How Decades of Nicotine Addiction Complicate Recovery in Later Life

    

Nicotine addiction gradually rewires the brain, making daily routines and habits strongly linked to smoking. Older adults who have used nicotine for decades face harder withdrawal symptoms and prolonged cravings compared to younger adults. Over time, the brain adapts to the constant presence of nicotine, creating persistent urges even after attempting to quit. Long-term smokers experience slower recovery rates and higher relapse risks, especially in later life. Cognitive changes, mood fluctuations, and heightened stress can make quitting feel overwhelming. With this in mind, understanding how decades of nicotine addiction impact both body and mind is essential for planning effective cessation strategies. Awareness and structured support improve the chances of lasting recovery.

Understanding the Long-Term Grip of Nicotine

Nicotine slowly changes brain chemistry, creating strong habits that link smoking to daily routines. Older adults who have smoked for many years often notice cravings intensify in stressful situations or after meals. These patterns make breaking habits difficult. Another key point is that the brain relies on nicotine to regulate mood, energy, and focus, which reinforces dependence. Research shows that older adults struggle more than younger adults to quit successfully, largely because the body adapts over decades. Repeated exposure also strengthens associations between triggers and smoking, making avoidance more challenging. Recognizing these habitual patterns is crucial for planning cessation. Tracking triggers, timing cravings, and replacing habits with healthier behaviors improves success. Understanding the long-term grip helps older adults approach quitting realistically and with patience.

Identifying Triggers in Later Life

Smoking triggers often hide in familiar routines, such as morning coffee, evening relaxation, or social gatherings. These associations form over decades, making them difficult to recognize. For this reason, older adults must observe patterns closely and note situations that prompt cravings. Mental cues, like stress or boredom, often appear before physical urges. Avoiding triggers can reduce relapse risk, but replacement strategies also work well. Walking, light exercise, or breathing exercises help redirect attention. Similarly, mindfulness practices increase awareness of cravings and improve control over responses. Tracking progress, journaling episodes, and celebrating small successes can reinforce behavior change. Over time, older adults gain confidence in resisting triggers. Awareness of personal patterns strengthens recovery plans and highlights the importance of proactive strategies, increasing the likelihood of lasting cessation.

Physical and Mental Impacts of Nicotine on Older adults

Older adults often underestimate the physiological role nicotine plays beyond habit. Nicotine isn’t just addictive—it actively influences mood, alertness, and overall health. Over decades, it gradually damages the cardiovascular system, weakens the lungs, slows healing, and reduces immune responses. At the same time, it contributes to cognitive decline, heightened anxiety, depression, and increased stress levels. These physical and mental effects interact, creating a cycle that shows how it affects you, your daily activities, and overall well-being. Energy levels drop, focus diminishes, and emotional resilience decreases. Recovery plans must address both body and mind to succeed. Understanding these challenges helps older adults develop realistic expectations and strategies. After decades of use, the combined physical and mental toll makes quitting uniquely difficult, highlighting the importance of tailored support and structured cessation methods.

The Role of Support Systems for Older adults

Recovery becomes easier with strong social support. Family, friends, and caregivers offer encouragement, monitor progress, and provide accountability. Professional support, like counseling or senior-focused cessation groups, improves outcomes. Peer connections reduce feelings of isolation and provide tips from people facing similar challenges. Support also helps manage stress, which often triggers relapse. Emotional encouragement boosts motivation, while practical advice guides daily routines. In short, combining social, emotional, and professional support creates a comprehensive recovery environment. Older adults who engage actively in support systems report higher success rates. Encouragement from others fosters confidence, reinforces healthier habits, and reduces the sense of struggle. Structured support becomes particularly valuable after decades of nicotine addiction, helping older adults navigate withdrawal, cravings, and lifestyle adjustments.

Medical Interventions and Senior-Specific Treatments

Many people struggle with quitting their long-term struggle. Approximately 8.3% to 14% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older struggle with nicotine addiction. However, there are effective solutions. Nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gums, or lozenges, ease withdrawal symptoms for older adults. Prescription medications can also reduce cravings but require monitoring for side effects. Then again, older adults often have other health conditions, so consulting healthcare providers is important. Holistic approaches like stress management, gentle exercise, and mindfulness support overall recovery. Treatment plans work best when customized to age, health status, and smoking history. 

