A pain in the leg

Leg pain can be a wake up call 
Leg pain is most commonly caused by blockages in your blood vessels. Known as arteriosclerosis, it does not only occur in your heart but it can happen anywhere in your body, when it is known as PAD or peripheral arterial disease.
Statistically about 25% of people who experience PAD in their legs will die in 5 years from a heart attack or or related heart problems. Even more alarming, 50% of people who whose leg pains prevent them from walking even short distances may die within 5 years.

Early diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can prevent this. If you are having any discomfort or pain in your legs, consult your doctor.

The importance of good home care to conserve the abilities of the elderly

Our population is progressively increasing  life expectancy. According to European figures, current life expectancy is 83 years, while in 2000, it was 79 years. South African figures are obviously very different across all of the population, but will apply to a certain extent to the average middle to  higher income senior citizen in our country.
However, ageing is not necessarily consistent with maintaining good health.
It is very important to promote active aging to prevent the disease or act as a palliative reinforcement when it already exists, so that the aged do not only live longer, but also in the best conditions. However, as a result of the development of certain pathologies, with age, tendencies towards sedentary lifestyle and social isolation develop.
Most of the dependent elderly people living in their homes are cared for by their direct relatives or non-professional caregivers. Most of them do not have enough support for the elderly to maintain physical and cognitive abilities, often showing a rapid deterioration that implies changes and restrictions for the caregiver and the greater in personal, family, social and work life.
The objective is not to take care, but to take good care, which in some cases requires the help of expert professionals in the care of the elderly, whether at home or in residential centers.
However, it is often difficult for people to leave their home where they have lived all their lives, especially when they are in an initial or moderate situation of dependency and it is still feasible to receive support in their own home.
Therefore, there are services that facilitate receiving the appropriate care at home by professionals.
Private care giving allows older people to access the professional care  without leaving their homes. They offer services for families in which, based on an assessment of the needs of the elderly person, an Individualized  care plan will be worked  out.
In addition, the caregiver has expert advice 24 hours 7 days 365 days a year by a Care Coordinator and a specialized team. In addition to a comprehensive medical assessment and continuity of care of a medical expert in care for the elderly. With these services it is guaranteed that the oldest person continues in his home without losing quality of life and delaying the physical and cognitive deterioration, as long as possible.
Consult with a reputable caring organisation before you employ a carer.

You are never too old to learn.

Age 51: I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.   * Age 52: I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.  * Age 53: I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. *  Age 58: I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.  * Age 62:I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.  * Age 64: I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.  * Age 65: I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people,  And doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

                                                            *

Age 66: I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.  * Age 72: I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.  * Age 74: I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.  * Age76:  I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug,  Or just a friendly pat on the back.    * Age 80: I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Very elementary

Our fellow senior Lars, has sent this. It is too priceless not to share. Thank you Lars.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip.  After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes” replies Watson.

“And what do you deduce from that?”

Watson ponders for a minute. “Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.  Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo.  Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe.”

What does it tell you, Holmes?

Holmes is silent for a moment.  “Watson, you idiot!” he says.  “Someone has stolen our tent!”

