All Information

Stroke (FAST)

• One side of the face suddenly droops
• One arm or leg goes weak
• Speech is slurred, or words will not come at all

→ Note the time it started and call 911 right away

Heart attack

• Tightness or pressure in the middle of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes
• The pain spreads to the left arm, jaw, neck, shoulder or back
• Cold sweat, nausea or shortness of breath come with it

→ Call 911 right away

In older adults and women it can come without clear chest pain - as sudden severe tiredness or something that feels like indigestion.

Waiting to see if it gets better is the most dangerous thing you can do.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Appendix H-1

1. Stroke - one side of the face droops, one arm or leg goes weak, slurred speech

2. Heart attack - chest pressure for more than a few minutes, spreading to the left arm, jaw or back, cold sweat and shortness of breath

3. Sudden confusion or talking nonsense (delirium) - not recognizing people within a day or two. This is not dementia; it is an emergency caused by infection, dehydration or medication side effects

4. Warning signs of dementia - asking the same question again and again in a short time, trouble handling money or medications, getting lost on familiar routes

5. Sudden vision problems - loss of sight in one eye, part of the view blocked like a curtain, a sudden burst of flashes and floaters, eye pain with headache and nausea

6. Sudden hearing loss - one ear suddenly cannot hear. Treatment within days gives the best chance of recovery

7. Joints - a joint that is suddenly hot, swollen and red, or severe pain after a fall so you cannot put any weight on it

8. Urine - blood in the urine, severe pain when urinating, or suddenly not being able to urinate at all

9. Digestion - blood in the stool, black sticky stool, severe stomach pain or a swollen belly with vomiting

10. Drug allergy or low blood sugar - hives, swollen lips or tongue, or trouble breathing after taking a medicine / for people with diabetes: cold sweat, shaking hands, dizziness

Cut out this list and put it on your refrigerator. It helps a great deal in a hurry.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Appendix H-1

So you can hand it to paramedics the moment they arrive, write the following on a sheet of paper and keep one on the refrigerator door and one in your wallet.

• Your doctor's name and phone number
• Your medication list (especially heart medicine, blood pressure medicine and blood thinners)
• Medicines you are allergic to
• Your home address and gate number
• Phone numbers of family to call in an emergency

Even when you cannot speak, this one sheet helps you get accurate, safe treatment.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Appendices A and D

Laguna Woods Village (LWV), in south Orange County, is the largest 55-and-over community in the western United States. More than 18,500 people live in 12,736 homes, with golf courses, pools, seven clubhouses, more than 250 clubs and 24-hour security - a small city of its own. It began in 1964 as Leisure World and took its current name in 2005.

In a co-op you buy shares in the housing cooperative, and purchases are cash only. A condo is deeded in your own name, and a mortgage is possible. The Towers offer hotel-style living with meals, housekeeping and concierge, for residents 62 and older. Before you look at homes, the first step is deciding which of these three fits you.

CH1 has a large fitness center and billiards; CH2, next to the golf course, has lawn bowling and a ballroom; CH3 is the 814-seat Performing Arts Center; CH4 is for crafts such as ceramics, woodworking and sewing; CH5 has the Village's largest lounge and a dance floor; CH6 has cozy small meeting rooms; and CH7 has a 130-person multipurpose hall (home of the American Contract Bridge League unit). Clubhouse reservations: 949-597-4227.

On the 27-hole championship course, 18 holes cost $17 and 9 holes $9; the 9-hole par-3 course costs $8. Power carts are $15 for 18 holes and $8 for 9, pull carts $1, and club rental $25. The driving range is $3/$5/$7 for a small/medium/large bucket. The dress code requires collared shirts and soft-spike golf shoes; jeans and shorts more than 6 inches above the knee are not allowed. Golf pro shop: 949-597-4336.

Every spring Laguna Woods Village holds its signature community sports event, the Village Games, for about three weeks. In 2026 it runs April 6-30, with dozens of events by age group and level - golf, tennis, pickleball, bowling, swimming, table tennis, billiards, shuffleboard, bridge and more. You can join as a spectator, volunteer or cheering section even if you do not compete, and most entry and viewing is free. It is a great way to make new friends and feel the community spirit, so check the dates early each spring.

The free Village bus, Easy Rider, runs about every 30 minutes around the Village and nearby. It connects to medical offices and shopping centers. Where the fixed routes do not reach, use the Plan-A-Ride door-to-door service. Residents 60 and over can also ride to the Irvine train station at low cost through a senior mobility program. Questions: 949-597-4659.

Saddleback Medical Center is about 10 minutes away by car and offers interpreter services. For same-day care that is not an emergency, use Urgent Care. For an emergency call 911; for non-emergency Village Security call 949-580-1400. The Village Social Services office (949-597-4267) offers free health counseling and dementia support.

The monthly fee - about $900 for a co-op and about $910 for a condo - includes water, trash pickup, basic cable TV, building fire insurance, landscaping, 24-hour security and the free bus. Electricity ($60-90) and internet are separate, together usually under $150 a month. Only some facilities, such as golf green fees or club room rental, cost extra.

