The Baby Boomers Archives - Dr. KarenTurnerPhD

Depression – one of the principal elderly problems of our time

Karen Turner — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:23:41 +0000

Of all elderly problems, depression is one of the most lethal. There are around six million Americans who are above the age of sixty five and suffer from some degree of depression. What’s surprising and saddening is that only around ten percent of these elderly people receive professional help. There are all sorts of elderly problems nowadays and many of these problems sprout from the fact that when people reach old age their spouses, friends and family either die or drift apart. Elderly problems such as depression cause one to experience an overall lowering in the quality of life and stark decrease in productivity and joy.

Studies have shown that depression is a huge factor that contributes towards the development of various other elderly problems – both physical and psychological. That’s precisely why it is pivotal to treat your loved one, parent or grandparent for depression as soon as mild symptoms of depression start to crop up – and this is not only true for depression, it is true of all elderly problems.

There are also numerous psychological articles that have rightly suggested that the suicide rate for elderly white men around the age of eighty to eighty four is at least double to that of the general population. To give a further insight into why depression is the direst of all elderly problems, consider the fact that the National institute of Mental Health identifies depression as the most fundamental of all elderly problems for people aged 65 and above. On a financial note, it is worth pointing out that a depressed elderly person will generally consume fifty percent more on heath care costs than his counterparts who do not suffer from depression. The bottom line here is that depression can lead to further physical, emotional and mental elderly problems. Also, physical elderly problems can take a lot longer to cure if the patient suffers from depression.

The fact of the matter is that an unhealthy mind can cause a plethora of other elderly problems. The mind and its negative thoughts can almost always be found at the bottom of elderly problems such as cancer, heart diseases, Parkinson’s and arthritis.

If you think this article about elderly problems has been informative, thought provoking and eye-opening then please join our network of thousands of other baby boomers at www.boomeryearbook.com and let us know.

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, catch up on reviews of psychological articles specializing in elderly problems or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping the Baby Boomers optimize our mental and emotional wellnes.

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Favorite boomers flicks: new and old

Karen Turner — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:37:27 +0000

I love going to the movies, I love watching movies at home, I love my DVD collection … I just can’t get enough of movies! There’s nothing like curling up with a good book, but by the same token there’s nothing like a good movie and some popcorn. I grew up watching movies, and like most baby boomers, I remember it being an all day affair as it was never just one flick but always two. The boomer generation wasn’t all about rock and roll or hippies, we managed to fit in a few movies too! We were theater goers, but with increasing technology, many of the baby boomer generation are perfectly content to watch DVDs at home.

Here’s a list and a line or two about some great movies from our time: the boomer generations time. And some movies that are recent releases.

Shirley Valentine: This movie was actually based on a play. An unhappy wife was going through a mid life crisis when a holiday in Greece changed and refreshed her in more ways than one. I loved it.

West Side Story: The film released in 1961 and it wasn’t just another spin off of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; we remembered it. The songs were amazing, and while watching the movie might not be as great as seeing the play, I’d definitely count it as an all time favorite of the boomer generation. Wasn’t Natalie Wood just breathtaking?!

Dr Zhivago is another favorite of the boomer generation. (So far all the movies listed were either books or plays before being adapted to the big screen … hmm interesting) Anyway, this epic romance/war movie starred a gorgeous Omar Sharif in the lead role and an equally gorgeous Julie Christie. The film was released in 1965.

GREASE (Yes, originally a play). Do I need to explain this movie? Everybody, not only the boomer generation loved this movie. Olivia Newton John and John Travolta set the screen on fire.

The boomer generation has adapted rather well to today’s life. Really, it takes a great effort on our part to tolerate and digest some of the stuff our children and grandchildren watch and some stuff that is ostensible stimulating adult cinema.

However, we were fortunate as this past year turned out quite a few good movies. “Slumdog Millionaire” has been making waves ever since it was released. I think the movie is ageless and particularly relevant for those of the boomer generation in the sense that we grew up in a prosperous time and yet, so many years of ‘development’ later there are still those who don’t have what we had decades ago. While I thought the actors were impeccably played, I found the movie “Revolutionary Road” (another movie adapted from a novel), set in the post war, pre-Abortion era, a little slow and being one of millions of baby boomer women, I personally couldn’t relate to the world “prior” to the right to choose.

Do you have favorite flick; old or new? Come share your thoughts with others at Boomeryearbook.

www.boomeryearbook.com is a free social networking site connecting the baby boomers generation. Whether you are a member of the baby boomers generation or are related to someone who is, you will find plenty to do here. Free psychological articles on a vast variety of topics such as dream analysis, coaching and self-help, elderly problems, examinations and proposed solutions for types of discrimination along with weekly updates on mental and medical health. You can also become a non-member subscriber to our free newsletter to receive these articles directly in your inbox so you don’t miss out.

At Boomer Yearbook you can share your thoughts, upload pictures and find old friends, or use our online optical illusions and brain games, provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner, to expand your mind and help ward off the possibility of depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Join now to discover the numerous ways in which this online social networking site for the baby boomers and boomers of all ages can contribute to optimal physical and emotional wellness. The baby boomers generation changed the world. We’re not done yet!

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Happy Valentine’s Day to all of us Baby Boomers

Karen Turner — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:32:10 +0000

As the day nears there are many who are pro and against Valentine’s Day. But, I just say this to everybody, there’s nothing wrong with a day of extra special lovin’! I’m a woman whose statistics classify as part of the baby boomer generation. I’m hmm, a mature woman of a certain age. Yet, while age has a number, a state of mind is ephemeral. You are truly as young or as old as you feel. Obviously, your state of mind has positive correlations to age, you hopefully become more mature and more composed. But, that doesn’t mean you become dull. All you baby boomer women out there, have no shame in looking forward to Valentine’s Day!

