Di Patterson, Gerontologist founder of Success In Aging, Season of Life and The Let's Group

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Smart Tips for Boomers-to-Seniors Starting Businesses

Smart Tips for Boomers-to-Seniors Starting Businesses

20 Nov 2015 / Comments Off / in Media/by Di Patterson, MSG
http://dipatterson.com//wp-content/uploads/di-patterson-smart-tips-for-boomers-austin-hill.mp3

 

One. Get your legal documents in order and your ducks will line-up in their proper rows! It costs “pennies a day” up in the long run to get smart legal and financial advice up front. The Small Business Administration holds free classes most counties. Our public servants are there to help you find and file the necessary forms for a DBA and business license. See sba.gov for a good start; it has many subsets of information. Beware websites that promise help unless you have a trusted family member or friend who has used it successfully. Lastly: Read, read, read! Write down your questions and ask your advisors.

Two. Side-step the cost of a website with smart social media on three sites: Facebook Business, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

a. Facebook Business: All your family, high school and longtime friends want to find you! Ask your Facebook “personal friends” to join and “like” you on your Facebook Business page.

b. Every senior has been a professional in something, and the professionals’ social media sit is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is where you’ll find customers, sponsors and other people in your marketplace who want to find and associate themselves with you in business.

c. Instagram is all about photos, photos, photos! If the saying is true “a picture’s worth 1000 words” (and it is), then Instagram is where you must be!
•    Hot tip on Instagram: Sunsets are the number one searched photo, so make sure your Instagram page has a sunset every day or every other day.

Three. Bare-bones business expenses must-haves:

  • Snappy-looking, colorful, and easy to read business cards are a must. Use both sides, but leave room for your customers and future affiliates to write a note like: “great resource” or “can-do attitude!”. Again, use a professional. A good graphic artist in business is almost as valuable as a good attorney. We are a society swayed by visuals and audios; use them to your advantage.
  • A smart phone will truly help you keep up in today’s business arena.
  • A credit card reader attachment will also make your life a lot easier in sales.

 

What IS a Gerontologist, and Why Would You or Your Family Member Need One?

14 Sep 2014 / Comments Off / in Society & Aging, The Family/by Di Patterson, MSG

Gerontologists are social scientists who read and write research, study social and health trends, and make recommendations for positive aging outcomes. Gerontologists diligently search out good information for the benefit of their plus-60-aged clients and the general public. We work to improve adjustments, attitudes and assistance needed for successful aging-in-place or the smooth transition to a higher level of care for our clients.

Since Gerontologists are trained by significant study in the biology, psychology, sociology, lifespan development and ethics of aging, good Gerontologists can do the following for their aging clients and/or family members:

1. Determine specific needs of the individual based on his/her preferences and capacities in regards to social, environmental and lifestyle changes.
2. Promote successful aging* for the clients and their family members.
3. Identify potentials and probabilities for aging populations based on their specific parameters.

*Successful aging, defined in 1984 by Drs. Robert L. Kahn and John W. Rowe:

 1. High physical and mental functioning;
2. Low risk of disease and disability;
3. An active engagement in life!Success in aging®, as I define it, has three categories:1. Proaction: Actively engaging with your aging process, choosing how you want to age.
2. Parameters: Realities of your health and your budget, and your choices within them.
3. Preferences: Your personal tastes and lifestyles, looking toward a joyful older age.

I am a great believer in “getting off the couch” early when it comes to positive aging. The sooner we start to prepare and plan for our own old age, the better. Whatever your age, today is a great day to begin working toward your own success in aging. And you can!

To contact Di Patterson, email her at [email protected]

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”

The Time Is NOW To Combat Ageism

17 Jul 2014 / Comments Off / in The Self/by Di Patterson, MSG

If you are a Boomer woman (born between 1946 and 1964), sometime this year you will be aged 50-68. And now—right now—Ladies, is the time for you to wake up to the realities of ageism if you haven’t already. Ageism—that nasty prejudice aimed at the elderly—is what awaits YOU if you do not start working now to thwart it where you see it and in your sphere of influence.