Mornings start with a walk under the palms, then golf or a swim. Late morning brings the library or a club meeting; after lunch, tennis or choir practice. Evenings have shows, dances and music clubs. Residents from many countries live here, and many clubs and services work in several languages, so newcomers find their place quickly.

Carports in Laguna Woods currently have only 110-volt (Level 1) power, which adds only about 30-50 miles of range over a whole day. Carports are HOA common areas, so a 240-volt charger needs permits from both the HOA and the City, and the resident pays the cost. You can use public Level 2 chargers nearby, such as at the Laguna Hills mall, and if you drive short distances, slow 110-volt charging is enough. If you do not drive far each day, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is the most practical choice for life in Laguna Woods.

Every week Laguna Woods offers many free drop-in classes - yoga, tai chi, qigong, hula, line dancing, shuffleboard, lawn bowling and more - plus language classes such as Korean, French and Russian. For example, tai chi meets Tuesday and Thursday 8:30-10:00 a.m., and Korean class meets Wednesday 2:15-4:15 p.m. Some popular classes, such as cycling or aqua Zumba, have a small fee of about $3-$6 per session. Times and places can change with the instructor, so check with the Recreation office at (949) 597-4273 before you go.

Near the Village are Laguna Woods Pharmacy (949-586-7780, delivers if you have trouble getting out), CVS Pharmacy (949-588-0429, drive-through prescription pickup) and Woodbridge Pharmacy in Irvine (949-857-2141). Inside the Village is the Community Library with more than 30,000 items and large-print books, and right next door is the OC Public Library Laguna Woods branch (24266 El Toro Rd, 949-476-4600, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). If you take several prescriptions, use one pharmacy for all of them - it makes checking for drug interactions much easier.

Six months before: start sorting your belongings and talk with an experienced real estate agent. Four to five months before: prepare to sell your current home and visit the Village to see floor plans in person. Three months before: gather the HOA application and financial papers. Two months before: make an offer on a Village home, open escrow, and speed up donating and selling. One month before: pack room by room, book the movers and schedule utility transfers. Many residents say settling in takes 3 to 6 months - joining even one club in that time helps you adjust much faster.

A free system that alerts you right away by text, email or phone about wildfires, earthquakes, power outages, gate closures and other emergencies. Sign up on the official Laguna Woods Village website or resident portal, or fill out a form in person at the Community Center. Sign up on your first day - it takes only 5 minutes.

Pack ahead: 7 days of your medicines, copies of your ID and insurance cards, reading glasses and hearing aid batteries, cash, a phone charger, a flashlight, bottled water and emergency food, and a change of clothes. In an earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On. If you live in the Towers, never use the elevator during an earthquake.

Each household may keep up to 3 pets (no more than 2 dogs), and a new pet must be registered with the HOA within 15 days. In common areas a leash of 6 feet or shorter is required, and pets are not allowed on the golf courses or lawn parks. Coyotes come out in the evening and at dawn, so do not leave small pets alone outside.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels, new flooring, air conditioning, and electrical or plumbing work all need advance approval from the HOA Manor Alterations department (949-597-4616). Work without approval can bring a stop-work order, fines and the cost of undoing the work, and can cause trouble later when you sell. After HOA approval you also need a City permit before work can begin.

Laguna Woods is private property, so even family cannot pass the gate without being registered in advance. Log in with your resident ID at community.dwellinglive.com/lagunawoods.aspx to register guests, or if the internet is hard for you, call 949-597-4301 with the guest's name and the date and time of the visit. The guest's name must match their driver's license exactly. Use "Send ePass" to send a QR code straight to your guest's phone for a fast entry. For overnight guests, also request an Overnight Parking Pass (OPP).

The HOA master policy covers only the building exterior and common areas, with high deductibles: $100,000 for general damage, and for earthquake damage 5% of the building value (at least $100,000). Your unit's interior upgrades, furniture and appliances, and your personal liability are not covered at all, so you must have your own HO-6 policy. HO-6 premiums run about $35-$60 a month; include at least $300,000 of personal liability and a loss assessment rider of $10,000-$100,000 to cover your share of an HOA deductible. When you talk to an agent, be sure to say it is an HOA community with a $100,000 deductible so you get the right coverage.

Trash and recycling are included in your monthly HOA fee, so you do not pay CR&R separately. Trash and recycling are picked up on set days by building number; food waste goes out every Wednesday in the green-lid cart, and bulky items are picked up free every week without a call. For yard waste, book with Resident Services at (949) 597-4600 by noon Thursday for Friday pickup. Batteries, paint and other hazardous waste are picked up free at your door by WM Curbside, (800) 449-7587. General questions: CR&R, (949) 625-6735.

In Laguna Woods Village, both co-ops and condos allow no more than 20% of all units to be rented (lowered from 25% this year), and once the cap is reached you may have to join a waiting list. Leases run from 30 days to 12 months and can be extended only by applying again each year; short stays under 30 days, such as Airbnb, are strictly prohibited. At least one tenant must be 55 or older, and the board's written approval through the Golden Rain Lease Permit Office is required before the tenant moves in. Review takes at least 7 business days, so apply 2-3 weeks before the move-in date.

