Senior Citizen Center - City of Vicksburg, MS

Looking for Something to Do? How About Volunteering?
I'm a big believer in volunteering. In fact, my volunteer efforts led me to go back to school and change careers. You just never know where your inspiration will come from. With the economic downturn we've experienced, many people need to focus their time on earning money, but if you have some spare time and would like to help others, the US government has created a list of worthy organizations you might not know about. Go to USA.gov and click the link <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicService.shtml#vgn-volunteer-your-time-vgn">Volunteer Your Time</a>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.serve.gov/">Serve.gov</a> is a special government-sponsored site that connects volunteers with worthy organizations. Enter keywords for topics that interest you and your location, and you'll be connected to organizations and projects that need your help.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/25/how-about-volunteering.htm">Looking for Something to Do? How About Volunteering?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 16:03:24.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/25/how-about-volunteering.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/25/how-about-volunteering.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/25/how-about-volunteering.htm&zItl=Looking for Something to Do? How About Volunteering?">Email this</a>

When You Travel, Will Your Pet Travel With You?
<img src="http://z.about.com/d/seniorliving/1/0/X/4/dog-convertible-g.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" />When the weather gets warmer, my thoughts turn to one of my favorite activities: road trips! With two dogs in the family, the first question we ask when planning a trip is <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/travelsmart/a/pettravel1.htm">should our pets travel with us</a>? We like to take them when we can, almost always on short day trips and often for weekends out of town. Over years of traveling with pets, I learned that it's best to be prepared. If you're thinking about traveling with your pet, check out these tips to help <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/pettravel/a/pet_travel_prep.htm">prepare your pet for travel</a>. The most important thing you can do? Put a sturdy collar on your pet with an ID tag that includes your current contact information. The cost will be worth it if you and your pet ever become separated. And if your animal companion has a medical issue, an organization called <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/travelsmart/a/pet_safe.htm">PetHealthAlert.com</a> offers free medical alert tags and a national pet health registry. Photo: Getty Images<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/20/when-you-travel-will-your-pet-travel-with-you.htm">When You Travel, Will Your Pet Travel With You?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 09:47:13.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/20/when-you-travel-will-your-pet-travel-with-you.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/20/when-you-travel-will-your-pet-travel-with-you.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/20/when-you-travel-will-your-pet-travel-with-you.htm&zItl=When You Travel, Will Your Pet Travel With You?">Email this</a>

Are You Stuck in the Sandwich Generation?
<img src="http://z.about.com/d/seniorliving/1/0/u/2/Generations_AJ_Smith.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" />Let's say you're nearing retirement, or you're already retired. You have an aging parent who now requires costly care, and you also have an adult child who lives with you or still needs your help to pay for college or an apartment. Are you feeling a financial or emotional squeeze? If so, you're in what's called the sandwich generation--a trend that threatens to undermine the retirement plans of many boomers and seniors. But don't despair. If you find yourself caretaking your aging parents and adult children, there are ways to cope with or avoid <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/babyboomers/a/sandwich-generation.htm">sandwich generation</a> problems. Photo courtesy of A.J. Smith<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/16/are-you-stuck-in-the-sandwich-generation.htm">Are You Stuck in the Sandwich Generation?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 18:02:56.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/16/are-you-stuck-in-the-sandwich-generation.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/16/are-you-stuck-in-the-sandwich-generation.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/16/are-you-stuck-in-the-sandwich-generation.htm&zItl=Are You Stuck in the Sandwich Generation?">Email this</a>

Is Your Hospital Overusing Scans?
Patients across the country are being unnecessarily exposed to radiation because of the overuse of scanning technologies, including CT scans, MRIs and X-rays. This information comes from <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/a/criticalcare1.htm">Hospital Compare</a>, a website from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that tracks data provided by hospitals across the U.S. This data includes how hospitals treat adult patients who have had heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia, or are having surgery. While CMS points out that radiation technology can be useful in the detection of health problems, many hospitals across the country are too quick to subject patients to scans that may not be medically necessary. Not surprisingly, insurance companies are also complaining about the high cost of scans, although patient health may not be their first concern. It's important to be an informed consumer, especially when it comes to your health. Don't be afraid to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/doctorshospitals/a/medicaltreatmen.htm">ask your doctor detailed questions</a> about your illness and treatment, and to get second or third opinions when you're unsure.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/12/is-your-hospital-overusing-scans.htm">Is Your Hospital Overusing Scans?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 18:12:08.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/12/is-your-hospital-overusing-scans.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/12/is-your-hospital-overusing-scans.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/12/is-your-hospital-overusing-scans.htm&zItl=Is Your Hospital Overusing Scans?">Email this</a>

It's Never Too Late to Fulfill a Lifelong Dream
The next time you start thinking that you're too old to start something new or finally pursue a long-deferred dream, consider the case of Chrystalla Petropoulou. At age 92, Petropoulou became both the newest and the oldest nun at All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery in Calverton, N.Y., on Long Island--a monastery that she helped build. Petropoulou, who never married and has no children, has dreamed of becoming a nun since she was a young girl on Cypress, but family commitments, health issues and other life challenges got in the way. Petropoulou persevered. In 1997, she deposited $13.00 in a bank account and started a fundraising drive that eventually raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and led to completion of the monastery in 2005. Sunday services were held at the monastery once construction was finished, but the monastery lacked nuns, and by now Petropoulou was too frail to live there alone. In August 2009, two young nuns in their twenties agree to move into the Calverton monastery, Petropoulou joined them in September, and other nuns soon followed. At her induction ceremony, Petropoulou sat in a wheelchair as she received her black habit and an especially appropriate religious name: Sister Patience. Also Read: <ul><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/lifetransitionsaging/a/lifelonglearnin.htm">The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Adults 50-Plus</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/lifetransitionsaging/a/secretsuccess.htm">10 Secrets of Success: How to Make Your Dreams Come True</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/lifetransitionsaging/a/oldagesuccess.htm">See Aging in a New Way</a></ul><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/07/its-never-too-late-to-fulfill-a-lifelong-dream.htm">It's Never Too Late to Fulfill a Lifelong Dream</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 14:49:09.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/07/its-never-too-late-to-fulfill-a-lifelong-dream.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/07/its-never-too-late-to-fulfill-a-lifelong-dream.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/07/its-never-too-late-to-fulfill-a-lifelong-dream.htm&zItl=It's Never Too Late to Fulfill a Lifelong Dream">Email this</a>

