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Your computer won’t turn on. Don’t panic. Some people remain calm and try to figure out how to fix it. They’re the ones who understand technology. Most likely, they are young. And then there are those like us, more than 70 years old, who are easily flummoxed by anything digital, whether a computer, printer, complicated oven and the clock in our car. When anything goes wrong, we grunt; try to fix it. No luck. That’s when we curse, we might shriek or, if we have a partner or roommate, we call them to help. Many try but don’t succeed. They’re...

Fess up seniors. Technology is not always the enemy; sometimes, it is our friend. At least once a day when we’re having an issue with it, we might declare, “I can’t stand technology!” Not so fast. Today technology can save your life. Try to embrace it. With advances and apps, technology can serve as a lifeline. It’s like always having a medical professional with you to monitor your wellness. How cool—and healthy--is that! For example, Smartphones and smartwatches centralize the management of your physical, mental and emotional well-being. There is ECG monitoring, fall detection and irregular heart rhythm warnings. There...

This is the third in our series of buddy blogs. We’ve shared the wisdom of having a health and a confidence buddy. Two separate friends or family members: one to share our health concerns and go to certain doctor appointments with us or listen as we undergo tests, wait for results and maybe begin treatments, and another person whom we know we can trust to confide in and not breathe a word of our problems or deepest secrets to anyone else, even though the world seems to be one of massive sharing. Now we are weighing in on the advantage...

A desire to have fewer possessions as we age seems contradictory, as many still gather and keep their often-overflowing collections from years and decades past, despite the popular advice of decluttering expert Marie Kondo.  Collections are objects that speak to us, and it’s tough to let go of favorites that reflect who we are, represent a mosaic of our memories. It may provide a link to past generations who often bequeathed their collections to us, whether we wanted them or not. For some, holding on or continuing to collect is a habit we don’t want to break. A vacation abroad...

It’s one of your worst nightmares. You walk alone into a crowded room of strangers. You freak out at the thought of standing with a drink in your hand, feeling like a wallflower.   How do you connect comfortably with someone? Anyone? You spot a person you think you’ve met before and would like to know better. You edge your way closer, hoping to catch their eye. But how do you begin the conversation? This is when your small talk chops come in handy. Some consider small talk trivial, banal and challenging. Don’t dismiss how hard it can be to do...