Update from last month:
Sleep
1. I asked my large aging adults Facebook page to comment on how to get to sleep and got hundreds of responses. A lot cited various prescription medications, supplements, OTC drugs, teas, alcohol, and quite a few cited cannabis. My favorite response was from one woman who said she had a separate bed for her dog in her bedroom. Once the dog started snoring, she’d fall fast asleep. In sum, sleep does get more difficult as we age. But it’s not simply an annoyance, it can affect our health and well-being.
Sense of purpose
2. I also separately asked the same group what was their primary sense of purpose, which has been found to be a key element for those that live a long healthy life. The comments were even more varied than the sleep question. Many reported that they felt a sense of purpose (which admittedly can be hard to define) from continuing to work even if only part time. And many cited volunteer work, including church activities. But surprisingly (to me) probably the most common response was their connection to their pets, with dogs being the most often mentioned. Research suggests that seniors with dogs often live longer and healthier lives compared to those without dogs. One study found dog ownership linked to a 24% lower risk of death from any cause, largely due to increased physical activity (walking), reduced cardiovascular disease risk, lower blood pressure, and better mental health from reduced loneliness.
April- the start of gardening season
3. Senior adults may not be able to handle the large garden they once had but with a few modifications you can still enjoy fresh fruits, herbs, vegetables and flowers. While ground level gardening may no longer be possible, elevated beds (that even a wheelchair can fit under) can produce a plentiful supply. A few modifications might be using a smaller watering can. I prefer the 1-quart can which weighs far less that a 2 gallon can. A drip irrigation system or a soaker hose can help. Having a smaller garden encourages you to be more efficient which saves on inputs such as fertilizer. Even if you don’t have a lot of something like spinach or lettuce, even a few leaves livens up a salad and makes dinner a little more festive. And since you’re going small it is much easier to make clear covers over your garden beds to extend the growing season by months.
Gardening is a great activity. It provides light exercise and improves grip strength with various tools. Navigating uneven garden soil and moving between tasks (bending, reaching, squatting) naturally improves coordination and stability, which are critical for preventing falls. “Problem-solving” as in figuring out why a plant is struggling and what needs to be done. Spending time in nature lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and triggers the release of mood-boosting chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Talking with friends about your or their garden is an easy way to connect. Oh, and there is the healthy fresh fruit and vegetables and colorful flowers.
I’ll be doing a reminiscence session with residents at a nearby nursing home next week.
Light is your friend
4. I was talking to a friend recently about how I’d been doing balancing exercises of standing on one foot for 20 seconds. I’ve gotten better and hopefully it’s prevented a fall. But she said “Can you do it with your eyes closed?” So that night I did and even with many attempts I could only stay upright for 3-4 seconds. Maybe I could get better with practice, but it highlighted how much more at risk we are when walking in the dark, especially if having to get up in the night when we are already a bit groggy. Even a little light, like from a battery-operated motion detector light can help. I also have a battery-operated light in my bedroom that is plugged in but comes on when there’s a power outage.
Property Tax Abatement
5, In Virginia, property tax relief for seniors over 65 is administered at the local level (county, city, or town) rather than by the state. While the Code of Virginia authorizes these programs, each locality sets its own specific income and net worth limits.
Most Virginia localities offer one or a combination of the following:
Tax Exemption: A partial or total reduction of the real estate taxes owed on a primary residence. The amount of relief often scales based on household income (e.g., lower income may qualify for 100% relief).
Tax Deferral: Allows eligible seniors to postpone paying a portion of their property taxes until the property is sold or the owner passes away. Deferred taxes typically accumulate interest, which must be paid by the estate or upon transfer of the title.
Tax Freeze: Some areas offer a program that freezes the tax amount at the level it was when the owner first qualified, preventing future tax increases as property values rise.
Personal Property Tax Relief: Many jurisdictions also provide tax relief for one vehicle owned and used primarily by an eligible senior.
General Eligibility Requirements
While limits vary significantly by county, common requirements include:
- Age: You must be at least 65 years old by December 31 of the year preceding the tax year.
- Ownership and Occupancy: The property must be your sole dwelling and owned by you (or jointly with a spouse).
- Income Limits: Total gross household income (including all relatives living in the home) must fall below a certain threshold.
- Net Worth Limits: Your combined financial net worth (typically excluding the value of the home and a certain amount of acreage) must not exceed a local cap.
How to Apply
Contact your local Commissioner of the Revenue.
Deadlines: Most applications must be filed annually, typically between January 1 and May 1.
Documentation: You will generally need to provide proof of income (tax returns, Social Security statements) and net worth (bank statements).
Note: Since each locality has a lot of leeway on abatement policy for senior adults, a few organized people or groups can influence a more aging-friendly policy.
When it comes to weight, your 60s are a pivotal decade
6. While the standard Body Mass Index (BMI) definition for overweight (25–29.9) and obesity (over 30) is applied to all adults 20 and older by organizations like the CDC, many health experts and studies argue for a different, higher, and more flexible definition for adults over 65. The prevalence of being overweight or obese among adults aged 65 and older is approximately 60%-70%. Losing weight becomes more difficult due to a combination of physiological, hormonal, and lifestyle changes.
Starting in your 30s, the body naturally begins to lose 3% to 8% of its muscle mass per decade, a process that accelerates after age 65. Because muscle is more metabolically active than fat, having less muscle reduces the number of calories your body burns at rest. Research indicates that metabolic rate remains relatively stable in adulthood but begins a definitive decline around age 60–63. This means your body requires fewer calories to function, making even a slight “calorie surplus” lead to weight gain.
In Women: Post-menopause, a significant drop in estrogen causes fat to redistribute toward the abdomen, which is more difficult to lose and carries higher health risks.
In Men: A gradual decline in testosterone reduces the body’s ability to build muscle and effectively burn calories. Aches, pains, or chronic conditions like arthritis often lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Retirement can also trigger changes in daily habits that reduce overall movement.
Being overweight after 60 introduces higher odds for developing a cadre of health problems — high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and a decline in physical functioning. More on weight after 60 from AARP.
Related: BMI considers height in determining your BMI number. But people naturally shrink with age primarily due to the degeneration of spinal discs, which dry out and thin, reducing the spine’s overall length. That makes us shorter. The BMI calculation needs to factor that in.