An Ordinary morning in the life of a healthy octogenarian

front of the old bod, attach it, swing it around to the back and then inch my arms into the straps. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. Socks are a bigger challenge. The stool on which I place each foot in turn has to be exactly 18 inches high. If lower, I can’t bend over to get the socks on; if higher, I can’t get my feet up high enough. I put in my hearing aids – they feel like itchy bugs in each ear, but they help me to hear better.

By Carol Shipley

After at least two “nature” calls in the night, I awaken around 5:30 a.m. with another desperate urge. It’s a tough call – I’m unable to hold it, yet when I get out of bed, I’m unable to move due to arthritis which has caused my leg, hip and groin muscles to seize up. I drip my way to the bathroom. My eyes are dry – they feel dry and itchy about eight times a day – so I give them their first Systane dose of the day. I notice that my big right toe, with the nail that has a tendency to in-grow, is bright red, and I resolve to drop in on the foot-care nurse this week to treat it – ouch! My left hip is shouting at me, so I dig the cold compress out of the freezer and spread it over that hip while I sip my coffee and read The Guardian Weekly for optimistic news stories. Ha! The bursitis in my left thigh is telling me to do something, so I leave my favourite chair to get the Voltaren gel, squirt it on my thigh and rub it in. Does it do any good? My back seems to be itching all over, so my handy backscratcher from the dresser drawer comes into use.

Now it’s time to get dressed. Bra is a challenge. It involves placing the hook ends to the

This is definitely the morning to eat a few prunes – enough said. I don’t take any daily meds except for calcium, a few vitamins and Preservision to stave off AMD (age-related macular degeneration). A soft-boiled egg and a small bowl of granola will do for breakfast. I do much better walking with two sticks than without. They help me to stride instead of mince and to maintain a good balance. With two sticks, people think I’m an athlete; not so with a cane. Now I’m all set for the day.

Off I go with nonagenarian husband Ken to our cardio class for seniors at Abbotsford House. I take breaks by pretending to need frequent sips of water. What I love most about this class is our outrageously funny instructor who understands and loves us like no one else; next, the community of fellow seniors who support each other in a hundred ways while having coffee and cake after class; and least of all, the exercise.

Did you note that I’m a healthy octogenarian and grateful every minute of the day? Well, almost.

Carol Shipley M.S.W., is a long-time member of Abbotsford Seniors Centre, author of Love, Loss, and Longing: Stories of Adoption, and has 87 years of experience, laughter and life!

What to do about ticks!

Now that ticks are here in the Ottawa area, the Ontario Region of Health Canada has advice on preventing tick bites that can cause Lyme disease and other infections like anaplasmosis.

Before going outdoors, take the following precautions to avoid tick bites:

• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants

• Tuck your shirt into your pants, pull your socks over your pant legs (and ignore the inevitable comments!)

• Use bug spray containing DEET or Icaridin on your skin and clothing (be sure to follow the label directions)

• Stay on cleared paths or walkways

When you return, take time to inspect 10 specific areas of your body (favourite tick hiding spots):

• head and hair

• in and around the ears

• under the arms

• around the chest

• back (use a mirror or ask for help)

• waist

• belly button

• around the groin

• legs and behind the knees

• between the toes

What to look for: You may not notice a tick bite because ticks are sometimes tiny and their bites are usually painless. Feel your skin for bumps and see if there are any tiny black dots. Most people get Lyme disease after being bitten by a nymph, which is about the size of a poppy seed (1.15 mm), or by an adult female tick, which is about the size of a sesame seed (3 mm).

Found a tick? Remove it immediately to reduce the risk of infection. The Health Canada website has a video on how to remove it. Lyme disease video: How to properly remove a tick. Don’t forget to also check your pets!

To learn more, visit Canada.ca/LymeDisease