Besides, combining medication with behavioral therapy improves success rates. Gradual reduction methods often suit older adults better than abrupt quitting. Tracking progress and adjusting treatment based on individual response increases adherence. These interventions make recovery safer, more manageable, and sustainable. Awareness of medical options empowers older adults to choose strategies that complement lifestyle changes and social support, improving the chance of long-term cessation.

Nutrition and Exercise: Enhancing Recovery

Nutrition and physical activity strengthen the body during recovery. Foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins support lung health and immune function. Hydration helps reduce cravings, while consistent meals prevent blood sugar dips that trigger urges. Light exercise, such as walking, stretching, or swimming, improves cardiovascular health, mood, and energy. Older adults benefit from routines tailored to physical abilities and limitations. Combining nutrition and exercise reduces stress and enhances mental clarity. In like manner, staying active promotes discipline and structure, which reinforce quitting habits. Adequate sleep further supports cognitive function and emotional balance. Implementing small, consistent lifestyle changes creates a strong foundation for recovery. Hence, older adults can improve physical resilience and mental stability, making quitting more achievable.

Overcoming Mental Barriers in Later Life

Mental challenges often hinder quitting the addiction. Fear of failure, discouragement from past attempts, and low confidence can reduce motivation. Setting small goals helps older adults experience consistent success. Visualization, journaling, and positive reinforcement strengthen determination. Managing stress through meditation, deep breathing, or social engagement reduces relapse triggers. On the other hand, building resilience requires patience and repetition. Cognitive strategies like reframing urges and rewarding milestones support sustainable habits. Celebrating small victories reinforces progress and maintains morale. Understanding that setbacks are normal prevents discouragement. Older adults who approach recovery with awareness and realistic expectations manage cravings effectively. Above all, mental perseverance, combined with physical strategies and social support, significantly increases the chance of lasting cessation after decades of nicotine use.

Celebrating Milestones and Staying Committed

Recognizing achievements motivates older adults to continue recovery. Tracking smoke-free days, health improvements, or reduced cravings highlights progress. Celebrating milestones strengthens confidence and reinforces habits. Sharing accomplishments with peers or family provides accountability and encouragement. Even small successes prevent feelings of stagnation and support long-term commitment. Structured reward systems, such as enjoying a favorite activity, reinforce positive behavior. Older adults who maintain consistent routines and stay mindful of triggers reduce relapse risk. Recovery becomes more sustainable when effort and achievement are acknowledged. Long-term commitment, awareness, and support form a strong foundation for quitting. Celebrating progress promotes lasting health improvements and encourages resilience.

Overcoming the Challenges of Decades of Nicotine Addiction

Quitting after decades of nicotine addiction is challenging but possible. Older adults must address physical health, mental resilience, triggers, and support systems. Consistent effort, tailored strategies, and patience improve recovery success. Understanding these long-term effects helps older adults approach cessation realistically, empowering them to regain health and maintain a smoke-free life.

Author’s Bio: Pat Crilley is the executive director of a recovery center in Palm City, Florida. With a background in healthcare leadership, he guides the organization to bring the best quality services

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Gift Ideas to Help Seniors Stay in Touch Over the Holidays

 

Spread the love and stay connected with adaptive phones and remote tech support subscriptions. 

When parents, grandparents, and older loved ones are spread across the country or globe, family members find creative ways to stay in touch–and that’s especially important around the holidays. Hearing or vision loss can make keeping in contact more challenging, but the technology is out there to help any older adult use a phone to communicate via audio, text, and video. 

