Every year at Thanksgiving, I often think about special things in my life that I am grateful for.  Sometimes it may be something very small like a warm cup of coffee.  This year though, it is something very large and it warms my heart everyday when I see the work in motion.  It is those who make life so much easier for our senior citizens. 

As a young man growing up, I was proud of the USA and enjoyed celebrating our nation's veterans every year.  The parades and festivities taking place to show our support for those who served in the United States Armed Forces helped me appreciate our hero's even that much more.  What I never realized was our veterans weren't just made up of older American's, but those in the 20's, 30's and 40's who put their lives on the line to protect the good ole USA too. 

Like they always say, the only things certain in life are death and taxes.  Well, I would consider adding our seniors expressing their right to vote to the list too.

We've all heard the old adage, “It is better to give than to receive.”  That message seems to be right on point when it comes to serving as a volunteer. There is something special about making a commitment and then taking time to serve others that makes us all feel good. 

With Halloween just around the corner, our senior citizens need to steer clear of what temps us all on October 31^st, Halloween candy.  There is something about the Halloween treats that are so enticing, but having the discipline to just say no may help us all stay a little healthier.  An alarming Federal Drug Administration (FDA) report highlighted in a New York Post article said black licorice could be more of a trick than a treat. 

If you want a simple way to improve the well-being of a senior, you may want to consider getting them a pet. 

We have often heard about the importance of eating healthy, making the home environment safe and monitoring our medications to prevent falls.  What we haven't heard much about though is the importance of a good night sleep. 

One major challenge our older Americans encounter on a daily basis is the possibility of falling and injuring themselves. 

Just over 26 years ago Healthy Aging Month was founded to bring awareness to an issue that should be crucial to all of us- a healthy active lifestyle. Healthy Aging Month was established as a promotional effort to bring national attention to the importance of healthy aging through educational or annual events.  Aging is a special and rewarding time, so take time to enjoy the process.

This opinion piece originally appeared in The Sun Sentinel.

I read the recent opinion piece by Lynn Jurich about her solar “guarantee” of a brighter future for the Sunshine State and could only cringe for those senior citizens who may hurry out to purchase a solar system. I am all for a healthy, cleaner and safe environment, but when we see the word “guarantee,” as used in the headline, attached to products and services, it can cause us great concern.