Your Retirement Living Connection

 By Henry Smith - Founder of America Hears

Millions of people in the United States suffer from mild hearing loss, but many avoid scheduling a hearing test to determine the cause. Blane Anderson, CCC-A, senior audiologist for America Hears, notes, “As the baby-boom generation ages, more people are going to be affected by hearing loss. And therefore, in this decade, there is going to be more awareness, simply because of the numbers that are going to experience hearing loss.” However, many of those suffering from mild hearing loss may not yet understand their condition, or may want to dismiss it entirely, despite concerned comments from family and friends.

 By Gloria Lintermans & Marilyn Stolzman, Ph.D., L.M.F.T.

An excerpt from The Healing Power of Love: Transcending the Loss of a Spouse to New Love

At this point, widowed for about 18 months, I met Hal the night I attended my last “bereavement support group” meeting. I was instantly attracted to his energy. We seemed to have a lot in common, both professionally and emotionally. I gave him my business card with the knowing feeling that he would call, but I had no idea if it would be in a week or a year. I hold a life’s philosophy that things happen when they should.

Hal called about six months later and we had dinner together; everything moved very quickly, too quickly for my comfort, but I felt emotionally safe with him and we connected well on many levels because of all we had in common.

By Gloria Lintermans and Marilyn Stolzman, Ph.D., L.M.F.T.

The unimaginable has happened; you are a widow or widower. Mourning your loss has been the focus of your life for the past year or two. Finally, as you begin to surface from your profound grief, with a deep breath and lot or a little trepidation you find yourself falling in love again. Is this new relationship fraught with landmines? You bet! Here are important stepping stones to help keep you afloat along the way, Do’s and Don’ts as it were for widows/widowers beginning a new, loving relationship.

Perhaps you joined a bereavement support group, progressed through the stages of loss and are doing pretty well. And then, surprise … you find yourself attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Not just someone to hear your grief, but someone who makes your heart quicken. What to do? What feels right? You are still grieving, but you’re attracted and you want to date, you’re also lonely and crave company. And yet, you feel guilty, disloyal to your late spouse.

 by Dan Roberts - MD Support

Chris and I held a yard sale last weekend. The good news is that we made over $500. The bad news is that it will cost $1500 to repair the damage to our minivan.

See, I think we vision-impaired people depend a lot on our memories. I remember where the stairs are from the last time I fell down them. I remember which section of the drawer the spoons are in--not the forks, which my granddaughter insists she can't eat cereal with. I remember where I leave the remote: on the table to the right of my chair. Heck, I even leave it pointing at the TV so I don't spend precious minutes trying to change the channels on my chest before I realize I'm holding it backwards. A good memory can save time when you don't see well.