Month: December 2023

Click Here for Additional Stock in Her Dress / Click Here to Shop it in Black / And Here to Shop it in Burgundy

hair: Julius Michael; makeup: Priscilla DiStasio; stylist: Katie Peare; nails: Nails by Jenny 

Photo: Clifton Prescod Photo Assist: Jocelyn Prescod

Photo + Info: Bravo TV

Originally posted at: Angie Katsanevas’ Season 4 Reunion Look

Click Here to Shop Her Dress in White

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Jewelry: PRISM Beach Line (The Beach collection was inspired by our trip to Bermuda) & Nicole Rose Jewelry / Hair: @juliusmichael1 / Makeup: @carolinemakeuptime / Fashion Stylist: @katie_peare / Manicure: @therealglambyjenny / Photo: Clifton Prescod / Photo Assist: Jocelyn Prescod

Photo + Info: Bravo TV

Originally posted at: Whitney Rose’s Season 4 Reunion Look

Click Here for Additional Stock / Here for More Stock / Here for More Stock / Here for Even More Stock

Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bracelets: Tom Ford /  Hair: @janaymickles / Makeup: @frankguyton / Nails: My Sheila at Salt Lake Nails / Photo: Clifton Prescod / Photo Assist: Jocelyn Prescod

Photo + Info: Bravo TV

Originally posted at: Mary Cosby’s Season 4 Reunion Look

Embarking on the journey of marriage in retirement requires a nuanced approach to address the unique dynamics that emerge during this phase of life. I see marital challenges come up all the time in my life coaching practice.

For couples who have spent decades together, the abrupt transition from the structured routine of separate working hours to a newfound, extended togetherness can strain even the most enduring relationships.

While common retirement advice mainly centers around financial planning, the intricacies of maintaining a fulfilling and purpose-filled retirement during this period are often overlooked. Which makes the marriage and relationship dynamics on top of that hefty transition even more challenging.

Needless to say, this contributes to the increasing prevalence of gray divorces among individuals over 50. So much so that the gray divorce rate was 8.7% in 1990, 27% in 2010, and an astounding 36% by 2019.

If you find yourself grappling with feelings of disconnection, boredom, or loneliness in retirement, you’re not alone. Many retired adults struggle to discover new activities and sustain connection as a couple during this life stage.

To reignite the flame and navigate these challenges, consider these five tips, carefully tailored to the unique dynamics of marriage in retirement.

1. Rediscover Your Foundation

Embarking on the path to marital rejuvenation craves a reflective journey down memory lane. Take the time to reminisce about the moments that led to falling in love and what has kept you together through the years. Beyond the initial attraction, marriage is a profound commitment that encompasses sharing a life, raising a family, and committing both financially and emotionally.

This introspective exercise aims to evaluate whether your partner aligns with your current expectations and encourages transparent communication about your needs and desires during this important phase of life.

2. Examine the Root Cause

Unraveling the intricate dynamic behind marital challenges post-retirement is a pivotal step. Reflect on the broader picture, and meticulously document your thoughts on what led to the strain in your relationship.

Writing serves as a therapeutic tool for introspection, and it helps you recognize patterns and hidden sentiments. While common reasons for divorce, such as lack of commitment, infidelity, and conflicts, are worth exploring, maintaining a gratitude journal, specifically focused on your spouse, can have transformative effects over time. Delve into details about your appreciation for your partner – from the initial stages of your relationship to the present. It’ll add depth to this practice.

3. Foster Effective Communication

Effective communication stands as the linchpin of any successful marriage, particularly in the uncharted territory of retirement. Be mindful of the time you spend expressing yourself, listen actively without immediate reactions, avoid interruptions, empathize, and validate your partner’s emotions. Much easier said than done, of course.

If there’s any one takeaway to glean it’s to simply hone your skill of listening. It’ll curb tendencies to fly into defensive mode.

Either way, establishing ground rules for open sharing your thoughts and feelings is crucial, especially when you recognize and even expect your partner’s perspectives and preferences to be totally different from yours. This intentional approach not only fosters a sense of being valued and heard, but also acts as a proactive measure to address potential issues before they escalate.

4. Cultivate Shared Interests

The concept of dating should not fade with marriage but should evolve into a continual process, especially in retirement. Engage in shared activities, especially those that are new and challenging.

Research shows that participating in shared activities enhances marital satisfaction. Learning new things together strengthens your bond, creating opportunities for teamwork and vulnerability. So, as much as you can, actively seek out novel hobbies for retired couples to inject new life into your marriage – and may it foster a sense of excitement and shared accomplishment.

5. Embrace Swift Forgiveness

Acknowledging that conflicts are inevitable, the practice of swift forgiveness becomes the antidote to lingering resentment. The success of a marriage hinges on how mistakes are handled.

Of course, forgiveness is a personal journey, primarily for one’s personal peace of mind. If you’re looking for a good relevant read, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt’s The Gift of Forgiveness shares valuable insights into overcoming resentment through forgiveness.

Conclusion

Rekindling passion is a worthwhile endeavor, and with focused effort, it’s never too late to recapture the excitement of your early days together – just expect it to look different. After all, you’re built for growth at every life stage, and retirement is no different.

