625]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Malnutrition is a health threat that’s rarely diagnosed]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/malnutrition-is-a-health-threat-thats-rarely-diagnosed</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/620/img-malnutrition.jpg" length="16135"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/620/200200p4135EDNthumbimg-malnutrition.jpg" alt="" /> As if being admitted to the hospital isn’t challenging enough, there’s often an additional underlying and undiagnosed condition occurring in one-third of seniors who are admitted: undernourishment. ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:40:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/malnutrition-is-a-health-threat-thats-rarely-diagnosed</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-620]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Many seniors struggle after hospital stay]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/many-seniors-struggle-after-hospital-stay</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/539/Hospital.jpg" length="22605"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/539/200200p4135EDNthumbHospital.jpg" alt="" /> Five years ago, I could not comprehend how my father’s two-day stay in the hospital resulted in a three-week stay in a skilled-nursing facility and a permanent decline in his functional abilities. ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2018 16:45:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/many-seniors-struggle-after-hospital-stay</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-539]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Are we facing a loneliness epidemic?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/are-we-facing-a-loneliness-epidemic</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/531/loneliness-in-seniors.jpg" length="14273"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/531/200200p4135EDNthumbloneliness-in-seniors.jpg" alt="" /> Joanie and her husband lived a full life, busy careers and wonderful vacation trips after retirement. 

 Today, Joanie sits silently, alone in front of her television, eating her dinner. 

 ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2018 23:16:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/are-we-facing-a-loneliness-epidemic</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-531]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Are we taking too many pills?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/are-we-taking-too-many-pills</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/526/too-many-pills.jpg" length="14050"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/526/200200p4135EDNthumbtoo-many-pills.jpg" alt="" /> I recently assisted in moderating a local research study of individuals who took six or more prescription medications a day. 

 Some participants spoke of needing to take pills with food, while ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2018 22:41:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/are-we-taking-too-many-pills</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-526]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[New Medicare cards safer to carry]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/new-medicare-cards-safer-to-carry</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/217/Medicare-Card.jpg" length="23105"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/217/200200p4135EDNthumbMedicare-Card.jpg" alt="" /> The average American visits a doctor four times a year.  Seniors visit a doctor nearly twice that much.  At each doctor visit we are asked to show our identification and our insurance card. For most ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:06:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/new-medicare-cards-safer-to-carry</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-217]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Self-neglect: a growing problem]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/self-neglect-a-growing-problem</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/225/elderly_man.jpg" length="23860"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/225/200200p4135EDNthumbelderly_man.jpg" alt="" /> Imagine your longtime neighbor is an elderly gentleman who lives alone. He’s been in and out of the hospital over the last few months. He rarely sees his only child, a son who lives on the other ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 19:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/self-neglect-a-growing-problem</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-225]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Life is never the same after suffering a stroke]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/life-is-never-the-same-after-suffering-a-stroke</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/228/st-bernard.jpg" length="22875"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/228/200200p4135EDNthumbst-bernard.jpg" alt="" /> A widow with no children, Linda has volunteered for Senior Concerns’ Bargain Boutique and Thrift Shop for the past three years. On Jan. 17, her life changed dramatically.  Scheduled to work at the ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:54:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/life-is-never-the-same-after-suffering-a-stroke</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-228]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Living with Parkinson’s]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/living-with-parkinsons</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/230/parkinsons-header-no-logo.jpg" length="13445"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/230/200200p4135EDNthumbparkinsons-header-no-logo.jpg" alt="" /> I distinctly remember the day I realized my father had something wrong with him.  It was 1992, and my husband and I had recently moved to  California . My parents came for their first visit to see ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 23:07:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/living-with-parkinsons</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-230]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Solutions to decline of senses continue to be developed]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/solutions-to-decline-of-senses-continue-to-be-developed</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/235/senses2.jpg" length="12297"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/235/200200p4135EDNthumbsenses2.jpg" alt="" /> We humans tend to take our senses for granted—until they stop working as well as they had in the past. It’s a well-known fact of life that our senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste) all ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:02:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/solutions-to-decline-of-senses-continue-to-be-developed</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-235]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Having a healthy fear of the flu]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/having-a-healthy-fear-of-the-flu</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/236/Stronger-Flu-Shot-Available-To-Seniors.jpg" length="14348"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/236/200200p4135EDNthumbStronger-Flu-Shot-Available-To-Seniors.jpg" alt="" /> It had been a long time since I’d been around someone with the actual flu, but over the New Year’s holiday two of my friends came down with the virus. 
 Now I can clearly see I hadn’t given the flu ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2017 00:12:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/having-a-healthy-fear-of-the-flu</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-236]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Doctor’s order is best gift of all]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/doctors-order-is-best-gift-of-all</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/237/Palliative-tree.jpg" length="60971"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/237/200200p4135EDNthumbPalliative-tree.jpg" alt="" /> With a yearlong waiting list to enter a skilled-nursing facility for long-term care, my father was placed on palliative care at home recently. While it may not seem so, it was an early  Christmas ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:23:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/doctors-order-is-best-gift-of-all</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-237]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Understanding new roles in healthcare]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/understanding-new-roles-in-healthcare</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/241/hospitalist-jobs.jpg" length="17022"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/241/200200p4135EDNthumbhospitalist-jobs.jpg" alt="" /> Most of us know that hospital staffing is made up of doctors and nurses. But if you haven’t visited a hospital lately, you may not know about the evolving set of specialties found in today’s ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2016 16:55:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/understanding-new-roles-in-healthcare</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-241]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Picking the right skilled-nursing facility]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/picking-the-right-skilled-nursing-facility</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/242/skilled-nursing-facility.jpg" length="20006"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/242/200200p4135EDNthumbskilled-nursing-facility.jpg" alt="" /> An individual typically takes one of two paths to a skilled nursing facility: straight from the hospital or from home when they become too frail or sick to care for themselves. 
 In the first case, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2016 17:27:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/picking-the-right-skilled-nursing-facility</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-242]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Dealing with the most difficult transition]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dealing-with-the-most-difficult-transition</link><enclosure type="image/jpg" url="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/243/Emil-and-Barbara-Birnstein.jpg" length="20565"></enclosure><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/Portals/9/EasyDNNNews/243/200200p4135EDNthumbEmil-and-Barbara-Birnstein.jpg" alt="" /> Next week we begin the heart-wrenching steps to place my father in a skilled-nursing facility in  New Hampshire . 
 Parkinson’s disease has taken its toll on him and on my mother, his caregiver. I ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2016 21:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dealing-with-the-most-difficult-transition</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-243]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[One subject that’s seriously tough to swallow]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/one-subject-thats-seriously-tough-to-swallow</link><description><![CDATA[   