Ageism can be directed at you by younger people who dislike you for a personal reason or want your job. Ageism can be practiced by peers who deem you “less-than”; less-than their idea of positive aging, less-than what their need requires of you, and more demanding of you-name-it: your weight, your bank account, your spouse (or lack thereof), your politics or faith. Then there is self-ageism we practice when we don’t like what we see in the mirror and punish ourselves in some way. Love, in a word, is the answer. Here are a few love-in-practice anti-ageism techniques we can all get into:

Have mercy on older and much-older adults you see who struggle with things you don’t…and even more if you do. Watch how others treat seniors who are overweight, under-funded, or are hoarders; those who are trapped in handicaps of chance or of their own making. Those whose children are oblivious; or worse, are negligent. Your mercy will be returned to you, as mercy and kindness travel together. Then, be kind enough to yourself to start the changes you’ll need to avoid the merciless rebukes of old age.

Pay attention to wonderful women who became widows too young, persevering with heavy hearts, and to the old men who were unprepared emotionally and practically to lose their wives in a death that was supposed to happen to husbands first. They struggle to live alone, so give them attention and you will teach your own children that you will need some attention, too.

Make a plan and stick to it. The concept of “choice” after the age of 60 is really about two things: your health and your wealth, and how much of each you have to face your “golden years“. The next two decades can either be a joyful challenge or a dreary one. Chances are you will live out at least these twenty years. For your health, make a plan and stick to it about exercise, consuming fewer calories, and caring for your skin, teeth, feet and eyes every single day! For your wealth, do a personal SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. If you need extra income, research a field of business that will challenge your mind, open some opportunities for funding, and allow you to socialize in positive ways.

Renew old friendships and cultivate new relationships. The emergence of social media  for Boomers has been quite a phenomenon in the last few years! In lifespan development terms, a woman’s late mid-life is a very satisfying age: she has finished, for the most part, the physical raising of her children, she has learned to manage her home like a business, she has earned respect in her career and workplace, and she has developed and maintained a lifetime of networking relationships. A woman in her fifties and sixties attains a life-satisfaction ratio that is very high compared to earlier decades of her life. The phrase “all pistons are firing” is apropos! Many mid-life women “re-boot” or “re-career” to find satisfaction and success in whatever they choose to do. The book, Vibrant Nation: What Boomer Women 55+ Know, Think, Do & Buy says it well: “Women in their 50s, 60s and beyond are breaking through the stereotypes of what it means to be an older woman. Where women could expect to become increasingly marginalized from mainstream society as they aged, they are now gathering strength and influence. This female age wave is already stirring up far-reaching impact on the workplace, the marketplace, the family, and the world at large. We’re getting to see firsthand what it looked like when the first generation of women who earned and managed their own money gets to rethink what work, retirement, and success can look like after 50.” (2010,xii)

Teach your children by example to nurture family relationships. Nurturing respect in family relationships in every phase of life is one of the best insurance policies we can have for a better aging. You would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t) at how many families become separated in their affections and philosophies once a parent(s) pass(es) away. My husband is a Probate, Conservatorship and Trust attorney who sees this all the time. The family structure suffers a severe blow in the loss of a parent. Even the strongest families can flounder; how can people really prepare for a loss they have never experienced? If we can find the grace to rise to our best selves—to keep reaching out to other family members with respect and compassion, and to strengthen the good that is in our families—there is hope for better times ahead. These worthy goals are challenged by personal grief and sibling rivalries, which often creep in unaware. Don’t let this happen to your family!

Ageism hurts us all. Like every other prejudice, ageism demeans its victims, separates us from the good in each other, and spawns negativity in the hearts of humans. Having to face the cruelty of ageism, much like the cruelty of like Alzheimer’s disease, is a terrible way to grow old. Ageism, because of human nature and the rapid upswing in  numbers of aging Boomers, will only increase.

Now is the time to take action. No matter what your age, start today and get ahead of the curve. You really do want to avoid ageism’s grip: call it out now, or when you yourself are old, you might suffer its ugly effects. For more information on ageism, go to http://ageismhurts.com. Make sure to watch the video.