If you need care, a formally registered caregiver of any age may live with you, but before move-in you must submit a letter of medical necessity from your doctor and get the HOA's written approval. Co-ops (United Mutual) also require a national criminal background check for the caregiver. As of 2026, when the caregiver is the third occupant, co-ops charge only the $50 monthly Mutual fee and waive the $131 GRF fee, while condos charge both (a total of $181 a month). A caregiver may use community facilities only as a guest, not as an independent resident, and must return the ID card as soon as care ends.

When you sell, you need an HOA first inspection around the opening of escrow (co-op $360 / condo $250), and after the required repairs are done you must pass a final inspection (co-op $110 / condo $90) for escrow to proceed. The seller pays the Mutual transfer processing fee (co-op $350 / condo $400), the HOA document package ($540) and fines for unreturned ID cards ($125 each); if co-op stock certificates are lost, a lost-certificate bond costing up to 1.8% of the sale price must be bought. Under California law the seller must give the buyer the required disclosures, including the TDS (Transfer Disclosure Statement), SPQ (Seller Property Questionnaire) and NHD (Natural Hazard Disclosure); if they are not provided, the buyer can cancel. Start preparing at least 2-3 months ahead.

The Stoic philosophy of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius teaches us to divide life into two parts: what I can control and what I cannot. Today's walk, the food I eat and how I treat people are in my control; the weather, my children's life choices and some numbers on my test results are not. Practice spending your strength only on the first column and handing the second to heaven - it makes the heart much lighter. Research shows that spending 5 minutes before bed answering three questions - "What are one or two things I am grateful for today?", "Of today's worries, which can I control?" and "What is the one most important thing tomorrow?" - reduces anxiety and depression and improves sleep.

A large American study (Julianne Holt-Lunstad) found that long-term loneliness and isolation harm health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day - a bigger risk than obesity or lack of exercise. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, running for more than 85 years since 1938, concluded that good relationships predict health and happiness more strongly than wealth or fame. When you join a new group or club, remember the "rule of three": the first time feels strange, the second time faces are familiar, and only by the third do people remember your name. Choose one group that meets at the same time every week and you will see people without needing willpower - and this week, reconnect with an old friend with one phone call.

At any age the brain keeps making new connections - neuroplasticity - and people who keep learning and using their minds have "cognitive reserve": even when aging changes come to the brain, symptoms appear later and more mildly. The most effective approach is 20 minutes a day on something new that is "a bit hard, but not hard enough to quit" - a language, an instrument, drawing, or using your smartphone. Like the Okinawan word ikigai (the reason you get up in the morning), several studies show that people with a clear sense of purpose have markedly lower death and dementia risk. Purpose does not have to be grand - caring for grandchildren or volunteering at the library is enough. Today, pick one "90-day new skill challenge."

If a caller says "your account is involved in money laundering" or asks you to cooperate with an investigation by sending money or giving control of your account, it is 100% a scam - hang up immediately. If you get an urgent call in the voice of a grandchild or child asking for money (today voices can be imitated with artificial intelligence), hang up first and call back on the number you saved yourself; agree on a family code word that only your family knows. Any demand to act "right now, in secret, without telling family" is itself the sign of a scam - however urgent it seems, there is always time for one checking call. Share these three rules with your spouse and close friends so the whole family remembers them.

Research by psychologist Robert Emmons found that people who write every night "three good things that happened today" and "why they happened" become clearly happier and sleep better. Even small things count - write for 21 days and you will start noticing good things during the day to write down that evening. Depression is not weak will; like high blood pressure or diabetes, it is an illness that needs treatment, and in older adults it often shows not as tears but as constant tiredness, unexplained pain, poor appetite and losing interest in things you used to enjoy. If low mood, poor sleep, poor appetite and lack of energy last more than two weeks, tell someone you trust and talk with your doctor - and if the thought "life has no meaning" crosses your mind, reach out right away to family, your doctor or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).

From age 30 muscle slowly declines every decade, faster after 70. This is called sarcopenia; trouble opening a jar or needing the handrail on stairs are signs. At every meal have protein the size and thickness of your palm (eggs, fish, tofu, lean meat), and twice a week do 20 minutes of strength exercise such as the wall squat - back against the wall, slowly sit and stand. Falls are the top cause of death and disability in older adults, so this week check these six things at home: bathroom grab bars and non-slip mats, secured thresholds and rugs, night lighting, cords and clutter cleared, stair handrails, and non-slip indoor shoes that hold the heel. Many clinical studies show that exercises like tai chi, which slowly shift weight onto one leg, greatly lower fall risk, and walking about 7,000 steps a day brings clear health benefits.

A long-term study at Rush University in the U.S. found that people who closely followed the MIND diet - a blend of the Mediterranean and DASH diets - had about 53% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, and those who followed it only about halfway still had about 35% lower risk. In other words, it works even if you are not perfect. Every day have a plate of leafy greens (bok choy, spinach and the like), a handful of nuts and whole grains; at least twice a week have berries and fish; mushrooms (shiitake, wood ear) add fiber that helps both gut and brain. Soy sauce, fermented pastes, salted fish and pickles hide a lot of sodium, so build flavor with green onion, garlic, ginger and vinegar and use half the soy sauce. The polyphenols in green or oolong tea are good antioxidants, but after 3 p.m. switch from strong tea or coffee to weak tea or water to protect your sleep.

