Many of us worry about getting older; some of us more than others.  This fear could stem from worry about our health, anxiety over how we will manage physically or mentally as we age or the dread of losing those we love as the years go on. Put simply, many people suffer from stress, anxiety and even depression over the thought of getting old and how that process will impact their lives.  Whatever the root cause of this fear, it can have an extremely negative impact on our health. The bottom line is that we are all ageing whether we like it or not and rather than becoming preoccupied with such worries, there are a number of ways to bypass our negative feelings about getting older….

Isolation can be a real challenge for older people, who may live alone or have limited opportunities for social interaction. While we might feel a little awkward around elders within our community, we probably have more in common than we imagine. We all feel good when someone takes the time to see us in our day-to-day lives, and the older people around us are often a font of wisdom, experience, and humour. On the other hand, we all feel unhappy when we feel ignored, so don’t avoid your seniors. Take the time to share a friendly good morning and ask how they are. Whether we are interacting with older people within our community or navigating the challenges of later life with a family member or loved…

There comes a moment for many of us, in which we begin to realise that it is time for us, or a loved one, to retire from driving. While the thought can be a little intimidating, safety on the road is an absolute priority and adapting to life without getting behind the wheel can be much easier than you might imagine.   Warning Signs Perhaps friends or family have expressed concern, or perhaps you yourself have the sense that your driving is changing. Consider if you are feeling more anxious behind the wheel than you used to, are losing focus or getting lost more easily. Have you had any near misses in the car? Your eyesight may not be what it was, or you may be…

As we get older there comes a point where retaining our independence becomes increasingly difficult. As we, or our loved ones, face these challenges it can be tricky to broach the subject with the important people in our lives, but needing to adapt to a change of circumstances needn’t be something to feel embarrassed about. In fact, taking a few practical steps as we age can make life much more enjoyable and allow us to maintain our autonomy for far longer. A huge aspect of self-determination can be the wish to stay in our own home. We feel comfortable in our own space, can maintain familiar routines and may have a beloved pet that we wish to stay with, or memories that we wish to stay…

Are you tired of colouring your hair to cover greys? The habit is an expensive one and, while I’m all for investing in our appearances in the name of self expression, I have a bone to pick with feeling under pressure to look like something that doesn’t express our true essence. We should feel free to be our beautiful selves, representing how we feel on the inside in whatever form that might take! A few years ago I began noticing a local woman with the most extraordinary silver hair. I would see her in the grocery store, queuing at the bank and in the park on Sunday. She was an older woman with extraordinary beauty and grace and it was impossible to guess her age. The…