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The Un-Comfort Zone
Fear: The Most Powerful Motivator
By Robert Wilson

I was abruptly awakened and told, "The house is on fire. Go outside!" As I ran out of my bedroom and into the hall my socks slipped on the polished oak floor. A guiding hand helped me keep my footing and a frantic voice urged, "Hurry! Hurry!"

As I got to the door I looked over my shoulder and saw flames leaping out of the heating grate on the floor. The door was thrown open and I was shoved outside into the carport. "Go stand in the driveway and wait for me. And, DO NOT come back inside. Do you hear me? DO NOT come back inside the house!"

Very good point
I totally agree with you that Fear is a powerful motivator. I fear I will not be able to pay for my loan so I have to work very hard everyday. I fear bad food will influence my health so I try to eat...

Senior.Advisor.com
Role Reversal
Strategies for taking away the keys when mom or dad should no longer drive.
By Pamela Smith, San Diego Aging & Independence Services director

Automobiles transcend other possessions. They are part of our identity, almost like a member of the family. After a lifetime of mobility, the prospect of losing that aspect of independence can be seriously frightening. But, what do you do when your parent is no longer safe on the road? Here are some suggestions.

Senior.Advisor.com
Protecting Mom & Dad
Ensure the very best nursing home care.
By Danielle Philipson, SentryCare vice president

You might assume your loved one will receive high-quality care in a nursing home; however, that can be a dangerous assumption and your parent may instead be at risk of harm.

Family.Advisor.com
For Richer, for Poorer
How do you reconcile different spending (and saving) styles?
By Bambi Holzer

Getting married in later life can have you wondering, "Is this a marriage or a merger?" The truth is, it's probably a little of both.

Security.Advisor.com
Help Emergency Services Help You
ICE campaign aims to help paramedics know who to contact in case of emergency.

Many of us carry a mobile phone with the phone numbers of our loved ones stored in a list of contacts, so if we were to get in an accident, the paramedics would have that information at their fingertips, right?

Money.Advisor.com
Long-Term Care Insurance: Are You Covered? Really?
Are you one of the one in four Boomers who believes they're covered for long-term care ... but really aren't?

Long-term care insurance -- whether you have it, how much it covers, and for how long -- determines how well you'll be taken care of when you can't take care of yourself.

Health.Advisor.com
Prevent Falls in Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents are at a high risk for falls. Here are some tips for prevention.

Q: My mom recently took a nasty spill in the nursing home where she's living. A friend of mine, who is a nurse, told me that this is fairly common in nursing homes. I thought my mom would be fairly safe there, so why do falls occur more often in nursing homes?

Richard Rider Rant
Richard Rider Rant: San Diego Firestorm 2007

This is devoted entirely to fire fighting in general, and the San Diego County fire disaster in particular. The good news is that -- at TREMENDOUS expense and tragic loss of life -- we had an opportunity to learn from the 2003 massive Cedar fire, with four years to implement needed improvements and reforms. The bad news is that, in some critical matters, our politicians and bureaucrats didn't seem to learn a damn thing.

Investigate CalFire & US Forest Service.
(An interesting letter to the Editor I copied. This could also be applied to CalFire refusing to use the DC-10 Supertanker in the BEGINNING of the San Diego fire (wind or no wind)when the fire could...

The Un-Comfort Zone
What's Pushing Your Buttons?
Do you know what really motivates you?
By Robert Wilson

What motivates you? That's the question I'd like to ask in this inaugural blog entry on motivation. Are you motivated by fame, fortune, or fear? Or is it something deeper that fans the flames inside of you?

Perhaps you are like Jeanne Louise Calment whose burning desire let her do something that no other human being has done before -- feat so spectacular that it generated headlines around the globe, got her a role in a motion picture, and landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records -- a record that has yet to be beaten.

Money.Advisor.com
Retirement Planning for "Non-Traditional" Families
Here are some retirement-planning tips for blended families and single women.

Today's retirees are healthier and wealthier than any generation before them, but that presents a unique set of challenges. On top of that, the American family structure is changing -- blended families and single women face their own challenges when planning for retirement.

Senior.Advisor.com
Get Help Monitoring Dad
Ensure your parent is getting proper nursing home care.
By Danielle Philipson, SentryCare

Q: My dad has been in a nursing home for about 8 months and, in that time, he has lost about 15 pounds -- weight he could hardly afford to lose. I suspect his nutritional needs aren't being met, but I'm not sure what to do. He's picky, and it takes a lot of patience to get him to eat. I've spoken to the staff, and they insist he's eating. Do you think I should file a complaint?

Good Advice...Added Comments
I'm not sure of the nursing home protocols, but if they have more than one physician visiting patients, you might also opt for changing the physician that sees him. My father (93 yrs. old), became...

Senior.Advisor.com
Getting Seniors Out from Behind the Wheel -- Voluntarily
Police and businesses in Japan are joining forces to encourage seniors who are no longer safe drivers to give up their driver's licenses.

Over the last six years, crashes involving drivers age 70 and older have jumped by 30 percent in Tokyo. Because it can be tough for family members to take the keys away from their older relatives, it's better for seniors to voluntarily give up driving.

Home.Advisor.com
Remodeling for Safety: The Bathroom
If your goal is to help your parent(s) stay in their own home as long as possible, bathroom safety should be a priority.
By David Dickinson, In Your Home co-founder

As Boomers age, we're helping our parents deal with livability issues. All too soon, we'll be dealing with these issues for ourselves and our spouses. Some of us — the "early aged," who have some sort of injury or debilitating condition — are already dealing with these challenges.

Richard Rider Rant
Richard Rider Rant: Tales from San Diego Firestorm 2007

Eight items, all related to the San Diego area fires. Interesting tales from folks affected by the blazes.

Security.Advisor.com
Beware of Scams Following Fires
Don't let crooks take advantage of you.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis is warning residents about scams and price gouging in the wake of Firestorm 2007. "Unfortunately, some individuals use this time of crisis to take advantage of others," says DA Dumanis. "We want people to know the consumer rights and legal protections that are in place as they begin to rebuild their lives."

Damage Assesment Capabilities
As an alternative to both the insurers damage assesment and that of an expensive public adjuster you can hire a certified appraiser who will provide an unbiased damage assesment that you can...
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— H. L. Mencken