 My father has an appointment with the gastroenterologist.  He says he's having trouble swallowing some foods, especially cheeseburgers, which are a favorite of his. 

 Difficulty swallowing ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2016 01:42:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/one-subject-thats-seriously-tough-to-swallow</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-262]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Screening for memory loss]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/screening-for-memory-loss</link><description><![CDATA[  Last month my husband left $100 worth of frozen dog food in his trunk over the weekend. I went to feed the dog on Monday morning and the freezer was bare. 

 “Hon, did you pick up the dog food on ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:08:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/screening-for-memory-loss</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-268]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Waiting for a call back]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/waiting-for-a-call-back</link><description><![CDATA[  Bless the Silent Generation. They’re some of the kindest, most patient people. But how is that patience faring in today’s complex healthcare environment? 

 My father, you may remember, is ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:06:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/waiting-for-a-call-back</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-270]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Seniors thrive in adult day programs]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seniors-thrive-in-adult-day-programs</link><description><![CDATA[ Y ears ago, after my grandmother died, my cousin came to live with my grandfather. 
 While Grandpa’s daughter shopped for him and did his laundry, his grandson Butchy lived with him and was in ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2015 19:44:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/seniors-thrive-in-adult-day-programs</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-272]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Improving senior nutrition]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/improving-senior-nutrition</link><description><![CDATA[  It’s a well-documented fact that the majority of older adults would prefer to live at home. What you may not know is that nutrition problems are widespread among those who choose to do so. 

 ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:48:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/improving-senior-nutrition</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-278]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Healthcare decisions made easier]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/healthcare-decisions-made-easier</link><description><![CDATA[  Aren’t online customer reviews wonderful? 