The Ooma Senior Phone Bundle uses your home internet to provide a home phone experience with features tailored to older adults. It includes large backlit buttons, photo-dial keys, a loud ringer, visual ring indicator, and hearing aid compatibility. There’s built-in scam blocking thanks to the extra device, called Ooma Telo, that connects to the Internet and blocks common scams. You can also set it to send all unknown callers directly to voicemail. For family members worried about older adults living alone, Ooma’s address-based 911 will be a welcome feature; while cell phones only give a general idea of the caller’s location to 911 operators, the Ooma provides a registered home address. It will also place automated alerts to family if the Ooma user calls 911. Their customer support is well-reviewed and trained to provide service to older adults; users can call the “Concierge” service 24/7 for setup or help. But this service costs $14.99/month. The Senior Phone Bundle, which includes the adaptive Clarity phone and Ooma Telo Internet-connected device, sell for $159.99.

The company Hamilton Captel offers captioning telephones that can be game changers for people with hearing loss. One user shared, “I now initiate telephone conversations instead of requesting my spouse to speak for me.” One of their best sellers is the CapTel 2400i, a captioning landline phone that displays word-for-word captions of everything said on a call, in real time. It features a large, backlit touchscreen display with adjustable font sizes, colors, and the ability to scroll through captions. The phone amplifies audio with tone control and hearing-aid compatibility, and includes a strong speakerphone for hands-free calls. It also includes a built-in answering machine that captions messages, a directory that can store more than 90 contacts, and speed dial and “dial-by-picture” features. The phone itself and the captions service is free for eligible users, funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Users can choose between Auto Captions (computer-generated) and Assisted Captions (human-assisted) modes.

The Jitterbug Smart4 from Lively is a smartphone tailored for ease of use. It presents a single, simplified list menu with large, readable text so the user isn’t overwhelmed by many icons or nested menus. But it runs on Android and can download apps from Google Play store–it’s still a smartphone, just easier to use. The Jitterbug supports voice typing, which makes text messaging easier for people with limited hand mobility. There’s also real-time call captioning, so during phone calls, spoken words appear as text. The device has loud, clear dual speakers, long battery life up to 37 hours of talk time, and fast charging. The phone itself costs $119.99 from Lively (cheaper prices may be available from box stores like Best Buy), and users need to choose a Basic, Preferred, or Premium Lively plan, starting at $19.99/month plus data. A nice thing about these plans is that they all come with 24/7 emergency assistance and transportation support in the form of agents available to answer tech questions or schedule users a ride with Lyft. 

Adding Tech Support Makes for a Truly Thoughtful Gift

Remember, you can make remote support and setup assistance part of any gift. If it’s available but not already included, make the first call/setup session part of the present. Depending on the gift and the senior’s level of tech savvy, you can also create a written quick guide to accompany the new gift (e.g. “To call grandkids: press green button, then choose name”). This is especially thoughtful if you can’t be there in person to present the gift. 

There are also services that provide tech support that meets the specific needs of older adults. Here are three: 

• Cyber Seniors is an international non-profit that pairs young people with older adults for personalized tech support. The youth gain experience with tech and tutoring, seniors gain free help with tech problems on their own schedule, and everyone benefits from the intergenerational connections. Seniors can link up with volunteers for free through local Area Agencies on Aging or other nonprofits that license with Cyber Seniors. 
• Candoo Tech has featured in this newsletter before because it’s one the best-known tech service attuned to the needs of older adults. Plans start at $19/month for unlimited tech support for a wide variety of devices. Subscribers also gain access to Candoo’s library of tech support workshops and videos.
• The Smarter Service offers customized memberships to meet the needs of individuals, senior centers, and senior living communities. Plans start at $20.83/month and can include device support, help with travel planning and online ticketing, help with smart home monitoring and security, and help with password management, social media, and more. Depending on your area, they can even offer in person support. 

We want our loved ones to be able to pick up the phone and call. All these gifts have the potential to help make it happen: less frustration and more connection this holiday season.

Additional Sources:

https://cyberseniors.org/free-tech-help/ 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Resources That Make a Difference for Veterans

 

As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, here are veterans benefits that every CSA should know about. 

Some CSAs grew up in military families or served in the military themselves, and others aren’t as familiar with the challenges and unique needs of military families. As CSAs, our clients almost certainly include veterans, and possibly veterans who are eligible for a suite of services that they aren’t yet taking advantage of. Only 45% of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries use more than one VA benefit. 

