From tales of love and romance after age 60 to grandparenting skills, there’s no shortage of information and inspiration to help navigate the prime time years. Whether you prefer a good book and comfortable chair or keyboard and mouse, here are some ideas.
“Seasons of the Heart” (New World Library, $14.95) celebrates the joys of love, sex and romance after 60. Sharing the personal stories of ordinary women and men, journalist and author Zenith Henkin Gross challenges the stereotype that passion and sexuality dim with age.
Take charge of your own health is the mantra of “Aging Well: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health” (Wiley, $29.95). Written by Jeanne Wei and Sue Levkoff, experts on aging at Harvard Medical School, it is a practical self-help guide covering a wide range of subjects, including getting the most from a doctor’s visit, avoiding fraud and scams, choosing a nursing home and adapting to life’s transitions.
For a different prescription for health aging, Dr. Gene Cohen recommends creativity. In “The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life” (Avon, $25), the gerontologist asserts that nurturing such things as relationships, hobbies, religion and volunteerism are just as important as diet and exercise to aging well. Creativity, he says, can actually help anyone stay more mentally alert and healthier longer.
Everyone wants to reach old age, but when we get there we find it’s a mixed blessing says W. Gunther Plaut in “The Price and Privilege of Growing Old” (CCAR Press, $22.95). The octogenarian scholar and rabbi takes a personal look at aging and its effects on the body, work and marriage. Then he suggests ways to balance the price of growing old with the privilege it brings.
The Medicare maze baffles young and old. Just exactly what is covered? Is additional insurance necessary? Such frequently asked questions are answered in “Talking with Your Parents About Medicare and Health Coverage.” This free 40-page booklet, with basic facts, tips and a list of state resources, is available from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit health-care philanthropy. Call toll-free 877-42HEALTH and ask for document No. 1522.
For caregivers, “Fourteen Friends’ Guide to Eldercaring” (Broadway Books, $10.95) has just come out in paperback. In such chapters as “Understanding,” “Dignity” and “Be Flexible, Be Prepared,” 14 women caregivers share their war stories, practical tips and list of sources for help.
For Web surfers who are also grandparents, check out The Foundation for Grandparenting’s Web site at www.grandparenting.org. Manifesting “grandparenting power” is one of the non-profit’s objectives, and the Web site includes news, forums, advice and even a section written by grandchildren.
Money, relationships and computers are some of the topics at SeniorCom (www.senior.com), which caters to the 50+ market.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live somewhere else, take a look at Mature Living Choices, www.maturelivingchoices.com. There is information on retirement living in communities across the country.
Ergonomic gardening tools, handcrafted English walking sticks, pillboxes that beep and golf packages are among the items available at Gold Violin, www.goldviolin.com. This new on-line store specializes in unusual and distinctive products and services just for seniors.
An advocate for older Americans, the Administration on Aging is one place to turn to for information and referrals for in-home and community based services. Their Web site at www.aoa.dhhs.gov has a comprehensive list of state, regional and area agencies on aging, with contact names, addresses and phone numbers.
To find out more about reverse mortgages for seniors or how to protect yourself from fraud, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has a special page for seniors at www.hud.gov/senior.html. There is also information on choosing a nursing home, mortgage scams and federal housing programs.
So you don’t think you’re ready for the title of “geezer” just yet? You might change your mind after checking out the “Geezer Brigade” at www.thegeezerbrigade.com. Humor reigns with jokes, polls, contests and some unusual news. It’s a Web site for those who like to laugh, or occasionally groan.
To find a Web site on just about any topic, try Age of Reason, www.ageofreason.com. It has more than 5,000 links to sites for those age 50 and older. Click on “SeniorSearch” to find specific Web sites based on categories you choose, from art and politics to RVs and golf.