©Di Patterson, MSG CPG “If good real estate is all about location, location, location, then success in aging is all about attitude, attitude, attitude!”  http://dipatterson.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aging Fun Facts: Did You Know?

01 Jul 2014 / Comments Off / in The Self/by Di Patterson, MSG

Di Patterson, MSG, CPG

 

Did You Know…

That people your grandparents’ age and older can learn and grow every day they are alive? That they can learn to play new musical instruments, speak new languages, and use new technologies? The human brain is amazing. The old saying, “Use it or lose it” applies not just to the body, but most importantly, to the mind. Research at JPL Laboratory related to space exploration found that the outstanding feature of humans is their curiosity. Curiosity is in direct conflict with boredom. The lesson for all ages: Keep exploring, keep learning!

 

Did You Know…

Your kidneys reach their optimum functioning at age 10 (!), then very, very slowly, but very surely decline for the next 100 years? Take a moment and think about that…and be kind to your kidneys!

 

Did You Know…

Adsorption is the key to getting the benefits from your medicines and supplements? When you can, choose liquid over capsules, capsules over tablets; and if someone cannot swallow well, then transdermal creams or gels are a good alternative. Think of a small earthquake: swallowed medication hits our livers after digestion on the first pass of blood circulation and continues to circulate through our livers. But transdermal applications enter our livers on the second pass; relieving the shock, but not the strength of the medication! Using transdermal cream/gel applications uses the very effective vascular delivery system then transfers to general circulation.

 

Did You Know…

Cells in all adults are very slowly shrinking; and in the older adult, reproducing less frequently, and becoming less agile? The biology of aging, in a nutshell, says: Everything is shrinking! That’s why concentrated forms of almost anything: all types of sugars and carbohydrates like alcoholic drinks; medications; vitamins; pain pills; even fruit juice, tea and coffee…affect older adults more rapidly and harshly. That’s why older adults need less carb calories and more proteins and vegetables.

 

Did You Know…

One of the most respectful things we do for others (and ourselves) is to honor one’s preferences?

Especially in aging, people find that they are most comfortable and function to their optimum in what they have chosen to surround themselves with as adults. Family, friends, foods, living spaces, jobs, clothing, exercise, entertainment; such make our lives! By honoring one’s preferences, we show them true respect; which is one of the foundational must-haves in successful aging!

 

Did You Know…

Human brains do not fully develop until age 25? And it’s also why the last seven years of your primary childhood, ages 18-25, are as important to your development as your first seven years. Stick close to your parents and grandparents during those years for advice and wisdom. The more I learn, I agree with brain experts that tackle football is dangerous to children before age 18. A wonderful friend of mine, Sue Rueb, began an amazing organization called B.R.A.I.N.: Brain Rehabilitation and Injury Network. You can check it out at TheBrainSite.org.

 

Did You Know…

Your “Second Phase of Childhood” begins at age 25? “Adulthood”, in lifespan development terms, does not technically begin until between the ages of 32 and 36. People make the quantum leap into their adulthood in their early-to-mid-thirties. It’s during this age when people take a realistic look at their money-earning years and decide that they can accomplish about 1/3 of the dreams and goals of their childhood and teen years, leaving the rest behind or for older phases of life. People who successfully leap into adulthood are maturing appropriately during this life-stage. People who do not successfully mature during this (age 32-36) time-frame usually experience the heartbreaks of immaturity; making successful aging more difficult later.

 

Did You Know…

That the slower response times of older adults to “cold turkey” questioning (asking questions without introduction to a memory) comes from the huge amount of data and information they are paging through in their brains? If you pose your questions in a multiple choice way, (“Is the dress red, pink or green?” or “Was your coffee hot, cold or room temperature?”) you will get a faster response time and your older adult will feel more confident in their answer. Have patience: older and much-older adults are quite busy checking their databases!

 

Did You Know…

At any age, you will guard your structural health by putting clean sheets on your bed from the kneeling position? When kneeling, you save your back and neck from damage; at the same time strengthening your core stomach muscles, which in turn strengthens your lower back!

 

Lastly, Did You Know…

That Di Patterson, Gerontologist, says: “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYBODY wants to AGE WELL!”? About 20 million Americans and another 100 million worldwide agree with her!