This Veterans Day, make it your business to get to know some of these benefits. For certain clients and their families, they could be life-changing.

In a 2024 CSA Journal article, Carmen Perry-Tevaga provided readers with a guide to the Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension available to eligible active-duty veterans and their surviving spouses through the VA. The A&A Pension is designed to help veterans cover the cost of long-term care, whether that’s in-home nursing care or assisted living. In 2024, the maximum annual pension rates under this program were: 

• Single veteran: $27,549
• Married veteran: $32,433
• Surviving spouse: $17,935

A person may be eligible if they need assistance with activities of daily living, are housebound, live in a nursing home, or have severely limited vision. 

The A&A pension is a needs-based benefit, meaning the VA evaluates applicants based on financial need to determine eligibility. As of last year, an applicant’s net worth needed to be $150,538 or below; this number changes every year. 

According to Perry-Tevaga in her recent article, the A&A pension can provide financial relief, improved quality of life, and support for surviving spouses–and yet, many people who may be eligible don’t try to take advantage. 

Through the Disability Housing Grants program, the VA offers veterans and service members “with certain service-connected disabilities so they can buy or change a home to meet their needs and live more independently.” A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant provides financial assistance to veterans who need to retrofit their home to allow them to live there with certain service-connected disabilities. In 2025, the maximum grant amount is $121,812, and other related grants are available for people who meet additional eligibility requirements. 

Help for Caregivers

The VA also offers programs that provide essential support to the caregivers of veterans. Respite Care provides short-time care for veterans who live at home, to provide a break for family caregivers. The Home Respite Care program pays for short-term in-home care of a few hours, and Nursing Home Respite Care pays for the veteran to stay in a care community for a few days while the family is out of town. 

In some locations, Adult Day Health Care may be available for veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living. These programs provide a place for older adults to go during the day for companionship and recreation, while allowing caregivers to work at their jobs or rest. 

Help with All the Paperwork

With all these and other benefits, the paperwork involved can feel overwhelming and constitute a barrier to accessing the service or grant. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can assist with the paperwork, for free. Indeed, it’s highly recommended that veterans take advantage of this service in order to avoid delays in the application process. They’ll also help with tracking applications and appeals processes, when necessary.

    

Applicants will need to provide their service record and all the other documents that determine eligibility–a Veteran Service Officer can help you determine what those documents are and where to find them. The National Veterans Foundation provides a list of federal, state, and independent agencies that provide Veteran Service Officers. 

More Non-VA Benefits

Most veterans are probably aware of the Wounded Warrior Project, but it’s worth taking a look at all the many resources they offer, including peer support groups, financial counseling, and the Independence Program, which can provide direct care and support to eligible wounded veterans who served post-2001. Similarly, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) serves veterans and their families by assisting them with accessing VA benefits plus counseling, transition services, and entrepreneurship support. 

Here are two other non-governmental resources that many veterans and their families may not know about: First, VetTix honors service members by offering free tickets to a variety of sporting events and concerts–all donated by the venues. Their mission is to help veterans “reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build life-long memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life.” In 2024, they gave out 6.6 million tickets to veterans and their families, and they have over 3,500 open events on their website. The tickets include NFL, MLB, theater, stadium concerts, comedy tours, and more. Second, GOVX supports a variety of nonprofits that serve veterans and families, and they also host a clearinghouse of discounts available to servicemembers, from event tickets to gym memberships to streaming subscriptions. 

While there’s no doubt that older veterans and their families need even more benefit options at the federal, state, and local levels, many of our clients aren’t taking advantage of the benefits that are already out there. CSAs can help make sure these clients aren’t missing out on thousands of dollars.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Additional Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/disability/veterans-aid-attendance-benefit/ 

https://www.ncoa.org/article/18-benefits-for-veterans-helping-our-nations-heroes/ 

https://nvf.org/veteran-service-officers/ 

https://www.va.gov/service-member-benefits/ 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Understanding RSV

  

Flu season is in full swing, and that also means an elevated risk of RSV, especially for older adults. 

