June 2023 Edition

18
Opening Products
By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips
There’s nothing more exasperating than after
rushing to the store for an urgently needed
prescription you’re unable to open it after you
arrive home. I sought solutions from several Sun City residents who
live alone.
Two of them were not joking when they confessed they were so
desperate to open a plastic press-down-and-turn childproof container,
they waited in their driveway for the mailperson or a dog-walker to pass
and ask for help.
Jennifer stated that when entertaining, she took small bottles of
Schweppes ginger ale from the refrigerator and was embarrassed
when she kept everyone waiting whilst she tried to remove the caps.
I questioned a bartender who explained: “Schweppes is not to blame.
A plastic cap on any glass container can be difficult to remove - even
when using a metal opener.”
Extreme cold causes swelling. Before depositing the bottle in the
refrigerator:
1. Remove the cap;
2. Replace that same cap lightly but securely;
3. Then put the bottle in the refrigerator to cool. It will be easier to
open when you need it.
Reaching that delicious jam in a jar is simple. I’ve been doing it for
years. Using a meat tenderizing hammer, and a knitting needle, I bang
a hole in the lid and it releases instantly.
If you customarily paint your nails at home, manicurist Tikki says
it’s smart to purchase a two-handled steel nutcracker. Then, when the
bottle-cap is stuck so tightly it’s impossible to remove, just use the
nutcracker to give it a quick twist and the bottle will open.
Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making
difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books. See amazon.com/
heather latimer/how to overcome.
And the Winner is...
Angel of Empire went off as the 4-to-1 Kentucky Derby favorite but the
winner was The Vegas Voice’s Bill Caserta. Caserta›s Bill’s Blurbs humor
column stole the show at Solera Stallion Mountain›s Derby viewing party.
June 2023
Splitting Hairs on Ageism
By: Pat Landaker / Positive Aging
Nowadays, everyone’s on the bandwagon of
ageism, as if the term and its meaning were
just discovered yesterday. No one really spoke of
ageism out loud - and now that the topic is trendy,
it seems we’re splitting hairs about it.
Every little thing involving older-aged adults has become suspect
for ageism. This is why I try to help people understand ageism and
recognize its nuances through my classes, workshops, and talks.
The terms Ageist and Ageism have been placed at the forefront of
the latest social media topics, but there’s a real lack of understanding
of what ageism really is, so it’s often misinterpreted. And now, society
has taken hold and begun to interpret and apply ageism whimsically
and capriciously - sometimes, only acknowledging ageism when it’s
convenient for the next social media post.
We see movies picked apart for allegedly promoting ageism and for
their perceived lack of sensitivity to seniors. For example, Book Club,
The Next Chapter, has some viewers feeling the movie is ageist because
its promotions paint the women as “old, cute, and silly” instead of
highlighting the importance of their long-time friendship bonds.
It’s so ridiculous! Why can’t a movie featuring “cute and silly”
seniors just be a fun, inspiring movie?
So, what is Ageism? Robert Butler coined the term in 1969 to
describe discrimination against seniors, old age and the aging process.
He determined that ageism can be blatant, subtle, even casual and it
can be technological, visual, or implicit.
You probably don’t recognize ageism when you see it. And when
you do see it, you may be surprised you didn’t recognize it before. It’s
obvious; yet it’s so confusing.
Ageism is left to a lot of interpretations, perceptions, and
misconceptions. Not everything that seems like it’s ageism or ageist
actually is.
We must learn the meaning of ageism and understand its nuances
so we neither offend or discriminate, nor manufacture misunderstood
words, actions, and interactions into ageism. In other words, we can no
longer split hairs on ageism.
If you want to learn more, you may request my ageism info onesheet
at: contact@livinglavidasenior.com.
Pat Landaker is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of
Living La Vida Senior, Ageless Aging, and CSA Senior Solutions.
She teaches Positive Aging at UNLV/OLLI. www.patlandakerAGEncy.
com or contact@livinglavidasenior.com