Keep Summer Fun: Learn to Prevent Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Summer's here and the time is right For dancin' in the street -- Martha and the Vandellas Summer means outdoor fun--from hiking and swimming to music festivals and county fairs to, well, dancing in the street--but summer fun can quickly turn tragic if you or someone you care about ends up with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/ss/avoidheatstroke_2.htm">heat exhaustion</a> or <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/ss/avoidheatstroke_4.htm">heat stroke</a>. <a href =http://seniorliving.about.com/b/a/256144.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/01/keep-summer-fun-learn-to-prevent-heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke.htm">Keep Summer Fun: Learn to Prevent Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Thursday, July 1st, 2010 at 13:04:41.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/01/keep-summer-fun-learn-to-prevent-heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/01/keep-summer-fun-learn-to-prevent-heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/07/01/keep-summer-fun-learn-to-prevent-heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke.htm&zItl=Keep Summer Fun: Learn to Prevent Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke">Email this</a>

Is It Wise to Claim Social Security Early?
<img src="http://z.about.com/d/seniorliving/1/0/c/4/pigbank-GeorgeDoyle-CiaranGriffin-g.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" /> One of the most important decisions facing boomers is when to "retire" and apply for Social Security benefits. Many boomers just don't feel <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/retirement/a/babyboomretire.htm">ready for retirement</a> and plan to keep working as long as possible--the advantage is that waiting longer means a larger benefit check each month. But dwindling retirement funds and fewer jobs mean <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/socialsecurity101/a/social_security_benefits_recession.htm">more boomers are applying for Social Security benefits</a> than the Social Security Administration was expecting, based on years past. Is applying for Social Security benefits as soon as possible the best strategy? Maybe not. Photo: George Doyle & Ciaran Griffin/Getty Images<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/25/is-it-wise-to-claim-social-security-early.htm">Is It Wise to Claim Social Security Early?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Friday, June 25th, 2010 at 19:51:51.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/25/is-it-wise-to-claim-social-security-early.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/25/is-it-wise-to-claim-social-security-early.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/25/is-it-wise-to-claim-social-security-early.htm&zItl=Is It Wise to Claim Social Security Early?">Email this</a>

Older Motorcyclists at Greater Risk of Injury and Death
<img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/seniorliving/1/0/j/5/OldBikers_Getty.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="right" /> A growing number of baby boomers and seniors are taking to the open road on motorcycles these days, and the evidence is showing up in emergency rooms. In a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=2813">study</a> of more than 61,000 motorcyclists between the ages of 17 and 89, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that road warriors age 40 and older were nearly twice as likely to die from injuries received in a motorcycle accident than younger riders. The study revealed several interesting trends for motorcyclists between 1996 and 2005. During those 10 years: <a href =http://seniorliving.about.com/b/a/256133.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/20/older-motorcyclists-at-greater-risk-of-injury-and-death.htm">Older Motorcyclists at Greater Risk of Injury and Death</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Sunday, June 20th, 2010 at 01:04:53.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/20/older-motorcyclists-at-greater-risk-of-injury-and-death.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/20/older-motorcyclists-at-greater-risk-of-injury-and-death.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/20/older-motorcyclists-at-greater-risk-of-injury-and-death.htm&zItl=Older Motorcyclists at Greater Risk of Injury and Death">Email this</a>

Obesity Increasing Among Older Adults
<img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/seniorliving/1/0/i/5/weight-g.jpg" alt="" hspace="5" align="left" />The CDC Foundation says that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.cdcfoundation.org/healththreats/obesity.aspx">obesity is an epidemic</a> in the United States, with the warning that obesity is "the leading lifestyle-related cause of disease and death in the United States after smoking." <a href =http://seniorliving.about.com/b/a/256123.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/16/obesity-increasing-among-older-adults.htm">Obesity Increasing Among Older Adults</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 18:19:35.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/16/obesity-increasing-among-older-adults.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/16/obesity-increasing-among-older-adults.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/16/obesity-increasing-among-older-adults.htm&zItl=Obesity Increasing Among Older Adults">Email this</a>

More Help to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud
Older adults are often the target of scams. That's why it's important for us to be aware of consumer protection information. The U.S. government offers <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/od/manageyourmoney/a/freeconsumerinf.htm">free consumer protection information</a> about a variety of scam and fraud topics to help you minimize your risk. In addition, President Obama established the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which includes members of more than 20 federal agencies, 94 US Attorneys Offices and state and local partners. The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force is described as "the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud." <a href =http://seniorliving.about.com/b/a/256092.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/14/more-help-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-and-fraud.htm">More Help to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/">About.com Senior Living</a> on Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 09:25:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/14/more-help-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-and-fraud.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/14/more-help-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-and-fraud.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://seniorliving.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://seniorliving.about.com/b/2010/06/14/more-help-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-and-fraud.htm&zItl=More Help to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud">Email this</a>