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) only recently entered the public consciousness in a big way, but it’s been a major concern for doctors and researchers around the world for decades. Children and healthy adults who contract the RSV virus will usually experience mild cold-like symptoms. But infants, adults with weakened immune systems, and older adults are at risk of developing life-threatening illness, similar to a severe flu. RSV hospitalizes 159,000 adults over 65 in the U.S. each year, and between 10,000 to 13,000 die from RSV infection. 

What should older adults know about RSV and the vaccines that are now recommended to prevent RSV infection and severe illness? 

RSV Risk and Symptoms

RSV is a common virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It causes upper and, in severe cases, lower respiratory infections. 

According to the CDC, adults with the highest risk for contracting severe RSV include: 

Adults ages 75 and older

Adults with chronic heart or lung disease

Adults with weakened immune systems

Adults with certain other underlying medical conditions

Adults living in nursing homes

In mild cases, people will notice cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and a low-grade fever. In severe cases, RSV spreads the lower respiratory tract and causes symptoms including: 

• Fever
• Severe cough
• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Unfortunately, RSV is just as easy to catch as a common cold. It passes from person to person through the air or direct contact, and can also survive for hours on hard surfaces. It enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth. Best practice for preventing RSV infection is the same as the common cold or flu: wash your hands often, avoid sharing drink or food with others, and keep surfaces clean. And, just recently, there’s also an effective vaccine available for RSV.

A New Vaccine Option

The RSV vaccine is quite new: two RSV vaccines were approved by the FDA for the first time in 2023. In clinical trials, the vaccine had a 94% effectiveness rate in preventing severe disease in older adults. In the trial, severe disease was defined as needing a ventilator or supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The 2023 approvals were at least 60 years in the making. “RSV has been one that’s taken us a while to be able to unlock its mysteries and secrets,” said Dr. Steven Varga, a researcher and dean at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital whose career has been devoted to the search for an RSV vaccine. “It’s a really exciting time,” he told CNN. “It’s been a long time coming.”

The CDC recommends that everyone over 75 get an RSV vaccine, and that adults over 50 talk with their healthcare provider about their risk factors and consider getting the shot. The three vaccines available are Abrysvo, Arexvy, and mResvia. The CDC does not recommend one over the others. 

Unlike the flu and COVID shots, the RSV vaccine is currently a one-time shot. So, if you already got it in the last two years, there’s no need to get another one. With more research, this recommendation may change in the future, when CDC determines how long effective protection from the vaccines lasts.

Side effects from the vaccine are similar to those associated with other vaccines: most commonly, mild redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, and fever, headache, and nausea may also occur.

The best time to get an RSV vaccine, if you’ve never had one, is in the late summer or early fall. But the incidence of severe disease peaks in December and January, so there’s still time to talk with your healthcare provider about getting shot before the holidays.

If you do catch RSV during the holidays, and symptoms are mild, at-home remedies for the common cold will likely help: drink plenty of water, use throat lozenges, and get as much rest as you can. 

Additional Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/index.html 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098 

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/index.html 

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/understanding-rsv-in-older-adults-risks-symptoms-and-barriers-to-vaccination 

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/dont-wait-new-data-backs-rsv-vaccines-ahead-fall-surge-2025a1000q3s 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/study-highlights-elevated-rates-hospitalization-icu-care-death 

https://www.medpagetoday.com/resource-centers/routine-vaccinations-context-acute-chronic-disorders/rsv-hospitalizations-older-adults-nearly-match-flu-cases/5980

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/why-are-rsv-vaccine-rates-so-shockingly-low-2025a1000joe

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/rsv.html 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

For a Longer Life, Give Thanks

 

An "attitude of gratitude" may be a cliche, but the truth is, having one can actually lengthen your life. 

Before digging in to the turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, many families will pause and share something they’re grateful for. According to scientists, bringing that Thanksgiving spirit and practice into the everyday can help people live longer and healthier lives. Here are some research-backed reasons for cultivating an attitude of gratitude year-round, and how to commit to the practice.

