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.

The Rhythms of a Great Day

Managing time takes on a whole new meaning when you’re a full time caregiver. Flying by the seat of your pants is not an option when a loved one is depending on you for basically everything. You have to find a way to use your time wisely while making your loved one feel secure and […]

Before You Say “Goodbye”

A few years ago, I almost lost both my parents to serious illnesses. Like most grown children, I had tended to take my parents for granted and never really thought much about losing them. That was before. When I came so close to losing them, I began to consider how limited my time might be […]

5 Prescriptions for the Best Medicine

Life does send us a lot of trouble the older we get, but we just can’t give in or we’ll go down with the boat! There are just some days that are harder to get through than others so we have to give ourselves a good prescription — for laughter. It does a body and […]

What is the Key to Happiness? Ask a Senior

portrait of happy grandfather and grandson bow their heads

When I was young, I thought being happy meant having “things.” As a young adult, obtaining a good job, buying a nice house and driving a neat car were a part of my plan to happiness. The older I got the more I found out that things cannot make you happy. Still I struggled with […]

Good Foods for Getting an Elderly Loved One to Eat

Tips to Combat Eating Problems and Severe Weight Loss in Older Adults

Are you having trouble getting your senior loved one to eat well? So many issues affect a senior’s appetite, including certain drugs and the decline of their taste buds, according to Medline Plus. Not only do we lose some of our taste buds as we age, but the ones we have left often shrink losing […]

The Simplest of Safeguards – Drink Your Water

happy senior woman with glass of water at home

Updated April 2026 Since our bodies are made up of mostly water it seems we should all know that drinking enough of that clear fluid is a must each and every day. But many of us, me included, forget this simple way of staying healthy. We don’t forget our morning cup of tea or coffee […]

4 Ways Older Adults Can Reduce the Risk of Falls

A fall can be very devastating to anyone and at any age, but when you hit your senior years it can be life threatening. If you survive a fall, it’s very hard to overcome the fear of falling again. That fear can take over almost every aspect of your life. Many seniors fear leaving their […]

Family Facebook Pages Connect the Generations

How many of you keep your old precious photos tucked away in albums that no one ever sees? They can not only bring a lot of pleasure to your family members but they can let future generations know who they came from by just starting a family page on Facebook. Pictures tell a thousand words […]

Put the Music On – Let’s Dance!

I come from a family that doesn’t really use the word “exercise” in their vocabulary. For my family, there’s work and then there’s play. One great way to play and avoid the dreaded “e” word is to put the music on and just get to moving. My mother still talks about putting on a Marty […]

The Healing Power of Dirt and Memories

Our life passions come from somewhere deep inside us, but often they are sparked by someone we love deeply, someone who took the time to share their own passions. For me the love of gardening came from my grannies and my own mother. My sweet memory of walking through my granny’s tiger lily patch is […]

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