"Natural means safe" is a dangerous idea. Dong quai, danshen, ginkgo, ginseng and large amounts of goji berry can raise the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin and others), and licorice root (also found in licorice tea and some sauces) can upset blood pressure and potassium levels when taken with blood pressure pills or diuretics. Once a year, bring all your prescriptions, herbal remedies, supplements, medicinal wines and over-the-counter medicines in one bag to your doctor or pharmacist for a "medicine bag check," and always ask before starting any new tonic or health food. Telling your doctor about herbs and supplements does not upset them - it is the single most important thing you can say to protect yourself. Take a photo of your complete medicine list, save it on your phone, and give a copy to one family member.

The amount of sleep you need does not drop much with age - 7 to 8 hours is still ideal. What changes is the ability to sleep: it takes longer to fall asleep, sleep is lighter, and you wake more often. The three anchors are "get up at the same time every day" (more important than bedtime), "within an hour of waking, walk in the sunlight for 20-30 minutes," and "use the bed only for sleep." Turning off screens (TV, phone) an hour before bed and keeping naps under 25 minutes and before 3 p.m. also help. Loud snoring with sudden pauses and gasps, plus heavy daytime sleepiness, may be sleep apnea and needs a doctor - it is linked to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and memory problems. If insomnia lasts for months, ask your doctor about cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) before sleeping pills, and if you do take sleeping pills, never raise the dose on your own, mix them with alcohol, or stop suddenly.

With preparation there is grief but no panic. Without it, a family can spend years searching the house for bank accounts, passwords and property deeds. The first job is an "asset list" - bank accounts, real estate, insurance policies, retirement and investment accounts, where the safe is, and digital assets such as email, cloud photos and social media accounts. Just write where each thing is; you do not need balances or passwords. An Advance Health Care Directive states ahead of time whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you cannot express your wishes, and a Durable Power of Attorney names who can do your banking and sign for you when you cannot decide. A will is not about how much you own - it decides whether you choose, or the law chooses for you. This month, draft your asset list, hold a 30-minute family meeting, and tell at least two family members where the papers are kept.

Preparing for the end of life is not a dark task. Doing it today, with a clear mind, protects your dignity and lightens your family's load - it is a freeing start.

• Advance health care directive - for moments when you cannot speak, decide on life-sustaining treatment and name your health care agent yourself
• Ethical will - leave a letter with the wisdom and gratitude you gained in life, not only property
• An "Important Papers" folder - gather documents, deeds, insurance and contacts in one place, and tell your family where it is

And there are five sentences you can say today:
"I love you. Thank you. I'm sorry. It's all right. I'm proud of you."

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Chapter 14

In The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia you meet Dr. Owl all through the book. You will meet Dr. Owl here too.

When Dr. Owl appears, it means: "Be sure to talk with a professional about this."

• The health information here is a friendly guide only. It cannot replace your doctor. Every diagnosis and treatment, and starting or stopping any medicine, must be decided with a professional.
• When a symptom worries you, do not put it off or put up with it alone. Going to the doctor and asking is the wisest health habit.
• Even if you suspect a side effect, do not stop a medicine or change the dose yourself. Bring your medication list and adjust it safely with your doctor and pharmacist.
• In an urgent emergency, do not hesitate - call 911 right away or go to the emergency room.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia · KoMeRiCa Books

People in their 70s and 80s who remember and reason as well as people decades younger are called "super-agers." The brain keeps the power to make new connections all its life - neuroplasticity - so it is like a muscle: use it and it grows stronger, leave it and it weakens. Research suggests up to 45% of dementia worldwide is linked to risk factors we can change, such as lack of exercise, hearing loss, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, social contact and smoking. Studies also show that light walking of about 5,000-7,500 steps a day slows brain aging - so today, call one person for a chat, or walk for just 10 minutes.

Isolation and loneliness are not just moods. They are serious risk factors that directly affect health. Avoiding people more than usual, together with changes in appetite and sleep, is a warning sign. Making eye contact and talking with one person every day, keeping a hobby that uses your hands, and choosing activities with conversation over TV are the first steps to connection. On days when your heart feels especially heavy, do not carry it alone - telling family, a neighbor or a counseling service is the bravest and wisest choice.

One in four people over 65 falls every year, but most never tell their doctor. About 70% of falls at home happen in three places: the bathroom, the path from the bedroom, and a cluttered living room. Non-slip mats and grab bars in the bathroom, motion-sensor night lights in the bedroom, and clearing rug edges and cords in the living room all work well. Walking on a wood floor in socks is like walking on ice, so wear non-slip slippers indoors too. Grab bars should be mounted 33 to 36 inches (84-91 cm) from the floor and anchored firmly enough to hold at least 250 pounds (113 kg).