Gratitude Is Powerful

When scientists study the health and longevity benefits of gratitude, they’re usually referring to a practice of focusing on what we have, rather than what we don’t have. In other words, practicing gratitude means emphasizing what is, rather than what is not. Like a mindfulness practice, a gratitude practice is about bringing our attention to what’s around us in a non-judgemental way.

In a recent study of female nurses between 69 and 96 years old, researchers found that those who felt gratitude more often had a 9% lower risk of mortality within three years. That effect emerged after adjusting for other factors like physical and mental health, social connectedness, socioeconomic status, and religion. One of the authors of the study, Tyler VanderWeele, is co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge," VanderWeele told Harvard Women’s Health Watch. "But what's remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what's around them and express thanks to others for what's good in their life."

Indeed, for such an accessible intervention, gratitude’s positive effects on health are pretty amazing. Experiencing gratitude on a regular basis has been shown to support cardiovascular health; in one study, people with a gratitude practice experienced an improvement in symptoms like inflammation, and were more likely to stick to treatment goals. In a meta-analysis of 64 clinical trials, researchers found that individuals who practiced gratitude had lower rates of anxiety and depression. 

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas studies well-being at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is unfair to demand gratitude from anyone if they’re feeling particularly impoverished,” she said in an interview with CNN.  “But it’s not unfair to point out some of the simple and easy immediate factors that are actually a source of goodness. It could be the feeling of warm sun through a window on your shoulder…it’s just a matter of really noticing that there are things around you, even in moments that are difficult.”

How to Cultivate Gratitude Daily

Everyone feels gratitude spontaneously sometimes, but the real health benefits emerge for those who cultivate gratitude with intention. Here are a few ways to practice.

Stopping and Noticing: LIke Dr. Simon-Thomas suggests, pausing to notice the goodness in everyday moments is a form of gratitude practice. Any mindfulness technique will bring the same effect. To remind yourself to stop and look for the good, try connecting this new habit with something you already do everyday. For example, instead of using your morning coffee time to doomscroll or watch the news, use that time consistently to pause and notice the good things your senses are telling you. The smell of coffee, the sound of birdsong, the chill of the autumn air, the comfort of your favorite chair… all these are available for the noticing.

Ask Yourself Three Questions: Pick three questions to ask yourself every day to generate a sense of gratitude. 

What sensations am I grateful for in this moment?

Who has given me something recently–a gift, kindness, their time?

What is bringing me comfort?

What art/book/movie/media gave me happiness today?

What am I looking forward to? 

You might decide to keep a gratitude journal: writing down your answers can help you remember to practice, and re-reading weeks of entries can bring back grateful feelings all over again. It’s also fine to simply write the questions on a post-it note and place it in a spot you’ll see every day. To improve health and well-being, the important thing is consistency, to build up an orientation of gratitude.

Write a Thank-You Note: When a particular person comes to mind during your gratitude reflection, consider letting them know you’re thankful for them by writing a note or email. VaderWeele, one of the recent study authors, says, "I do think writing a thank-you note or gratitude letter gets your mind to dwell on something positive for a longer period, to think more deeply about it, because you have to put it not just in words, but in writing." Plus, "It also deepens the relationship and builds that bond."

Gratitude doesn’t cost a thing, and it makes a real difference. This Thanksgiving season, take a few moments out of the busyness to let that gratitude in. 

Additional Sources:

https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-many-gifts-of-gratitude/ 

https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/gratitude 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/12/health/gratitude-benefits-longer-life-wellness 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

It's Never Too Late: Two New CSAs Share Their Journeys to Certification

   

Senior Spirit sat down with two freshly-minted CSAs to chat about the experience of gaining the CSA certification in their 80s.

After months of study, this summer, Robert Clark, 85, and Richard J. Young, 81, each earned their certifications to become members of the CSA class of 2025. If you weren’t lucky enough to take the class with them (or if you were!) read on to learn about the troves of professional and personal experience that Bob and Rick bring to their roles as CSAs.