In the past few years the baby boomer generation has possibly been sending more V Day cards to their grandchildren and relatives, and not their loved ones. Maybe they’re single, or maybe they’ve just been married so long they just don’t bother. Many single individuals of the baby boomer generation complain that most everyone their age is already in a committed relationship. Well, that is simply not true. You’d be surprised how many “single” people you can find that ‘are of your time’. Some people grumble about networking sites or V Day parties for singles above 50 … they call it unfair classification. Look, if you’re single and above 50, you’re single and above 50 … what’s wrong with that!

This weekend please forget all your anti V Day principles and inhibitions (well not ALL!) and do something special for a loved one. For the baby boomer generation I have good news. There are so many websites and other information outlets about gift ideas and romance.

What do you buy a fellow baby boomer for V Day?

I think gift baskets are a great idea. Buy stuff that will remind you of the 60s and 70s. Remember those tie dyed shirts and slinkies? Remember “Leave it to Beaver” and silly putty? Remember Tootsie Rolls and peace necklaces? You get the idea. Find things relative to the baby boomer generation. Dig in your stuff and pull out things from the past. Wipe off that dust and sit down with a loved one and reminisce. Baby boomer women; this can be with your loved one or your best girlfriend.

Another thing that most everybody, young and old, from or not from the baby boomer generation, likes is gift certificates. I go crazy for spa gift certificates. There’s nothing like a great day at the spa. While that may seem too exotic for you, give it a try, it’s so relaxing. If spas aren’t your thing then that is just fine. All women out there who don’t know what to buy their baby boomer men: offer to have all of their music updated to CDs or to MP3 format. Trust me, they’ll never do it themselves and it makes for a great, if not very romantic, gesture.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all Baby Boomers. Cheers to us!

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Home Alone? The Pros and Cons of Baby Boomers Renting Out Part of Your Home

Karen Turner — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:18:46 +0000

Before you consider renting out a part of your home, go to the DVD store and pick up “Duplex” starring Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon. If you still have the desire to rent after watching that movie, then go ahead and read this article.
Renting out a part of your home is an easy way to earn some extra income, but there are some considerations you must take into account before deciding to share your home with paying strangers. If you do not own your own home, then you need to consult with your landlord or read through your lease to make sure that you can legally rent out part of the home.
If you do own your home, but you reside in a gated community or complex of some sort then you need to check with your property manager to find out whether you can rent out the property to other persons, and if so, what the extra fees are that have to be paid or any extra arrangements such as parking, security etc.
If you have a single family home on your own lot, then you can move to the next step of thinking about the future of your home. Do you have children that may need to move back in with you? Are you finished having children? Do you have an elderly parent that may need to move in with you? In other words, are you absolutely sure that you will not have a purpose for that extra space you are willing to rent out?
Then you move on to the next question- is there enough space for you to live comfortably with your tenants? If not, and you are thinking of making renovations or adding on to the structure make sure you get all the required permits and plans and work out the budget to see if it is worth it in the end.
Now that you’ve done all your investigation, you can realistically examine the pros and cons of renting your property.

Pros
• You’ll earn an extra income.
• It’s nice to have other people around or, at least, know that they are very near.
• More persons in the space will reduce the risk of danger (i.e. safety in numbers)
• There’s someone there to help you in your time of need. For example, you won’t have to walk far to borrow the sugar.
• You can carpool and buy bulk groceries to save on living expenses.

Cons
• Someone will always be in your space; if that bothers you, renting is not a good idea.
• The duties of a landlord can be tedious as you are responsible for any and everything that goes wrong.
• The tenants may not be the wonderful neighbors that you’d dreamed of.
• They may be careless in taking care of your property, thus bringing down its value.
• They don’t have to walk far to borrow your sugar.
• You will have to spend money before you earn money, and if the place is not done right the first time you will lose more money than you spend.
• Your property becomes open to people other than your tenants as they’ll invite their own guests to their home.

Renting out a part of your home is a sacrifice of your space, your time, your privacy somewhat and your money initially. However, if the extra income is worth it and your home and personality are such that disturbances of the sort that arise with tenants in close proximity do not affect adversely, renting out a part of your home can be good money-making idea.

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Knowing Your Family Medical History

Karen Turner — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 08:34:18 +0000

In this day and age, there are many different options available to keep yourself healthy when you know what you are up against. For some, it seems as if some diagnoses just come out of the blue. What you may not know is that your grandmother or uncle had the same ailment or disease years ago. This is why it is important for you, especially as part of the Baby Boomers generation, to know your family’s medical history. It can prepare you for what is inevitable and save you from what can be prevented. There are several steps to take in order to organize this information to benefit you in the long run.

Research
All of the information you need is going to take a lot of research. First you should create a family tree if you do not already have one. You have to interview as many relatives as you can to truly get the full picture. Start with immediate family members such as your parents and siblings, and record as much information as possible. Next, move on to grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins. The more people you are able to interview the better your chances are of getting accurate information. Death certificates and obituaries can also be an insightful resource in this search.

What To Ask

When speaking with your family members it is important to ask about lifestyle factors that affected your relative’s health, immunizations, childhood illnesses and chronic diseases that are prevalent in the family. Knowing the age of onset or age of death is also a vital part of information to be aware of. It is important to know about any cases of mental illness or other emotional disorders that are known to be genetic.

The Next Step

After your research is complete, relay all this information to a trusted physician and ask as many questions as you can. Take all the tests necessary to screen for any signs of any ailments or diseases. It is important that you do not wait until it is too late to start this process. Be proactive and know what you may be up against. You should also keep this information as current as possible. You never know when some new information may come to light. As you take control of your health and your future, you can save your life and maybe even the lives of loved ones in your family.

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