One in four people over 65 has diabetes, and even more have prediabetes. Repeated sharp rises and falls in blood sugar after meals ("glucose spikes") speed up aging of the blood vessels and brain - feeling sluggish and sleepy after eating can be a sign. Simply eating vegetables and protein before rice or bread ("reverse-order eating") greatly reduces the swings. Remember the one-plate rule - half the plate vegetables, a quarter protein such as fish, tofu or eggs, and a quarter whole grains - and add a light 10-minute walk after meals.

High blood pressure is more dangerous because it does not hurt. It can damage blood vessels for years without symptoms, then appear one day as a heart attack or stroke. The three strongest tools are measuring and recording your blood pressure at home at least three times a week, a low-salt habit such as eating only half the soup broth, and walking 30 minutes a day. If your usual reading is under 120/80, keep your current habits; if it goes back and forth over 130/80, tighten up your habits and see a doctor; if it is often over 140/90, book an appointment without delay. If the face suddenly droops, speech slurs or one arm goes weak, it is a stroke sign - call 911 right away.

If you cannot see well, you fall more easily; if you cannot hear well, you tend to become lonely and withdrawn. Untreated hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors for dementia. Cataracts are usually fixed by surgery, but glaucoma silently takes away side vision first, and lost sight cannot be restored - a yearly eye exam is the only protection. Wearing hearing aids is no more embarrassing than wearing glasses; it is a wise choice. If family often says the TV is too loud, it is time for a hearing test. If one eye suddenly cannot see, or part of your view is blocked like a curtain, go to the doctor that same day.

About half of people over 65 have arthritis, but the real danger is not the pain itself - it is not moving because of it. The stronger the muscles around a joint, the better they absorb shock, so the right movement is itself a treatment, even with some pain. Use heat (15-20 minutes) for stiff, long-lasting pain, and cold for a joint that has suddenly swollen or was just injured. In chest-deep water much of your body weight is supported, so water exercise is especially kind to joints, and research shows tai chi 30-45 minutes three times a week can relieve knee arthritis pain as well as physical therapy.

During deep sleep the spaces between brain cells widen by up to 60%, and fluid flows through to wash away the day's waste - including proteins linked to dementia. Sleeping less than 6-7 hours, or sleep broken by sleep apnea or frequent bathroom trips, keeps this cleaning from working well. Getting up at the same time every day and getting at least 15 minutes of morning sunlight are the best ways to set your body clock; leave the TV, phone and worries outside the bedroom. If insomnia lasts more than three weeks, or loud snoring with pauses in breathing comes with heavy daytime sleepiness, ask for a sleep apnea test.

With age the number of medicines naturally grows - blood pressure pills, sleeping pills, supplements - and the body clears them more slowly, so the same dose acts longer and stronger. Watch out for the "prescribing cascade": a side effect of one medicine (dizziness, indigestion, swelling) is mistaken for a new illness, and another medicine is added. The surest prevention is a "brown bag review" once a year: put every medicine and supplement in one bag and have your pharmacist or doctor check them all together. Supplements such as ginkgo or ginseng can interact dangerously with blood thinners or diabetes medicine, so always tell your doctor and pharmacist everything you take.

High blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma and osteoporosis - the main illnesses of later life - show up on tests long before symptoms appear. Once symptoms start, treatment is harder: going when you are sick is treatment; going when you are well is prevention. Check blood pressure often at home and blood sugar / A1C every year. A bone density (DEXA) test matters especially for women, since bone loss often shows up first as a fracture. Colonoscopy is the test people put off most, yet it prevents a great deal. At your next visit, also check your schedule for flu, pneumonia, shingles and tetanus vaccines.

If something you forgot comes back to you later, or a hint brings it back, that is ordinary forgetfulness. But if you do not realize you forgot at all, that is a sign to get checked.

Signs to watch

• Repeating the same question or story within a short time
• Clearly more trouble handling money or medications
• Getting lost on routes you have always used

Dementia is an illness, not just age. The earlier it is found, the sooner you can get treatment to slow it and plan for safety. A memory test is a painless 10-15 minute set of questions - if you are worried, do not hide it; ask for one at your regular checkup.

Seven shield habits that lower the risk
Walking · learning new things · seeing people · 7 hours of sleep · managing blood pressure and blood sugar · correcting hearing loss · not smoking

🦉 Confusion or nonsense talk that gets suddenly worse within a day or two may not be dementia but an emergency (delirium) caused by infection, dehydration or medication. Get medical care right away.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Chapter 3

Waking often to urinate makes sleep shallow and raises the risk of falling in a dark room.

• Drink most of your water during the day, and less after dinner
• Between 3 and 5 p.m., sit on the sofa with your legs raised above your heart for 30 minutes. Fluid that collected in your legs during the day drains early, so you wake less at night
• Do pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises regularly
• Keep motion-sensor lights on the way to the bathroom

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Chapter 9

With age the sense of thirst grows weaker. If you wait until you are thirsty, your body is already short of water.