Boomer Buying

23 Mar 2014 / Comments Off / in The Business, The Family/by Di Patterson, MSG

Boomer Buying: I bought a dishwasher online last night…

Yes, the age of online shopping is here to stay. When a Boomer buys a major appliance online, it’s a big deal. We were raised by the Builder Generation: people who wanted to see it, touch it, smell the new paint, and test it…because they basically didn’t trust it.

Our parents were classically loyal to brand names; we Boomers revel in choice and take a chance on new products. My Dad bought only Fords. At age 85, his last car was a Crown Victoria. Mom raised us on Del Monte canned vegetables because her Mother raised her on them. It wasn’t because variety wasn’t available; it was brand trust and brand loyalty.

This is not news to Boomer marketers. The research is stunningly accurate on what Boomers want because of who we are: spontaneous, confident risk-takers, willing to work hard for things, ideas and values we cherish and admire. Even in our youth, the amount of money Boomers controlled enabled us to open new markets (designer jeans), inflate existing markets (bottled water), and deflate others (non-disposable diapers).

Boomers are a huge audience in an ever-growing online marketplace, and companies out there are watching, listening and responding. So this Boomer-ette was confident in her quest. I knew search-engine marketing would not let me down either.

Okay, I admit it: I bought the machine from Sears, a GenBuilder hang-out. Kenmore, Sear’s own brand, has proven reliable over the years, and I have owned many a Kenmore. But this time, I knew I wanted a Whirlpool Gold: quiet, energy-efficient, and parts are readily available.

Within the span of the DVR-ed movie Husband had settled on for the evening, I had chosen, ordered, scheduled and paid for the machine that will soon grace our kitchen and relieve us of our sadly quiet, kaput Kenmore.

Fortunately, I also had the good sense to call Sears when their website kept spitting at me when I tried to modify one simple (I thought) area of the order. Moral of the story: shop to your heart’s content, but before you enter credit card info on that big-ticket item, call a human on the other end of that screen, just in case.

I might be a spontaneous, confident risk-taker, but I really don’t want to hand-wash that many more dinner dishes. I want to see that new dishwasher…touch it, smell the new paint, and test it…because I basically want to trust that I made the right online choice.

 

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”


How to age well

05 Mar 2014 / Comments Off / in The Self/by Di Patterson, MSG

1. Love yourself enough to take care of yourself.

When you practice loving yourself enough to take good care of you, you will do the things necessary to become happier and healthier every year of your life. You will have success in aging!

2. Get good information about everything.

For reliable wellness information, start at www.webmd.com. To combat urban legends with truth, try www.snopes.com or www.truthorfiction.com.

3. Laugh.

Laughter is a natural stress reducer. Stress oxidizes good cholesterol into bad, but laughter releases chemicals in our bodies that drive away pain and fear, two negatives usually associated with old age. Laugh often. Even better: Laugh with friends. Friendship is the flagship of positive aging! Read more →

CSUF Commencement

26 Jun 2013 / Comments Off / in Video/by Di Patterson, MSG

Di Patterson speaks at the CSUF Gerontology Graduation

Having just returned from my own daughter’s college  graduation, I was deeply honored to be asked to be Cal State Fullerton’s commencement speaker for the 2013 graduating class of the CSUF Gerontology Program! What better speech to give than a short business primer on Jobs for Gerontologists? Join me now and always remember: Keep Showing Up!”

Top Ten Tips for Success In Aging

06 Feb 2013 / Comments Off / in Society & Aging, Video/by Di Patterson, MSG

Di Patterson’s Top Ten Tips for Success In Aging™

Based on Research Studies of the Last 5-10 Years

 

ONE:  Love yourself enough to take care of yourself.  Aging well begins and ends with LOVE. Love is the key to living well at any age. When you practice loving YOURSELF enough to take good care of YOU, you will do the things necessary to become happier and healthier every year of your life. You will have success in aging!

