When the wind blows, that old arthritis makes even walking a chore

Fall is, without a doubt, my very favorite season of the year. Since I wilt in hot weather, the crisp fall air fills me with new energy, and the colors here in Connecticut are truly breathtaking. But this year, there’s an additional unwelcome symptom, arthritis pain in the hips and in the left ankle I broke many years ago.

Instead of striding forth and being able to enjoy this invigorating weather, I find I am taking careful, mincing steps, holding onto trees, car fenders, chairs and occasionally, even other people; often to their complete surprise. Cortisone shots and Aleve no longer seem to work, so I am about to try advice from the Mayo Clinic, which I will share with any of my readers also experiencing “Fallthritis.”

The basics
Whatever your condition, you will have an easier time staying ahead of your pain if you talk to your doctor about your symptoms, arthritis related or not. Sometimes, seemingly unrelated problems are, in fact, connected.

Ask your doctor for a clear definition of the type of arthritis you have. Find out if any of your joints are already damaged.

While most medications for arthritis relief are relatively safe, no medication is free of side effects. Talk with your doctor to decide what would work best for you.

Everyday routines
Do some gentle exercise in the evening, and you won’t feel as stiff in the morning. When you are basically doing nothing, be sure to adjust position frequently. Change the position of your hands; bend and stretch your legs.

Take breaks so that you don’t overuse a joint.

Exercise
Gentle movement can decrease the pain, improve your range of motion, strengthen muscles and increase endurance. Low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or water exercise. (For a number of years, I have been going to the Branford Y for an early morning water exercise class which I love). Of course, exercise along with diet should result in weight reduction which would alleviate stress on the joints. (On this point, I have had a spectacular lack of success.)

Avoid running, jumping, tennis, repetition of movement or complete inactivity.

Rest
Occasional pain may require nothing more than rest. Try application of heat or cold (whichever works best for you). There are even some sports-type rubs and roll-ons that may give quick, if not lasting, relief.

Depression
It is not surprising that depression is more common in people with arthritis. Pain has a negative effect on mood and if everyday activities are difficult, it is bound to be discouraging. If those feelings are constant and escalate, the doctor may recommend anti-depressants or cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce depression and the arthritis pain.

In summary, nothing earth-shattering in any of the above information, but even a small reduction in pain is encouraging. Hopefully, the drug companies are putting time and money into this major problem that affects so many of us as we age.

Meanwhile, if you spot an 80-something lady maneuvering unsteadily down the street, give her a big smile as you move out of the way; it might be me, out to enjoy this beautiful fall weather ... arthritis be dammed.

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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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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