Late-fall fashion choices, holiday planning and New Haven Restaurant Week

Last week saw an end to some of the idyllic Indian summer weather that is one of the delights of living in Connecticut.

Temperatures dropped sufficiently for me to realize it was time to visit Lock Up Self Storage (no longer having a handy basement) and replace the cotton T-shirts with some long-sleeve acrylics and jackets to toss on for early morning or late-evening appointments. Additionally, the other unwelcome signal that winter is definitely approaching is the end of daylight saving time, today. (Did you remember to turn your clock back 1 hour?)

Another important date to remember is Election Day. I have been attending meetings to hear the views of local candidates, and one of the issues of particular interest is the need to replace the outworn, outdated, Canoe Brook Senior Center in Branford with a facility that can inspire the hardworking staff and the continually increasing number of seniors and their families who partake and benefit from its services.(More about this issue in a future column).

Instead of starting my menu planning for Thanksgiving, this is the first Thanksgiving where I will be a guest rather than the hostess, and I have been struggling to make online reservations, using my airline credits, to join my cousins in South Carolina. The airline sites are like a minefield with all of their hidden extras and stipulations about seat choice and baggage. I may decide to incur the extra charge in order to speak and make reservations with a live representative … hopefully, there are a few still in existence.

The approach of cooler weather has also encouraged me to mark the reviews for a few books that I hope to find time to read this winter, and although, ordinarily, I see very few movies, preferring live theater, I did see two movies this past week. The first, “Captain Phillips” with Tom Hanks, based on the true story of the hijacking of the U.S. container ship by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks gives a powerfully intense performance, and the movie kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. “Gravity,” although praised by many reviewers, was for me, interesting for the first 20 minutes during which I was intrigued by the amazing 3-D effects. After that, I lost interest as it was impossible to relate to the single individual (Sandra Bullock) left alone in space (George Clooney, sadly, leaves for outer space, early in the film) valiantly grunting and groaning her one liners while trying to find the right buttons to push in order to survive.

I guess for me, characterization and plot far outweigh any spectacular effects. I was remembering some simple black and white films on small screens that had kept me spellbound while this extravaganza of special effects was almost boring. I’m sure many people will disagree.

The colder weather seems to also have affected my appetite. I’m no longer content with salads for lunch, but yearn for hearty soups, pasta, hot rolls and yummy deserts … none of which are good for the waistline. And let’s not forget that New Haven Restaurant Week, www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek, with all of those special tempting menus begins today. Oh well, as Kirstie Alley said, “There’s a lot more to life than how fat or thin you are.”

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

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Is it me or do the years seem to be racing by faster and faster?

Today is the birthday of the sweet daughter I so eagerly welcomed 10 years after my two rambunctious boys. How can my “baby” be in her mid-40s? What’s more, this past week, your Senior Moments columnist marked the beginning of her 85th year. Who?? Me!!!!!!! What happened to my 50s, 60s and 70s?

I know I enjoyed them, but who suddenly sent the time clock whirring so fast? Some people review the past year and their accomplishments (or lack thereof) at the new year. I always seem to review the past year and set new goals for myself on my birthday.

Looking at last year’s goals, I did accomplish two of them, but one of those was by sheer luck; my own efforts had very little to do with it. One of last year’s goals, to write a book, is being carried over to this year. I feel a bit ashamed about that and worried too; at this age, you can’t keep “carrying over” goals … there simply isn’t time.

One of the tricks to help accomplish a goal is to announce it to everyone (which I just did courtesy of this column), so now it is not just a silent wish but a public pronouncement. Another way to trick yourself is to set mini-goals locked into a definite time schedule.

That way, habit helps to replace sheer willpower, and you also have mini-achievements to celebrate along the way. And when you achieve something, even if it is small, I think it is perfectly OK to gloat and praise yourself (just do it silently). Val is no longer here to keep me on track and cheer me on, but friends who believe in you can serve as excellent coaches, especially when you hit a “down” period, and whether it is sticking to a diet, saving money or finding a new job, we all hit down periods when we are ready to give up.

In addition to staunch friends, you can also give yourself a pep talk; enumerating the things you have accomplished and reaffirming why it is important that you achieve this particular goal and the rewards it will bring. Of course, in setting goals, we need to be realistic.It is important to believe in yourself, but you also have to know your own limitations … and that’s tricky. If you always think too negatively about your own abilities, you will become discouraged before you even reach first base. Better to be a positive thinker and optimistic; even if you fall a little short of your goal, you will still have accomplished something. The most difficult step toward any goal, is, of course, that first step … just starting and now that I have publicly shared my goal with you, dear faithful reader, I can already sense a kind of positive, emotional force that will help to propel me forward.

Incidentally, for those readers who don’t use birthdays to set goals, you may want to keep a copy of this column and reread it on Jan 1.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

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MasterCard rolls out the brave, new ‘Future of Shopping’

Recently MasterCard held a conference in New York for investors called “The Future of Shopping.” Their vision, soon to be tried out, is of a shopping paradise where everything is instantly available, straight from an appealing magazine or television advertisement to your home.

See something, tap on the shopping-cart icon on the page or on the screen, and almost-instant gratification is yours.

