Valley Health Magazine

By Kelly Metz and Jennifer Wojtas

Sometimes it’s the little things that make you begin to worry about your parent or loved one. They settle into a nice warm tub and when trying to get out, they slip and fall, badly injuring their hip,  elbow, or head. Or, they are back home after having a hip replacement and cannot fit their walker through the narrow bathroom door. They leave it behind and in trying to rise after finishing, their legs give out and they fall…again. Even something as simple as reading a prescription bottle or remembering a medication schedule can be increasingly challenging for your loved one as they age.

By Sallie Hunt, L.M.F.T., F.A.P.A. & William Schiff, M.D.

As young adults, we typically think that our desire and capability to engage in pleasurable sex will never end. As we age, however, psychological and physiological changes occur that may take even the most amorous of us by surprise. Yet, it is a common mistake to think that just because the candles on the cake are increasing, your satisfaction, frequency and ability to confidently engage in sexual activity, will lessen. Armed with a little know-how and knowledge of the changes taking place in your body, plus the years of sexual experience you’ve already acquired, you should feel empowered to take on the golden years with a renewed understanding of how maintaining your sex life is an important component of a full, rewarding lifestyle.

By Jennifer Wojtas and Kelly Metz

So you have your finances in order, your last Will &  Testament written, and your funeral pre-planned. So now what?  You’re looking forward to an enjoyable and worry-free retirement, right?

But then you fall while ice skating and fracture a hip. You expect to have surgery, a little rehab, and then get back to doing what you want.  Except, during surgery you suffer a stroke, and you have difficulty communicating your wishes about important healthcare decisions. To boot, you’re widowed, and your five children can’t make a decision together on a good day!  What now?