• Start the morning with a glass of warm water
• Drink at set times through the day, thirsty or not
• Add fiber and fermented foods (yogurt, kimchi, miso and the like)
• A 10-minute walk after meals wakes up your digestion

When your gut is comfortable, your mind is clearer too (the gut-brain axis).

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Chapter 10

Morning, empty stomach

• Probiotics - with a glass of lukewarm water
• Iron + vitamin C - vitamin C helps iron absorb

After breakfast or lunch

• B vitamins - energy for the day
• Vitamin D3, multivitamin, lutein, omega-3 - these dissolve in fat, so take them with a meal that has some fat

After dinner

• Calcium, zinc - bone and cell repair overnight

One hour before bed

• Magnesium - relaxes muscles for deeper sleep
• Collagen - joint and tissue repair at night

⚠ Keep these at least 2 hours apart
Iron ↔ calcium · magnesium · zinc · milk · coffee · tea (they block each other's absorption)

✓ Good pairs
Iron + vitamin C / vitamin D + calcium / omega-3 + lutein

The basic nine after 65
Vitamin D3, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12, omega-3, protein, lutein, vitamin C, probiotics

🦉 Supplements can clash with medicines you take. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new one.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Appendix G

After 50, the protein you eat is not turned into muscle as easily (anabolic resistance). So spreading protein across every meal, rather than eating it all at once, matters for preventing muscle loss (sarcopenia) and for blood sugar control.

Eggs and dairy

Eggs (steamed egg) · Greek yogurt · milk · cheese

Beans and plant protein

Tofu and soft tofu · black beans · fermented soybean paste · chickpeas and lentils · natto

Fish and seafood

Mackerel and saury · salmon · flounder and cod · squid and octopus · shrimp and crab

Lean meat

Chicken breast · lean beef cuts · pork tenderloin and loin · duck

Nuts and seeds

Almonds · pumpkin and sunflower seeds

Three golden rules
1. Eat within 2 hours after a walk or exercise - that switches on muscle building
2. Fill a quarter of every plate with protein
3. If chewing is hard, choose soft foods such as steamed egg, soft tofu and tender fish

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Chapter 5 and Appendix H-4

Appointments are short. If you prepare, that short time goes much further.

Before the visit - put in your bag

• Your medication card, or all your medicines in one bag (brown bag review)
• Your blood pressure and blood sugar records
• Three questions written down ahead of time

During the visit - remember to ask

• "I have a new symptom. Could it be from a medicine I take?"
• "Are there vaccines I still need?" (flu, pneumonia, shingles)
• "Do any of these medicines make me dizzy or sleepy, or more likely to fall?"
• If you cannot hear well, do not let it pass - say "Could you say that again, please?" It is even better to bring a family member.

After the visit - at home

• Write down three lines of what you remember
• If a medicine changed, write a new medication card
• Put the next appointment on your calendar

💡 Ask this one question at the end
"Doctor, if you could pick just one most important thing for today, what would it be?"
A long, complicated explanation comes back as one sentence.

📖 The Illustrated Senior Health Encyclopedia, Appendix C

"From a life of success to a life of meaning - travel light, and leave your family love."

A book to help you shape the second act of life, from your 60s to your 90s and beyond, with a light heart and dignity. One volume of the five-book gift collection.

A compass with five directions

1. Money and home - fewer scattered accounts, a safer home, and protecting yourself from scam calls
2. Legacy and law - four colored folders so your family is never lost, and an "ethical will" that passes on wisdom and love, not only property
3. Staying involved - seven doors that turn retirement into service and connection with neighbors
4. Curiosity and technology - 15 minutes a day with your devices, your life story and your own playlist
5. Peace of mind - advance health care wishes, a morning and evening anchor, and five sentences that heal relationships

A book you read in three layers

• Layer 1 - large-print text, each piece readable in about 3 minutes
• Layer 2 - conversation guides for family and caregivers, with real sample conversations children can use with their parents
• Layer 3 - a pencil workbook with checklists and letter forms you fill in as a family record

📖 The Art of Aging Well · KoMeRiCa Books

When papers are scattered in drawers all over the house, your family has to search everywhere at the worst moment. Four colored folders prevent that.

🟡 Yellow - Money
Bank statements and the bills you pay now, the deed and title papers, insurance policies, and legal papers such as your will, living trust and durable power of attorney

🔴 Red - Medical
Advance health care directive (the treatments you want and do not want), health care agent form (who speaks for you when you cannot), current medication list, medical history, doctor and pharmacy contacts

🔵 Blue - Digital
Where your password book or password manager is, legacy contacts for Apple, Google and social media, and a list of cloud family photos and important accounts

🟢 Green - What remains
Your ethical will and letters to family, songs or readings you would like at your service, family history and a list of photos

How to start

Buy folders in these four colors at a stationery store and put them on a shelf. It is fine if they are empty at first. Make the place first, and it fills up one item at a time.

Then tell at least two family members where this shelf is.

📖 The Art of Aging Well · see also the Planning Ahead cards

"Money keeps a family comfortable for a while. Your words make them strong for generations."

A legal will is a court document that divides property. An ethical will is different. No lawyer or court is needed. It is a letter, in your handwriting or your voice, about what mattered, what life taught you, and what you hope for your family.