All in all, the key to a successful marriage in retirement lies in proactive efforts to understand, communicate, and adapt to the evolving versions of you, your spouse, and the marriage in this unique life stage.

Even the sturdiest marriages demand effort, and if retirement has strained your relationship, please consider working on yourself as an individual as well. No matter how you slice it, showing up as a better version of you has to shift the dynamic of the relationship to a better place.

By the way, if you want help working on your own growth to show up as a better partner in your marriage, it’s worth looking into your own sense of fulfillment as an individual – take this fun 10-question Retirement Purpose Quiz to explore more about your own passions and purpose in retirement.

May you prioritize shared experiences, effective communication, and mutual understanding – to navigate the marriage challenges and rediscover the joy of togetherness again.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you separate your own growth priorities from your partner’s? And how do each of you prioritize the couple’s goals and needs?

Smartphones and tablets can be incredibly beneficial for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients if they are loaded with the right apps. Progression of dementia cannot be stopped, but technology can help with memory training and entertainment.

There is a growing number of useful apps for dementia patients and caregivers that help stimulate the brain and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of seniors with dementia.

1. Train Your Brain

Train Your Brain is one of the best apps for dementia patients. It is specifically designed with seniors in mind to stimulate cognitive areas and provide memory brain training. It comes with a collection of games that help to develop memory skills and have fun at the same time. The key features of the app include:

• Daily memory training
• Simple and interactive interface
• Variety of games including Find Card Pairs, Repeat Sequence, Memorize Pattern, etc.

Download Train Your Brain Android | iOS

2. Lumosity

One of the most popular apps to exercise your memory and reasoning is Lumosity. With 100 million worldwide users, Lumosity is used to exercise memory, speed flexibility, and problem-solving. The highlights of this app include:

• 40+ activities for dementia patients
• Challenges of memory, logic, math, problem-solving
• Analysis of the user’s gameplay to understand their cognitive pattern

The game is developed by a team of scientists and designers exploring new ways to challenge the brain and advance cognitive research.

Download Lumosity Android | iOS

3. MyReef 3D Aquarium

This app adds a beautiful 3D aquarium to a device. It comes with options to customize the fish tank and interact with 14+ types of vibrant tropical fish. This is one of the best relaxing apps for seniors with dementia with stress relief capabilities.

One can zoom in on the fish, tap on the glass, and feed the fish. Users can view their aquarium in soothing shades of midnight blue.

Download MyReef 3D Aquarium Android | iOS

4. Alzheimer’s Daily Companion

This app is a great resource for caregivers. It helps them by providing immediate tips and practical advice for all the situations that they face with patients on a daily basis.

Caregivers can search for the situation they have and the app will suggest the solution to the problem immediately. The app is designed by experts and family caregivers of other dementia patients.

The app has more than 500 tips and solutions to guide the caregiver in any situation.

The key features include:

• Access to other dementia and Alzheimer’s caregivers resources.
• Free and immediate advice for dealing with dementia patients.
• Caregivers can share their advice in the app to help others with a similar situation.
• Caregivers can rate each tip, enabling other caregivers to benefit from ratings.

Download Alzheimer’s Daily Companion for Android.

5. Peak

Peak provides a free brain workout to expand your mental skills with 45+ games and puzzles in six categories. The activities challenge memory, language, and critical thinking to stimulate the brain. The major highlights of Peak are:

• Daily brain activity to sharpen memory, attention, and emotion control.
• Workouts such as coffee break, the weakest link, low rank, and the total workout.
• Compete with others, track your progress with in-depth insights.
• Advanced training material designed by scientists and universities.

Download Peak Android | iOS

6. MyTherapy

There are different medication apps for dementia patients to remind them to take medication on time but MyTherapy comes on top. MyTherapy is an award-winning medication reminder and medical tracker app that combines pill tracking, mood tracking, and a health journal.

It can be used as an activity reminder to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The key features of the app are

• A simple, easy-to-use interactive interface with no adverts.
• A comprehensive PDF health report in your email that you can share with the doctor.
• Tracks sugar levels, resting heart rate, and more than 20 other health measurements.
• Reminders for all medications and pill tracker for both confirmed intakes and missed.
• A journal for physical and mental well being.

MyTherapy is one of the best medication reminder apps for Alzheimer’s patients and seniors suffering from other forms of dementia.

Download MyTherapy Android | iOS

7. My House of Memories

This app enables older adults who are suffering from dementia to explore the past together with family, friends, and caregivers. Pictures from different museums are brought to life with descriptions and audio and seniors can save them in a digital memory tree. There are activities to do with family and friends while exploring the objects from the past.

A must-have app for seniors to stimulate memory and conversation with objects, spanning from the 1920s to the 1980s.

Download My House of Memories Android | iOS

Technology can help dementia patients keep their minds stimulated. Family and professional caregivers can use puzzles, games, and elderly care apps to keep seniors active and entertained.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you think technology can help dementia patients? In what ways? Which apps have you tried that you think may be helpful in this regard?