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.

Mini Meals Can Get Them Eating!

Many Mini Meals Can Get Them Eating!

Are you having a hard time getting your older loved one to eat? You’re certainly not alone, not even if you’re a gourmet cook. As we get older our taste buds actually wear out and don’t work as well. Most food just doesn’t taste as good. Older bodies usually need less food so serving just […]

Should I be Concerned? Signs to Watch For

Messy Sink

Life is full of changes especially as we hit those senior years but some changes should have us thinking, “Is something wrong?” When it comes to our senior loved ones, keeping a watchful eye could be a life saver. We have strong, independent loved ones who don’t want to ask for help, so it’s our […]

Thank you, Granny

Fountain pen, writing a letter

Ever since my granny passed, there are so many things I wished I had said and so many more questions I wished I had asked. She’ll never know just how much she gave to me just by being the woman she was. I can never say thank you for loving me, for teaching me to […]

Staying in the Light

Sunlight breaking through trees

If the weather in your neck of the woods is anything like mine, the grey can be depressing. It may be called “sunny California” but in the Sacramento Valley we’ve had weeks of rainy days and the gloom is beginning to set in on all of us. So what’s a body to do, especially when […]

Asking Those Hard Questions

Tough Questions

I may have a really good education in aging, but I’m still like a lot of you. My parents are in their 80s and it’s time to make a good working plan. We’ve made a good start but have a ways to go. “Plan for what?” you might be thinking. The inevitable crisis — that […]

Joy in the Air – Watching the Birds

A cardinal sitting by a bird feeder in the snow

Bird watching can be a great way to add joy to your day and to the life of your older loved one. Anyone anywhere can attract birds to their neck of the woods with just a little water and a little bit of bird seed. I became fascinated with birds because of my granny. She put […]

Is it Just the Winter Blues?

Winter Night Snow Falling

Well, the holidays are over and it’s getting really cold and grey outside. It’s an easy time to get a little down, especially if you’re a senior. So how do you know when you or your older loved one is really depressed? Most of us are just not as perky during the winter months, especially […]

Spring Dreams and Winter Seeds

Packets of seeds

Years ago, people loved to look through seed catalogs during the winter time. It was fun to dream of spring and summer and all the great plants that are in their glory during the warm months. But you can also sow seeds during the winter months and have them ready to bloom or fruit in […]