Rick, a Michigan native, worked in sales and marketing at Ford for 23 years. Then he got into the retail automobile business, working for several Ford dealers in various positions before starting a leasing business of his own. As they were nearing traditional retirement age, Rick’s late wife, whose career involved supporting the developmentally disabled community, shared with him a conviction she had: that there was something they could do with their talents and abilities that would enable them to give back and really help people. 

“We wanted to give back, and that was our major driving force to go into this business,” Rick said. “We saw a real need.” As they researched the options, they decided that a CarePatrol franchise would be a great fit for them. CarePatrol helps people determine their needs and move into safe, care-appropriate and affordable care communities. The process is highly relationship-driven, and there’s no cost to the families. 

“At first it was a little bit difficult for me, because I had come from an automobile sales position, and this is not a sales position,” Rick said. “This is a care position.” He strives to learn everything he possibly can about each client in order to offer them the best placement options–work he finds to be challenging but highly rewarding. “There's a great deal of self satisfaction when…I can look at a client, and say, let me take that burden off your shoulders, let me carry it for you. We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and we want to carry your issues and your problems.” Rick and his wife ran the business together until she passed away a few years ago. Today, Rick works with a stellar employee who lives in a neighboring Michigan county.

As for Bob, a native of Southern California, he started his career with a stint on a mountain rescue team and then moved into insurance sales. Bob joined Toastmasters International to strengthen his skills in sales and found that the experience helped him connect with people at every level; he’s now been an active member for over 55 years.

Bob started a career in financial planning when it was still called “coordination of assets” and built a successful practice. In the 90s, he served as an in-house analyst for an insurance litigation firm. Volunteer service has always been important to him, too; Bob was a hospice volunteer for Scripps hospital, an ombudsman for San Diego County, and a facilitator for an international men’s organization. These days, in Las Vegas, he works mostly with seniors, providing education through the Socratic method; that is, asking questions to drill down to the essence of what the person really needs. 

Becoming a CSA

Bob is a consummate lifelong learner. With an eclectic home library of over 2,000 books, “There’s not too much that I'm not interested in,” he says. “I don’t have to be an expert in it, but I want to have a pretty good understanding and be able to have an intelligent conversation.” Over the course of his career, he’s earned a number of certifications, including Certified Life Coach, Certified Long-Term Care Professional, and Certified Mediator. This summer marks the second time Bob completed the CSA course: the first time was back in the early days of SCSA, and his certification lapsed around 2008. 

While preparing for the CSA certification this time around, Bob committed to studying from 6:30am to 3:30pm, six days a week for three months. He also noticed something new about the course content on older adults. “When I started the CSA program,” he said, “it was like, they’re talking about me. They’re taking this information to deal with the people out there. I’m one of the people out there.” 

As CSAs in their 80s, Bob and Rick are serving and advising their generational peers. Bob described the advantage this gives as the difference between sympathy, or feeling for someone, and empathy, or feeling with someone, through experience. “People in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, sometimes even 60s, are looking into a fog bank when it comes to the aging process,” Bob said. “Unless you’re actually living it, you can’t totally understand it.” 

As a CarePatrol owner-operator, Rick made a commitment to the company to become a CSA. “It had been 58 years since I graduated from college, and that’s a lot of years,” he said, “when you're trying to acclimate yourself to the studying and retention.” Rick put in many hours studying for the exam; he read the books twice and took piles of notes. “There was a ton of material–good material, I found out, well written articles by professionals in each area–but it took a lot.” He created a space in his home where he would be comfortable studying for hours, surrounded by pictures of his wife and family. “It took me a great deal of time and discipline, perseverance.”

Rick hesitated to schedule a date for the test. When he finally walked into the exam room this past June, he noticed immediately that there was no one else his age taking the test. In that moment, he only felt more motivated to prove that he could pass–and he did. “It was the greatest high for me. Some people couldn’t believe that I did it at my age. I guess I learned, too, that you’re never too old to learn. If you keep your mind active, I firmly believe, it actually improves not only your lifestyle, but it improves your longevity.”