 They are those postings by people who invest time and energy to give their feedback on a recent purchase experience on sites like Yelp, Angie’s List ...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2015 00:52:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/healthcare-decisions-made-easier</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-281]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Hoping ‘Still Alice’ inspires action]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hoping-lsquostill-alicersquo-inspires-action</link><description><![CDATA[    Movies about human afflictions make for juicy acting roles and great returns at the box office; but movies about disease can sometimes do an amazing job of changing the national conversation. ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2015 11:13:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hoping-lsquostill-alicersquo-inspires-action</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-288]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Testing for Alzheimer’s]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/testing-for-alzheimerrsquos</link><description><![CDATA[    I know many people who worry about getting Alzheimer’s because a grandparent, parent or sibling suffers from it. When keys are lost, eyeglasses are misplaced, or things historically recalled are ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/testing-for-alzheimerrsquos</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-294]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Some like it hot]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/some-like-it-hot</link><description><![CDATA[    Last week I hosted an early morning meeting of care professionals at Senior Concerns. 

 As we sailed into the second hour of our meeting and the early morning coolness gave way to summer heat, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:15:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/some-like-it-hot</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-308]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[The last taste to go]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-last-taste-to-go</link><description><![CDATA[    I come from a family who loves great food. My maternal grandmother made the most magnificent pasta sauces, handmade meat tortellini and mouthwatering veal parmesan. 

 My paternal grandmother ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:49:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-last-taste-to-go</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-310]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[What’s that you say?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/whatrsquos-that-you-say</link><description><![CDATA[    It always surprises me when new information about the aging process comes my way and a previously puzzling situation suddenly makes sense. 

 I call it the “aha” moment. 

 This week’s “aha” ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2014 09:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/whatrsquos-that-you-say</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-313]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Care transitions challenge seniors]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/care-transitions-challenge-seniors</link><description><![CDATA[    My dad recently went through a difficult transition: from the ER to the hospital to rehab and then home, all as a result of passing out due to orthostatic hypotension (falling blood pressure when ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2014 21:03:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/care-transitions-challenge-seniors</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-321]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Why are you calling me?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/why-are-you-calling-me</link><description><![CDATA[    A few Saturday mornings ago I was jolted awake by a phone call at 6:15. 

 “Is this Andrea Gallagher?” 

 “Yes, who’s this?” 

 “This is Lifeline, Mrs. Gallagher. Your mother pushed her ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:42:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/why-are-you-calling-me</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-415]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Something to chew on]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/something-to-chew-on</link><description><![CDATA[    As a child, I used to think teeth were the most important part of the human body. Can you blame me? So much attention was paid to them. 

 In first grade, I can remember the teacher ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2014 22:50:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/something-to-chew-on</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-414]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Accumulating too much]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/accumulating-too-much</link><description><![CDATA[    Right or wrong, many adults tend to measure their happiness by how much stuff they accumulate, but in later life, I think it’s just the opposite. 

 Today Mary, my mother-in-law, is happily ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2013 10:57:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/accumulating-too-much</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-406]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Lawn sprinklers and Alzheimer’s]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/lawn-sprinklers-and-alzheimerrsquos</link><description><![CDATA[    Our lawn sprinkler has always given us trouble. 

 My husband tells me it has something to do with the manifolds, the things that have electrical wires connecting the faucet to the valves that ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2013 10:21:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/lawn-sprinklers-and-alzheimerrsquos</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-405]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[A different kind of path]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/a-different-kind-of-path-1</link><description><![CDATA[    After their retirement, my parents loved to walk along the pathways in the nearby state park. 

 It was there they noticed the first signs. My mom said she noticed my father wasn’t swinging one ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:34:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/a-different-kind-of-path-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-392]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Hospitalizing a parent: 10 things to consider]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospitalizing-a-parent-10-things-to-consider</link><description><![CDATA[    Part two of a two-part series 

 Part one in this series highlighted five ways we can help our parents plan in advance of an unexpected hospitalization, including establishing an advanced ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:35:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospitalizing-a-parent-10-things-to-consider</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-391]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Hospitalizing a parent: 10 things to consider]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospitalizing-a-parent-10-things-to-consider-2</link><description><![CDATA[    Part one of a two-part series 

 The phone rings. Your 80-year old mother has fallen. They suspect she has broken her hip. An ambulance is on its way. 

 Whether the relationship with your ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:31:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/hospitalizing-a-parent-10-things-to-consider-2</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-390]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Walking your way to fitness and friendship]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/walking-your-way-to-fitness-and-friendship-1</link><description><![CDATA[    For many of us, getting fit is an ever-present entry on our to-do list. 

 Not so for Mike McAdam. 