Four pages are enough

1. Gratitude and the journey - the places you have lived, the people you are most grateful to, your happiest ordinary day
2. The values I kept - the faith that held me in hard times, what I hope the family carries on, one sentence to hang on the family wall for the next hundred years
3. What I learned the hard way - what I regret, what I worried about that turned out fine, what I would tell my younger self
4. To each one of you - a few words for each child and grandchild, meant only for that person

Where to keep it, how to pass it on

Put it in the green folder (What remains). You can hand it over now, or leave it in the folder to be found later. A short phone video of you reading it keeps your voice too.

📖 The Art of Aging Well

If you think "I am writing a book," it is hard to start even one line. So break it into three steps.

Step 1 · Write only titles

Do not write the stories yet. Just write about thirty titles.
"The blue bicycle", "My first paycheck", "That terrible haircut in 1959" - that is all.
Titles are easy; stories are heavy. Collect titles first and you never wonder where to begin.

Step 2 · Write just one page

Pick one title, set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes, and write the way you talk.
Do not fix spelling or sentences. Your family does not want polished writing - they want your voice.
If writing by hand is hard, speak into your phone's voice recorder. It works just as well.

Step 3 · Let the pages pile up

One page a week is fifty stories a year. That is a memoir.
You only ever face one page. The stack of paper does the rest.

📖 The Art of Aging Well

The whole book, broken into small weekly changes. Each step gets two weeks, so there is no rush.

"No one falls behind. There are only people who keep walking."

Weeks 1-2 · Lighter (simpler life and money)

Sort your worries into two piles - what you can control and what you cannot. Set the second pile down.
Fill in a one-page spending sheet, cancel subscriptions you do not use, and give one treasured item, with its story, to someone.

Weeks 3-4 · Home (safer)

Spend 30 minutes walking through your home looking for hazards.
Put motion-sensor lights on the way to the bathroom, and add grab bars and non-slip mats.

Weeks 5-6 · Papers and words (getting ready)

Make the four colored folders - yellow money, red medical, blue digital, green what remains.
Fill in one emergency contact page and start the first page of your legacy letter.

Weeks 7-8 · Neighbors (connecting)

Choose one door - a club, volunteering, a faith group. Take one small step.
Learn one neighbor's name, and call someone you love for 10 minutes just to listen. No advice.

Weeks 9-10 · Playground (technology and fun)

Learn one easy thing. Asking your phone out loud about the weather is enough.
Write ten life-story titles and finish writing or recording one of them.

Weeks 11-12 · A light heart (peace and words)

Sit with family over tea for 10 minutes and talk about what you want.
Before sleep, count three good things from the day, and say one of the five healing sentences out loud to someone.

📖 The Art of Aging Well - "The 12-Week Slow Walk" at the end of the book

"We laugh with older people, never at them."

By Taegong (Karl Chu) · KoMeRiCa Books · premium 14-point large print

Many humor books simply poke fun at aging, forgetfulness and wrestling with machines. This book does not. It sees aging not as losing things, but as wisdom coming to completion.

It is made with large type and generous line spacing, so you can read it without reading glasses.

"In the sunlight of the years we are still laughing out loud - and that smile is the greatest wisdom we have."

📖 Still Laughing · KoMeRiCa Books

Laughter has its dignity too. From the first page to the last, this book keeps five promises.

One. We laugh with older people, never at them.

Two. Illness, memory, hearing, loss, and needing someone's help are never the joke.

Three. Stories about husbands and wives are always affectionate.

Four. The machine is the butt of the joke - never the person.

Five. Every page you turn should make your heart a little lighter - never smaller.

📖 Still Laughing

Twelve chapters and a special appendix of everyday life seasoned by the years, told as short stories.

Hide-and-seek with mirrors and glasses

Greeting the silver-haired "old classmate" in the mirror with confidence, and searching the whole house for the glasses sitting on your nose.

People versus machines, and the digital world

However much the smartphone alerts and kiosks fuss, older folks quietly win with cash and a pocket notebook.

Retirement and the long marriage negotiation

The freedom of writing "Nothing" with pride when your wife asks, "What's on your schedule today?"

Children, grandchildren and the family group chat

Sending flower photos and hearts every morning to a family scattered across countries, just to say "we're all right."

Special appendix · A dictionary of modern life, seen through senior eyes

"Two-factor authentication," "the cloud," "algorithm," "Bluetooth" - puzzling modern words, explained again through the lens of a long life.

📖 Still Laughing

There are five ways to read it, so you can open it however suits your day - from a 10-second laugh in the doctor's waiting room to a story the whole family reads together around the dinner table.

At the end of each chapter is a [Laughs We Share] box, a place to write down the day's laugh with family or grandchildren. That is one reason so many people choose it as a gift for parents and grandparents.

To buy

Search Amazon or Barnes & Noble for Still Laughing or KoMeRiCa Books.
Questions (562) 888-0099 · [email protected]

📖 Still Laughing · even better read with the other books here

The same "dignified humor" as the book is also on video.

