Author Archives: Karen Everett Watson

About Karen Everett Watson

Karen Everett Watson is a gerontologist and a freelance blogger/journalist. Her parents, grown children and 10 grandchildren keep her busy learning about life while living in the Sacramento Valley with her chickens and dogs.

Baby It’s Cold Outside!

Cozy Socks Fireplace

Well today is the first day of winter but many of us have been “cold” for a while now. Seniors are especially sensitive to the cold so layer on the sweaters and blankets to keep them comfortable. Even mild hypothermia can be dangerous to seniors who account for 60 percent of hypothermia deaths. During the […]

The Rich Aromas of Christmas

Karen's House

Our strongest link to past memories lies just at the end of our noses. Smell is that one sense that can help us remember our childhood experiences, and it’s especially true of Christmas! Artificial trees can be beautiful but they lack one thing — the smell of Christmas! Just a sniff and a whiff of […]

Tomorrow is Another Day – Scarlett!

a storm

The older we get, the more ups and downs we experience. A lot of us caregivers are getting “older” and we, like our older loved ones, experience the ups and downs of life — all the time! When we were younger, our days were mostly good ones — we felt good, we could do a […]

Banded Boomers

Older friends

For many years, my childhood friend has lived with me. She moved in after a heart attack and had many health issues since. During her “stay” both her parents passed away and now she’s lost all but an aging aunt. Just a few weeks ago, she broke her leg and had to have surgery on […]

The Sweetest Gift

Time

Every year around this time, we’re all searching for the perfect gift to give that special senior in our life. Chances are they don’t need much. Material things mean very little to older people. So what do we give? We can all give the sweetest of gifts — our time! If I could go back […]

Remembering – A Walk in the Autumn Woods

Little girl in the woods

The sights and smells of nature can take us back to our earliest memories of nature when we first fell in love with the wonders of the outdoors. Even when our loved ones are unable to make a long hike through the woods, they can have joy from remembering their experiences while communing with nature. […]

Taking a New Medication? Beware!

Pills

Most of us trust our doctors enough to not question a new prescription, but new prescriptions can wreak havoc with our health. Be careful and read all the possible side effects. It could save you from a lot of pain. My childhood friend has lived with me for a number of years. She suffers from […]