Paydiant is creating a program for scanning a code from a television screen which redeems a coupon so you may instantly buy something seen in a commercial or perhaps even featured on the television show, itself. Peapod, the online grocery service which then delivers groceries to your door (available in this area through Stop & Shop) has a new feature on its mobile app so that customers can restock their shelves by scanning bar codes with their smart phones at home. 

As you are munching on the next-to-last cookie in the box, just take out your phone, scan the bar code and the order goes straight to the store. No need for shopping lists; you will never run out of anything. I wonder, however, isn’t there a line between convenience and instant gratification that is crossed when it becomes so easy to spend money without having to pause to consider or reflect, even for a moment? And doesn’t the increased use of icons and apps mean we become increasingly dependent on the ever-changing latest technology?

MasterCard is making this click-through shopping technique available in several areas, including television, video and movies. Gary Lyons, an executive with MasterCard, feels consumers will want to buy what they want from within the content without having to leave the content, meaning if you are watching a television show and the actress is wearing an attractive dress, you can order it on the spot, or if you are at the movies and see the perfect shirt for your husband, you can pull out a device and order it then and there.

At the Future of Shopping Conference, attendees could test out a virtual 3-D fitting room app that takes a photo of a shopper and then, given her measurements, creates an avatar to “try on” clothes so that the mobile shopper can see how they might actually look. Or using Goggle Glass (the latest craze at the designer fashion shows) which are eyeglasses that are mini-computers, the wearer can find, order and pay for, a variety of items with a simple tap on the frame of the glass.

Lyons, who feels the potential of these types of new devices is endless, says, “We’re not trying to force people to buy things to drive them into debt, but to make people’s life easier.” Why do I wonder if that is a sincere statement?

Lyons even foresaw the day when refrigerators could be programmed to send a store an order when milk or eggs are almost gone or washing machines could order detergent. While all of this “immediate-gratification shopping” is relatively new, it will certainly change the relationship between advertisers, consumers and merchants.

When I made a major move recently, I found that many of the home furnishings which I wanted to purchase, were only available online. This may have allowed the store to carry a larger selection while paying for less floor space as well as smaller inventories, but it meant that I could not actually see, touch and feel before buying and often had to assemble the purchase, as well.

The question we, as consumers, have to resolve and then make our opinions heard, is, are super convenience and instant gratification worth the price and the hidden, unforeseen disadvantages? As for me, I have some serious doubts.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

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Coalition for Senior Medication Safety in New Haven helps with managing the meds

The Coalition for Senior Medication Safety says medication misuse causes needless sickness, even death; and wants us to know that managing our medications properly is serious business.

The Coalition, based at the Consultation Center in New Haven, recently completed a year-long study, which is part of an ongoing campaign on medication safety funded by the Agency on Aging of Southern Central Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Coalition, led by gerontologist Donna Fedus and pharmacist Sean Jeffery and comprised of representatives from pharmacies, social service agencies, hospitals, home-care organizations and consumers, developed an educational campaign with the goal of promoting senior medication safety.

With the help of seven cooperating senior centers and housing facilities where the average age of participants ranged from 55 to older than 85, participants were asked a series of questions about their medication usage. Most participants took 5 prescriptions and from 2-10 nonprescriptions daily, and only 15 percent of those surveyed received help with their meds (not surprising since 68 percent of those surveyed live alone.)

One of the questions on the survey, which also was an educational goal, had to do with having everyone carry on their person a complete and up-to-date list of all their medications. On a personal level, this made me recognize the wisdom of my own cardiologist, Dr. Steven Jacoby, who at regular intervals has asked me to bring in all the actual bottles and blister packs of everything I am taking, and he makes sure they are in the correct amount, not expired, and that there are no conflicting ingredients.

Follow up questions were later asked of the same groups, with improved results in their medication management. The Coalition suggests that even if you don’t have a particular question, review your medication, the type and amounts, prescription and nonprescription, and then talk all of these over with your doctor; either during your annual checkup or make a special, separate appointment.

I learned some additional good pointers at the recent Connecticut Health conference from Shelia Molony of Connecticut Community Care:

DO’S
Keep A Record (All medicines and vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter meds.)nAsk Questions — Make a list for your health-care provider and ask your pharmacist.nSome good questions for your doctor are Why do I need this medicine and are there any alternatives? What are the risks and benefits? What are some side effects? What should I do if I miss a dose? How do I take this medicine? With food? At a certain time of day? nPartner with your healthcare provider. Follow directions carefully and share any symptoms such as dizziness, change in appetite or sleep, fatigue, etc.nRead Labels. When you refill the prescription and before taking medicine. You can request large-print labels or information sheets. Use caution with over-the-counter medicines;read the warnings, dosage and expiration dates.nAvoid Problems. Use one pharmacy. Use organizers and reminders such as charts or pill boxes. Ask for easy-open-caps (if no children come into your household).

DON’T
Take more or less medication than prescribed.nStop taking antibiotics before the full prescription is finished.nSuddenly stop a medication without checking with your doctor.nStore medications in the bathroom.nMix alcohol and medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.nBorrow, loan or share medications.

Finally, two helpful websites are Medline Plus where you can learn all about your prescriptions and over-the-counter meds and the Consumer Reports site that details the best buys in drugs. That site is www.consumer reports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/index.htm

Questions or information re: the Coalition for Senior Medication Safety, should be directed to Donna Fedus, director of elder programs, at the Consultation Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 203-789-7645.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

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