All the best wishes

Lars

7 Myths about making a will

September 2017 7 MYTHS ABOUT MAKING A  WILL “Let's choose executors and talk of wills” (Shakespeare) If you haven’t made your will yet, get it done now.  Why is that so important and how should you go about it? To answer that let’s debunk a few of the more pervasive myths and misconceptions around those questions – “I’m too young to need a will” Of course the older you get, the greater your chance of dying from illness or disease.  But conversely, the younger you are the higher your risk of sudden violent death.  For example our road fatality stats (amongst the highest in the world) show that 80 percent of deaths are in the 19 to 34 year old age group.  No matter your age and no matter your health status, you could die today.  Or tomorrow.  No one (least of all you) knows for sure. And so to this related myth … “I’m too busy right now, it can wait” The more frantically busy we are (and that’s most of us in today’s world) the more tempting it is to postpone this one.  It’s a hassle, you have other priorities, and besides who wants to contemplate their own mortality?  But of course “Death knocks at all doors”, often without warning.  And the hassle you save yourself today is just more hassle for your grieving loved ones to have to deal with tomorrow. “It’s OK to die without a will”   No it’s not.  A will is the only way to ensure that your loved ones are looked after properly after you are gone.  It’s the only way to control how your estate is divided and who divides it for you. Without a will you die “intestate” and the law – not you - determines who gets what.  You could be inadvertently condemning your spouse to a life of trying to survive on only a “child’s share” of your estate.  You have no say in who will be appointed executor of your estate, or guardian of your children, or trustee of their trust if they are under age or unable to manage their own affairs.  Your childrens’ inheritances will sit in the Guardians Fund until they turn 18.  If you aren’t formally married but have a life partner, he or she may end up in a bitter dispute with your family over rights of inheritance.  There are no advantages to dying intestate, only disadvantages – big ones. “I’m single and have no assets, so a will is pointless”   Firstly, you will have some assets – a bank account perhaps, or a car, or monies in your employer’s pension fund, or perhaps your estate will have a claim on the Road Accident Fund.  Even if you have no spouse/life partner/children to worry about, you will still leave loved ones behind – parents perhaps, or siblings.  Whatever the case, someone close to you will have to be involved in winding up your estate and you should leave a will to make the process less stressful for them. “My spouse already holds my Power of Attorney, that’s all he/she needs”   Powers of attorney lapse on your death and from then on only your executor, after being formally appointed by the Master of the High Court, can deal with your estate.  Any powers you may have given your heirs – for example to draw money to live on from your bank account, or to run your business, or to rent out your house – fall away when you die. “It’s easy to draw a will, I can do it myself” There is no legal requirement for a professional to draw your will, but before you buy a template will or copy someone else’s, consider these common pitfalls – Your will must comply with legal formalities to be valid.  If it doesn’t pass muster for any reason, your heirs will have to make an expensive application to the High Court to have it validated. Unless the terms of your will are crystal clear, you could ignite a bitter family feud over what your wishes really were, and that’s the last thing your grieving loved ones need to be dealing with in their time of distress.   Our law reports are filled with cases caused by imprecision, ambiguity and vagueness, and sometimes there is just no substitute for the legal terminology and the “Latin bits” – unless you fully understand them, don’t go there alone. Your marital status, marital regime and ante-nuptial contract (if you have one) need to be taken into account when drawing your will, and there are grey areas here which are best left to a professional. If you have foreign assets, you may need a foreign will as well as a local one, but there’s “no one-size fits all” answer - specialised advice is essential. The structure of your will, and upfront estate/tax planning, will reduce unnecessary cost and delay - another issue beyond the average layperson. A last point – not strictly part of the process of drawing the will but still vitally important – is to leave your heirs with ready access to funds whilst the estate is wound up.  All your bank accounts and the like are automatically frozen on death so ensure your heirs have their own bank accounts, nominate them as beneficiaries of life policies etc. “I made a will years ago, that’ll do the job”    Bad idea.  Life events (marriage, divorce, birth, death etc) and a whole host of other factors (like new laws and changes in your financial and business structures) all require review.  So diarise to revisit your will regularly, at least once a year.   In closing, don’t confuse this sort of “will”, which only applies after you die, with a “Living Will” (or its close cousin an “Advance Directive”), both of which only apply before you die.                 Acknowledgement :                     With compliments from:

Cannabis - A hot topic at the moment. Pause, read and think.

Are our authorities and legal system right about cannabis? We decided to publish this piece from Canada for its informative value. It is up to every individual to make up his own mind. You can write to us at pensionpower@gmail.com and we will publish your opinion without prejudice. Cannabis....  A Hidden Remedy  View this email in your browser