 Since April 2012, McAdam, 41, a recreation coordinator at Goebel Adult Community Center, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/walking-your-way-to-fitness-and-friendship-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-387]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Condiments for Christmas]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/condiments-for-christmas-1</link><description><![CDATA[    Each year during Thanksgiving weekend I put together my holiday shopping list. 

 And each year my list gets a little shorter as some friends and family say, “Let’s forget the gift giving; ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:03:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/condiments-for-christmas-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-383]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[What I learned from my shingles scare]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/what-i-learned-from-my-shingles-scare-1</link><description><![CDATA[    Have you met anyone who’s had shingles? If so, they probably have a lot to tell you about their experience. 

 My mother-in-law, who is a lung cancer survivor, says the pain associated with ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:32:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/what-i-learned-from-my-shingles-scare-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-379]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[The epidemic among us]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-epidemic-among-us-1</link><description><![CDATA[  Jessica and her husband are worried about their elderly neighbors, Bill and Rachel. 

 Living alone and in their 80s, Bill and Rachel have been staples in the neighborhood for years. 

 Rachel, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:37:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/the-epidemic-among-us-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-375]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Putting the focus on senior hunger]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/putting-the-focus-on-senior-hunger</link><description><![CDATA[    Every day in our community some 5,000 seniors struggle to put the right food on their tables. 

 Faced with financial challenges, physical limitations or isolation, they face a dilemma—whether ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:53:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/putting-the-focus-on-senior-hunger</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-367]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Does playing chess prevent Alzheimer’s?]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/does-playing-chess-prevent-alzheimerrsquos</link><description><![CDATA[    How many of us know what we can do to reduce our risk of Alzheimer’s disease? 

 When I ask groups of seniors that question, some of the more common answers include games such as crossword ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:59:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/does-playing-chess-prevent-alzheimerrsquos</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-363]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Dementia and UTIs]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dementia-and-utis-1</link><description><![CDATA[   It seemed to happen overnight. 

 Andrea entered the assisted living facility to join her 94-year-old mother for casino night. Unable to find her at the event, Andrea went to her mother’s room. ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:03:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/dementia-and-utis-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-356]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Alzheimer interventions]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/alzheimer-interventions</link><description><![CDATA[    Gil Rishton, Ph.D. is in a race against time. 

 His enemy is Alzheimer’s disease. 

 Why the race? An estimated 10 million American baby boomers, who are now between the ages of 47 and 65, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:09:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/alzheimer-interventions</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-342]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Curiosity boosts the brain]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/curiosity-boosts-the-brain</link><description><![CDATA[   For the most part, our own education wasn’t on our minds as we raised our families and toiled away at our jobs. Most of our structured learning was completed in the classroom many years earlier, ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:33:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/curiosity-boosts-the-brain</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-338]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Many boomers don’t notice early signs of Alzheimer’s]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/many-boomers-donrsquot-notice-early-signs-of-alzheimerrsquos</link><description><![CDATA[   

  The words of the physical therapist whirled in Alicia’s head. 

 “Your mother is having some difficulty following directions. We are giving her verbal cues to help her stability, but she ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:10:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/many-boomers-donrsquot-notice-early-signs-of-alzheimerrsquos</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-336]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Be observant when visiting the elderly this holiday]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-observant-when-visiting-the-elderly-this-holiday-1</link><description><![CDATA[   

   The holidays are a wonderful time to visit family and friends— bringing the kids to see Grandma, visiting Aunt Betty or taking some homemade cookies to an elderly neighbor. 

 If we just ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/be-observant-when-visiting-the-elderly-this-holiday-1</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-333]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Disaster preparedness for those with dementia]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/disaster-preparedness-for-those-with-dementia</link><description><![CDATA[   If you’re age 60 or above, you’ve probably experienced more than one disaster. 

 Earthquakes, wildfires and mudslides are more common in our neck of the woods; hurricanes, ice storms and ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/disaster-preparedness-for-those-with-dementia</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-328]]></dc:identifier></item><item><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrea Gallagher]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Daily Choices and Your Health]]></title><link>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/daily-choices-and-your-health</link><description><![CDATA[  How much do your day-to-day choices determine your long-term health and well-being? 

 When it comes to longevity, Sophie, 95, has great genes. Most of her blood relatives have lived well past ...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>https://rethinkingyourfuture.com/daily-choices-and-your-health</guid><dc:identifier><![CDATA[c0cd3f4b-6978-4727-9062-4e50ece0c2a4-324]]></dc:identifier></item></channel></rss>