A collection of humor and wit videos made in Laguna Woods. Each is about 4-6 minutes long, and 86 have been posted so far. (The videos are in Korean.)

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BKL_MEsO7D53Ap08bYF9MhPOjLPR340

Channel: Amunado Laguna Woods

📖 Enjoy together with Still Laughing

A five-volume set from KoMeRiCa Books with twenty-five classic Korean folk tales. Each volume has 128 pages, a large 8 x 10 inch format and full-color pictures. The stories are in Korean, with Korean-English word boxes.

It is not just a storybook to read aloud. Grandparents and grandchildren read it together, talk about it, and write in it to finish it.

• Large print and pictures that are easy to read aloud
• Marks that tell you when to pause and what to ask
• Word boxes with Korean and English side by side
• "Korean Culture Magnifier" pictures explaining old objects such as the A-frame carrier, millstone and straw sandals
• A "Family Treasure Box" for photos, handprints and handwriting

Once it is filled in, it becomes the only copy in the world of your family's own record.

📚 To buy and learn more ($34.99 per volume; order only the ones you want)

https://komerica.com/books.html
Questions (562) 888-0099 · [email protected]

1. Easy on the eyes
The small print in most children's books is hard to read for long. This book uses 16.5-point or larger type, short sentences and wide line spacing, so you can read without straining.

2. No worrying about how to read it
No need to worry "What if the child gets bored?" or "How do I explain old words?" Marks in the book tell you when to pause, when to look at your grandchild, and what to ask.

3. It connects across languages
In many families the grandchild is most at home in English and the grandparent in another language. The word boxes let grandparents and grandchildren teach each other.

4. Your own stories are the real treasure
The printed story is only the skeleton. At each mark, tell about your childhood, other stories you heard growing up, and your family's story. "When I was your age..." - that one sentence gives a grandchild roots.

5. Over the years it becomes a treasure
A book with your handwriting, photos you pasted in together and handprints becomes something your grandchild would not trade for anything.

Four marks appear on the pages. When you see one, pause and do this:

[Pause] - Stop reading and look at your grandchild's face. You will see what they are thinking.

[Together] - Read this part out loud together.

[Rhythm] - Read with a beat, bouncing your shoulders. Children love this most.

[Question] - Ask "What would you have done?" There is no right answer. Write your grandchild's answer right in the book.

Words - Korean and English side by side. You read one language, and ask your grandchild to read the other.

Korean Culture Magnifier - pictures of things your grandchild has never seen, such as the A-frame carrier, millstone and straw sandals. Add your own memories of things like these - that makes the best explanation.

Family Treasure Box - a place for the date you read, photos, handprints and what you talked about. Do not fill it all at once; add a little each visit. There is even a time-capsule page to open in 10 years.

Volume 1 · The best-loved tales (persimmon orange)
The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon · The Sister and Brother Who Became the Sun and Moon · Grandma Red Bean Porridge and the Tiger · Bangi and the Goblin's Club · Heungbu and Nolbu

Volume 2 · Wit and wisdom (winter-river teal)
The Rabbit and the Tiger · Five Talented Friends · The Magic Millstone · The Lazy Man Who Became an Ox · The Tale of the Turtle

Volume 3 · Honesty and a kind heart (golden yellow)
The Gold Axe and the Silver Axe · The Grateful Magpie · The Two Loving Brothers · Kongjwi and Patjwi · The Tale of Shim Cheong

Volume 4 · Love and longing (Milky Way purple)
The Herdsman and the Weaver · The Snail Bride · Yeono-rang and Seo-nyeo · The Fairy and the Woodcutter · The Serpent Scholar

Volume 5 · Korea's first stories (sacred-tree green)
The Story of Dangun · Jumong, the Boy from the Egg · Foolish Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang · Princess Heo Hwang-ok Who Crossed the Sea · Manpasikjeok, the Flute That Saved the Kingdom

Set side by side on a shelf, the five spines make a rainbow - orange, teal, yellow, purple and green.

📚 You can also order single volumes

https://komerica.com/books.html

From a grandchild to a grandmother

"Grandma! Tell me another story!
The stories you tell in your voice are the best in the whole world.
Let's write your handwriting in this book too and make it our own treasure book.
Please stay healthy and stay with me for a long, long time. I love you!"

From a grandchild who lives far away

"Grandma, even far away, I always remember the stories you told me.
Next time I visit, I am going to sit right next to you and read this book together!
I will always remember your warm voice and your kind heart."

From a grown child to a mother

"Mom, I remember the warm old stories you told while holding us close.
The wisdom and love in your stories helped raise us well.
Now, sitting head to head with your grandchild,
please leave your gentle touch and your voice as our family's one-of-a-kind treasure."

One short line

• It starts with Grandma's voice and becomes our family's treasure
• More precious than any fancy gift - Grandma's handwriting and old stories
• The warmest place in the world, where a grandchild's eyes meet a grandmother's voice
• Our family's own 10-year time capsule that the years cannot change

A dedication for the first page

To our dearest [Grandma],
with love and respect from your grandchild [name].
"I can't wait to hear the warm old stories you will tell in your voice."
Date: ________