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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2017)
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 16 Commentary... Of a certain age... By Sue Stafford Columnist “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” ~ William James ~ My sister-in-law lives in Santa Rosa. In the early hours of Monday morning, October 9, she lost her home of 35 years to the Tubbs Fire as it swept over the hill from Calistoga with no warning. With her house burned to the ground and a lifetime of memories inside, she was lucky to escape with her life after being trapped in her car in her neighbor’s driveway due to a tree across the road. When I received the news at 5 a.m. of her devastating loss, my first thought was, “I wonder if she will physically and emotionally be able to recoup after such a tragedy.” Was I perhaps projecting my own possible reaction to such a loss? She is 10 years my senior and has had a few expected health issues. The shock of such a loss defi- nitely takes a toll on a person, not to mention someone who is 83 years old. While grieving the mon- umental losses, and most likely still in a state of shock, she now has to deal with all the myriad details follow- ing such a disaster: insur- ance matters, replacing basic necessities, finding housing in an area where 2,800 struc- tures were ravaged by fire, arranging transportation, and basically picking up the shat- tered pieces of her life while fires are still threatening the area. There will be ongoing stress in her life for months, at best. Stress can be deadly, exacerbating existing health problems or giving rise to new ones. We all live with a vari- ety of stressors and, as we age, the factors contributing to stress are as varied as we are as individuals, but there are a few most of us share. For those with healthy retire- ment funds and sufficient financial resources, money, or the lack of it, is probably not a stressor. But, for many seniors, dwindling resources is probably the number one worry. And, as a single woman, I am among those worriers. 20% OFF ANY Treatment or Series Laser Skincare & Rejuvenation Body Contouring • Injectables Medical Skincare • Wellness Services Custom Individual and Group Bridal/Party Packages Hurry, off er ends 11-30-17. Must mention this ad. HOPE Aesthetics & Wellness 354 W. Adams Ave., Ste. C, Sisters 541.588.6503 • HopeWellnessSisters.com Due to many years as a stay-at-home mom not con- tributing toward my Social Security, for me now to rely solely on a monthly check from the government just doesn’t cut it. Between early withdrawals from my IRA to go back to school to earn my master’s degree and the fickle stock market, my IRA ran out before I have. I am currently capable of supple- menting my limited income as a freelance writer, as long as I retain my physical and mental capacities, a concern I visit occasionally. Health and housing are probably tied for second place as far as stressful fac- tors for those of a certain age. In order to continue work- ing, I need to remain healthy. Some health factors I have control over, others I don’t. It’s up to me to eat right, exercise, get adequate sleep, see my doctors regularly, and take necessary medications. But as my machinery begins to wear out, unexpected med- ical problems arise and must be addressed. As monetary resources decrease, medical and dental expenses seem to increase. For some, hard choices arise between eating or paying rent and buying medication. I have planned ahead and secured supplemen- tal health insurance, which takes a chunk out of my Social Security every month, and a long-term care policy. However, the annual pre- mium for the LTC policy, which I can’t really afford but which I can’t afford to be without, is hefty and the funds for that payment come from a reverse mortgage, which is slowly being con- sumed by property taxes, insurance premiums, and other big-ticket items not cov- ered by my monthly income. I currently own my home, for which I am extremely grateful. I have been able to tap the equity with the reverse mortgage, but that tapping must remain prudent and infrequent if my dollars and years are to keep pace with each other. If I stay in my 17-year-old home, I am looking at usual home maintenance expenses like painting, deck repairs, a new roof, repair and replace- ment costs as appliances and other items wear out. These are all the things that run through my mind in the mid- dle of the night and create a certain level of stress when I let them. What makes all of these issues stressful is that they are connected with money as the common denominator. An adjustment in one area affects the others so it is easy to become trapped by indeci- sion and inaction, which then perpetuates the stress. Even such mundane activities as cleaning out my closets or lightening the collection of “stuff” in my garage gives rise to thoughts like, “But I’ll never be able to afford to replace it if need be so I’d better hold onto it,” whatever it is. The “what if” dance can create temporary craziness and again leads to inaction. The feeling of being stuck is a stress inducer. How it impacts me depends on my current frame of mind, the time of year (long sunny days help keep it at bay), and my physical well-being. As the obituaries of people younger than me increase, I See CERTAIN AGE on page 21 Hope Aesthetics & Wellness Looking your best and feeling your best are criti- cal to your overall well-being. 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