Both men would recommend the CSA course to others. “It’s a very comprehensive course, and it will expand your mind and your thinking and broaden your awareness about life’s daily challenges for seniors,” said Bob, who emphasized that rather than making you an expert, the course heightens awareness. “It gives you a kind of understanding so you can learn to identify problem situations, and then you bring in the experts.” Bob cited the Leaders Network as an example of how CSAs leverage the expertise of fellow CSAs. 

Bob distinguishes between networking and netweaving: between chasing after connections, and positioning yourself as a resource so that people come to you. With his CSA certification, he hopes he can become “a valued resource for people, not just seniors. Hopefully I can help them get through the fog bank a little bit easier.”

Still Learning

Now that they’ve passed the test and officially gained the CSA designation, both Bob and Rick are moving on to new endeavors. Bob shared that he’s preparing to embark on another certification process starting this January; he preferred not to share which one, but he expects it will take him about six months of intensive study. Ask him about his progress when you see him at the SCSA Conference in Denver this coming August. 

Rick is putting his focus back into growing his business while he starts to think about a succession plan. He’s researching the process of creating a sturdy agreement that would allow his employee, Katie Rivest, to buy into the business and eventually buy him out. 

By studying and earning their CSA certifications in their 80s, both Bob and Rick decided it wasn’t too late to learn to provide even more skillful support to the people they serve. “Don’t ever back away and consider yourself, once you hit your 60s or 70s or even your 80s, that your life is over,” Rick said. “There’s a whole lot of life to live.”

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

   

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

November 4

This fiery redheaded comedian made her name with a sharp tongue and an unapologetic take on Hollywood culture. She broke out in the 1990s as part of the ensemble on the sitcom Suddenly Susan, but truly came to fame with her Emmy-winning reality show My Life on the D-List, which chronicled the ups and downs of her career in hilarious fashion. A two-time Emmy winner and Grammy Award recipient for Best Comedy Album, she became known for her stand-up specials and her willingness to skewer celebrities, politics, and herself. Beyond comedy, she’s been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and free speech. 

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 5

This chameleon-like performer is celebrated for her fearless approach to acting, from avant-garde art films and mainstream blockbusters. Audiences know her for ethereal, otherworldly performances in films like Orlando, Doctor Strange, and Suspiria, as well as her Academy Award-winning role in Michael Clayton. She’s equally at home playing androgynous icons (like Bob Dylan in I’m Not There), supernatural beings (like the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia), or eccentric villains (in 2023’s Problemista). Born in Scotland, she’s also known for her presence on the fashion scene.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 11

This acclaimed character actor has built a career on stealing scenes across film, television, and stage. He earned multiple awards for co-writing, co-directing, and starring in Big Night, a celebration of Italian food and family that became a modern classic. He’s known for playing the protagonist’s stylish mentor in both The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games series, and for his roles in the dramas Spotlight and Supernova. With Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards to his name, as well as an Oscar nomination, he’s basically the quintessential character actor. He’s also a major foodie: he hosted a CNN culinary travel show where he ate his way across Italy, and last year published a book called What I Ate in One Year.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 17

Icon…mogul…queen. Known for both his sharp humor and uplifting catchphrases, this San Diego native rose to prominence in the 1990s with the dance hit Supermodel (You Better Work) and a VH1 talk show. He later created and hosted a reality competition series that became a cultural juggernaut and won dozens of Emmy Awards. With charisma and talent to spare, he continues to champion queer visibility and recently shared his story with the world in an intimate and well-received self-titled memoir.  He’ll be remembered for transforming drag from an underground art into a global phenomenon.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 25

This singer-songwriter became one of the first artists to successfully bridge contemporary Christian music and mainstream pop, earning her the nickname “The Queen of Christian Pop.” After rising to fame in the 1980s with faith-based hits, she later crossed over to the Billboard charts with best-selling albums like Heart in Motion, featuring the smash single “Baby Baby.” Over her decades-long career, she’s sold millions of records, won six Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Her Christmas albums and tours have become seasonal staples beloved by generations of fans.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Source:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us