Cannabis (also referred to by some as ‘The Sacred Plant’), is the most controversial whole food in the world for several reasons.  While it has been used as a medicine for millennia, it now is regarded by many countries a harmful substance.  It was classified as a ‘Schedule I Controlled Substance’ by the FDA of the United States of America.  This categorically means that it has no therapeutic value and that it is harmful when consumed by humans.  It could not be prescribed, processed or grown under the federal law of the USA.  A fact which is very strange if you consider that the USA has a patent (Patent No US 6,630,507 B1) on cannabinoids as an antioxidant and neuroprotector.  Also, on the American Cancer Society website it states that:  ‘Scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in lab dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer.  There have been some early clinical trials of cannabinoids in treating cancer in humans and more studies are planned. While the studies so far have shown that cannabinoids can be safe in treating cancer, they do not show that they help control or cure the disease.’   All this controversy urged me to look into the research to see what we know already.  The most research is done in Israel, Spain, Germany, the UK and Italy.  Because it is a forbidden substance in the US research there is impossible.  What is very striking is that despite very promising results and many positive testimonies, very few human studies have been conducted so far.  Because of the limited availability of clinical trials, we must rely on in vitro studies, animal studies and case studies for much of our information regarding cannabis as a potential remedy.  Although much research is still needed to explain the exact mechanism by which cannabis works, there is enough information already to give a clear picture that the plant has much potential.  It is important to keep in mind that this newsletter is NOT a guide to the use of cannabis but only an attempt to point out the main issues to consider when you do decide to use cannabis as a medicinal or recreational substance.  It is also beneficial to educate yourself regarding the laws in your country regarding cannabis and to NEVER travel with it in your possession.  The following factors play a role when you determine what is the right product for you: Reliable sources, not only for information but also for the cultivation and manufacturing of the product.  Because the world is only now waking up to the potential of cannabis, it still is an unregulated business in most countries which could pose a problem.  Many growers and dealers would take advantage to sell a low-grade product to ignorant people.  What distinguishes cannabis from other plants is its variable amounts of compounds (there are more than 450) present in the different strains.  This variability depends on how it is grown and complicates the application of the plant as a remedy.  While each compound has its own benefits, the ratio of compounds with respect to each other determines the effect it has on the body.  This is further complicated by the fact that each person responds differently to cannabis and therefore must figure out which strain will work best for his or her circumstance.  The two most stable compounds are THC and CBD. THC which is known to: Have psychoactive effects (causes a ‘high’) and thus developed a reputation of causing addiction.  Apart from its euphoric effect it could also cause rapid pulse rate, uncontrollable laughing, confusion and anxiety.  While none of these are life threatening to the user, it could be unpleasant.  These negative effects are counteracted by adding CBD to the product. Protect nerve cells against damage. THC is the compound which binds to the receptors and is needed for the other substances to be more effective. It has been proven to kill cancer cells and reduce chronic pain. CBD which is known to: Be a non-toxic compound, and sometimes mistakenly regarded as the only medicinal substance.  Truth is that is seems to work best in conjunction with THC.  CBD relieves anxiety, depression, spasms and pediatric seizure disorders and epilepsy. Apart from the two compounds listed above, each with their own list of health claims, the ratio in which it occurs with respect to each other also determines its applicability.  There are many websites that will provide insight to the potential advantage of each of these ratios.  However, more research is needed to perfect these guidelines.  Examples of websites are ProjectCBD.org and Alpha-cat.  Commonly used ratios are: 1:1 CBD to THC which appears to be effective for: cancers autism and serves as an appetite stimulant.  3or4:1 CBD to THC which seems to be helpful with autoimmune diseases.  A 15-20:1 CBD to THC ratio seems to work best for: Neurological disorders Mood disorders as well as post-traumatic stress. The entourage effect (Russo, 2011) of cannabis:  It also appears that the more of the 450+ compounds of the plant are present in the product; the less negative side effects and more side benefits will be present.  Some of these compounds are the same as found in other plants and include terpenes, flavonoids and phytochemicals.  The ultimate form of this would be the fresh leaves of the plant or its flowers, which could be juiced or eaten as part of a salad.  Products:  Cannabis could be used in many ways; from smoking, inhalations, different types of oils or edibles which could be digested, to topical applications.  Each avenue of introduction will have its own benefits and side effects and will determine the speed with which it will have an effect.       Research showed promising results for the use of cannabis in the following areas: Pain Seizures/Epilepsy Cancers IBD and GI tract MS related spasticity Anxiety as well as substance abuse disorders Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease With a lack of research and guidelines from the medical community, we could learn from people who has benefitted from cannabis. What is clear is that when considering cannabis, you start out on a personal journey to establish what works best for you keeping in mind all the variables listed above.  Start doing your own research about the plant, find a reliable healthcare professional/supplier in your community and most of all, with regards to dosing: GO LOW AND GO SLOW And as always, eat healthy and stay healthy! Thea (PhD) and ChrisMarie (BBA) from Ukudla4LIFE Registered Holistic Nutritionists If you find this interesting and want to learn more click here, and if you would like to receive more e-mails on this topic, visit our website and sign up for our newsletters

The magic Bank account.

"DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD !"                SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET THE PRIVILEGE!

THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN.   
IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD 
OF COACH PAUL BEAR BRYANT, 
ALABAMA, AFTER HE DIED IN 1982 

Imagine that you had won the 
following *PRIZE* in a contest: 
Each morning your bank would deposit 
$86,400 In your private account for your use.
However, this prize has Rules:
The set of Rules: 1. Everything that you didn't spend during 
each day would be taken away from you. 2. You may not simply transfer 
money into some other account. 3. You may only spend It. 4. Each morning upon awakening, 
The bank opens your account with 
another $86,400 for that Day. 5. The bank can end the game without warning; 
at any time, it can say, Game Over!" 
It can close the account 
And you will not receive a new one. What would you personally Do? You would buy anything and 
Everything you wanted right?  
Not only for yourself, 
but for all the people you love and care for.  

Even for people you don't know, 
because you couldn't possibly 
spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every penny, 
and use it all, because you knew it 
would be replenished in the morning, right? ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL...   Shocked ???    YES! Each of us is already a winner Of this *PRIZE*. 
We just can't seem to see it The PRIZE is *TIME* 1. Each morning we awaken to 
Receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of Life. 2. And when we go to sleep at Night, 
any remaining time is not credited to us. 3. What we haven't used up that Day is forever lost. 4. Yesterday is forever Gone. 5. Each morning the account is refilled, 
but the bank can dissolve your account 
at any time WITHOUT WARNING... SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much 
More than the same amount in dollars.
 
Think about it and remember to 
Enjoy every second of your life, 
because time races by so 
much quicker than You think. So take care of yourself, be Happy, 
love deeply and enjoy life! Here's wishing you a wonderful And beautiful day.

Start spending....