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New Year's Resolutions for Seniors
In order for New Year's resolutions to work, they have to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Related.
That's especially true for seniors who've "been there, done that," and don't want to make promises they don't intend to keep. This list of suggested resolutions is geared to seniors who are very SMART and especially motivated to maintain their health and independence as long as they can.
Get current on vaccinations. Medicare Part B covers most of the shots that are critical to seniors like flu, COVID and pneumonia - and the RSV and shingles vaccines are often paid by Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist and make an appointment to get the vaccines you need to stay healthy.
Organize your medications. Make sure you have a current list of the medications you need to take, then prepare a written list of your meds with appropriate dosages and times they should be taken. If you take more than three meds daily, consider using a pillbox with slots for morning/afternoon/night so you can fill it once a week and be confident you're taking the right pills at the right time.
De-clutter where you can. We all have precious stuff, but too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Separate the things you love from those you really don't need anymore. Share some of those precious items with your children and donate less-precious items to people who really can use them. Make more room in your home for exercising, safely walking around - maybe even dancing!
Embrace technology. Decide to try one new thing at a time. Apps on your smart phone, laptop or tablet can make it easier to get a ride, order groceries or pay your bills. Video chatting with family and friends is more satisfying than a simple phone call. And e-books, games and other apps put fun and entertainment within hand's reach. Take time this year to challenge yourself, to keep your brain active and to make every day a new adventure!
Home Instead Senior Care for Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys 254-8701

Microcores make a Big Impact on Skin Tightness
Ellacor is the most exciting new treatment that medical-aesthetic professionals have seen in years. FDA-cleared to treat moderate and severe wrinkles in the mid to lower face, this nonsurgical skin rejuvenation treatment uses micro-coring to smooth and tighten skin; hollow needles precisely remove tiny "microcores" of excess skin without surgery or thermal energy. These tiny cores extend through the full thickness of the skin, but they're so minuscule, they don't leave a scar. As much as 8 percent of the skin's volume can be removed in a single treatment session, making it smoother and tighter once it heals.
Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Care 254-3686

ByDr.Poucher Intimate Selfcare Collection is the Answer
to Postpartum, Peri- and Menopausal Skin
With ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, honey, tea tree oil and more, the nature-based, Santa-Clarita crafted ByDr.Poucher line of intimate selfcare products is just what the doctor ordered.
Formulated by internationally-recognized labiaplasty surgeon and SCV resident Dr. Courtenay Poucher, the premium collection doesn't just calm symptoms like dryness, microtearing, itching and discomfort - it deeply nourishes and heals the skin.
"After treating over 3,000 women in our labiaplasty practice, it was clear that there was a major gap in the market. There simply were not products that safely and gently addressed the discomforts postpartum, peri- and menopausal women shared with us every day - so we made them ourselves," says Dr. Poucher, OB/GYN.
ByDr.Poucher products are pH balanced to meet the needs of a woman's most intimate skin and can be purchased easily online - with free shipping for orders over $60 - by logging onto bydrpoucher.com.
Aesthetic Center of Santa Clarita 312-0497