Boomer Bikers: Keep Motorcycle Safety a Priority

Posted by grandstrandboomers on May 11, 2012 in Boomers | 0 comments

By Michael H. Rosenzweig, Esq.

Plenty of Boomers are bikers. Memorial Day weekend may be one of your favorite times of the year, because it’s when thousands take to the road to kick off another riding season.

In honor of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, it’s time for a crash course – pun intended – on motorcycle safety and injury prevention. Heed the following information to help you avoid a collision and enjoy being a Boomer biker for years to come.

Safety Tips

As a Boomer, chances are you’ve ridden your motorcycle for years. But whether it’s your first year on a bike or you’re a seasoned biker, safety should always be your number one priority. Here are just a few important safety tips to keep in mind:

• Wear a helmet every time. While it’s not a law in Pennsylvania, statistics show that wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet significantly increases your chance of survival in a motorcycle crash.
• Take a safety course through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. These courses will help you avoid being injured or killed in a crash, and there are options for riders of all skill levels. For more information, visit www.pamsp.com .
• Always ride sober. Motorcyclists made up the largest percentage of drinking motorists when compared to all other types of vehicles. Of the 4,099 riders in Pennsylvania crashes in 2010, nearly 11 percent were under the influence of alcohol.
• Follow the proper staggered formation for group rides. The leader rides in the left-third of the lane, while the next rider stays at least one second behind the rider in the right-third of the lane. The rest of the group should follow the same pattern.
• Dress in appropriate riding attire. Always wear protective eyewear, gloves, thick pants, shirt with long sleeves or jacket, and over-the-ankle boots.
• Perform regular safety checks on your motorcycle. Test your brakes, lights, and controls every time before you ride. Regularly check your fluids, tires, etc.
• Be smart – ride defensively.  Watch for hazards on the road and drivers who don’t see you. Follow all traffic laws, and take extra caution to stay out of motorists’ blind spots.
• Carry a ‘Just in Case’ card. Store a laminated or water-resistant card that lists your name, emergency contacts, insurance information, and any details about your medical condition that emergency personnel should know in the event of an accident. Seconds count after a collision, and being prepared will help you receive treatment quickly and efficiently.

Having the Last Laugh

Posted by grandstrandboomers on Mar 23, 2012 in Boomers | 0 comments

By John Graves     

Much hand wringing has been shared of late over we Baby Boomers.

We have little saved for retirement. We are in poor health – overweight, bad teeth and eyes and digestion, lungs destroyed by years of smoking. We are in debt over our heads. Our kids want us to go to a nursing home or simply go away.

We are consuming government benefits faster than expected and will rot the system from our greedy expectations. Medicare will have to support our weary bodies until we finally, regretfully, expire.

Or, as Rousseau said, life is short brutal and dark.

While many may feel this way, I would suggest another point of view. The media cares less about an uplifting story than one of sorrow, disaster and distress. I but I offer this rosier scenario.

(more…)

Parenting Your Aging Parents

Posted by grandstrandboomers on Mar 20, 2012 in Boomers | 0 comments

© Copyright 2012 by Robert Moskowitz

Dear Robert:

My father always prided himself on being one of the smartest in the family. He kept strictly up‑to‑date on politics, economics, everything. But in the last few months, he’s lost interest in the daily news, and some of his comments and advice are downright fuzzy‑headed!

Does this mean he’s getting Alzheimer’s Disease. If so, can we stop it from destroying his intelligence?

Signed, Optimistic in Ohio

Dear Optimistic:

You have every reason for optimism. Only about one percent of those over 65 actually have Alzheimer’s Disease. However, “Alzheimer’s” has become a convenient catchword to describe every type of senility and memory loss, despite vast differences too important to ignore.

Alzheimer’s Disease produces characteristic tangles of fibers and degenerated nerve endings, particularly in areas of the brain responsible for memory and “intellectual” processes. But the same kind of memory loss and mental deterioration can also be caused by small strokes, imbalances in body chemistry, clinical depression, thyroid problems, poor nutrition, brain tumors, head injuries or alcoholism, or even by easily remedied problems such as stress, fatigue, illness, distraction, or side‑effects of medication.

(more…)