TWO:  Get good information about everything! Check all information for old wives’ tales, urban legends or rock solid truth. To get reliable wellness information: www.webmd.com  and www.health.com

THREE: Laugh.  Laughter is a natural stress-reducer. Stress oxidizes cholesterol, but laughter releases chemicals in our bodies that drive away pain and fear, two negatives usually associated with old age. Laugh often. Even better: laugh with friends. Friendship is the flagship of positive aging!

FOUR:  Exercise and keep your feet in motion.  This is a two-parter: daily exercise and daily foot health are extremely important in old age. Read about mobility and balance issues at: www.rwjf.org.  Some other benefits of regular exercise are: less depression; increased alertness; clearer thinking; improved ability to handle stress; a positive mood. Daily stretching exercises are a must in aging well.

FIVE:  Feed yourself well.  Learn about antioxidants, phytonutrients, and essential fatty acids; consume them everyday! You can fight internal inflammation (the healthy body’s enemy!) by eliminating food intolerances from your diet. Go to www.alcat.com ; www.inflammationnation.com .

SIX:  Be kind to yourself and get your rest.  Rest has been shown to be vital to our bodies’ recuperative powers. Sleep enough; seven or eight hours at night, in a dark room. Studies have shown that melatonin, our body’s sleep hormone, is triggered by darkness. Lack of sleep contributes to heart attacks, high blood pressure and internal inflammation.

SEVEN:  Floss your teeth.  Dental plaque and arterial plaque have been scientifically proven to be directly related, with new research (2007) also linking Alzheimer’s brain plaque to dental plaque. Dentists agree that flossing once daily is crucial, but floss before bedtime to avoid “morning breath.”

EIGHT:  Fight depression.  Depression is the #1 illness of old age. Loss is all too prevalent in the aging process. Fight back! Seek grief resources at www.griefnet.org. When our grandmothers got lonely, they volunteered. Volunteer. Stay connected to other people who benefit from your presence.  It will be a toss-up as to which of you will benefit the most. Ralph Waldo Emerson said,” Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself.”

NINE:  De-clutter your space.  De-mess to de-stress! Organization of possessions and papers will cause peace and patience to fill your life. Set your personal parameters for every task: “I can; I cannot; I will; I will not.” Hire a professional organizer at www.napo.net if it overwhelms you on your own. Fill your space with beauty, as beauty feeds the soul, and helps us see with new eyes.

TEN:  Worship God.  Research by major universities has revealed that people who practice their faith, read religious writings and are part of a faith community have better immunities and fewer heart attacks and strokes. Because we are made in God’s image, our value is immeasurable; it is the reason that old age is positive and valuable and good.

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”

Di Patterson Featured on Brillant Mobile Marketing

14 Dec 2012 / Comments Off / in Media/by Di Patterson, MSG

What’s the Age Wave? Are you in the Sandwich Generation or a Baby Boomer? You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers from America’s Gerontologist, Di Patterson.

http://dipatterson.com/wp-content/uploads/BrilliantMobileMarketingLIVE_2012-12-04.mp3

Di Patterson Featured on Austin Hill’s Big World of Small Business

14 Dec 2012 / Comments Off / in Media/by Di Patterson, MSG

Listen to the audio below of Di Patterson’s interview on Austin Hill’s Big World of Small Business.

http://dipatterson.com/wp-content/uploads/AH%20Bigworld%20Di%20Patterson%20Dec%202012.mp3
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Di Patterson Featured on the Today Show
“Most people dread growing old, but somehow, through her books, website and optimistic outlook on life, Di Patterson makes it look like fun. Don’t grow old without her.” -- Mark Joseph, Producer, Author, Contributor, Foxnews.com, The Huffington Post
“Wow! Congratulations! I always knew your venture would be a success!!” -- Connie Beran, Gerontologist/Registrar, Concordia University Texas
“Di Patterson is a visionary for proving that aging is not to be frowned upon. She really has a passion for equipping people and encouraging them to see the joy and confidence that age can bring. Di makes aging a celebration. I am really excited for her and look forward to hearing from her at the Season of Life Conference®”. -- Katana Abbott, Founder of SmartWomensCafe.com
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© Copyright - Di Patterson, Gerontologist founder of Success In Aging, Season of Life and The Let's Group
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