Lifestyle

Boston Seniors Count, a weekly radio broadcast hosted by staff members of the Massachusetts Commission on Elder Affairs, presents guests and topics of interest to seniors. It is heard each week on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Mondays at 9 a.m., streaming on web-based zumix.org/programs/zumix-radio, and is rebroadcast Sundays at 7:30 a.m. on WJIB 740 AM radio.

Many of these loving, funny, helpful women are gone. Some are still with us. But all their spirits linger in my recipe box, thanks to the long-ago wedding gift of a thoughtful friend. Before my husband and I were married – 48 years ago this month – my friend contacted about 50 of my female friends, relatives, and relatives-to-be, asking them to write their favorite recipes on 3x5 index cards. She collected 150 recipes, most of them handwritten, some typed. She filed them in a yellow plastic recipe box.

It is well-known that as we age, our cognitive functioning begins to deteriorate. We forget names, get distracted more easily, and start to lack concentration. Physical exercise and natural supplements can help. But a new, rising trend has become a fun way to keep your mind sharp: brain-training smartphone apps.

A television ad that has run frequently in past months features “Beatrice,” an older woman who doesn’t quite get the concept of how Facebook works. Beatrice tells her two friends that she “posted” her vacation pictures on her “wall,” the term used when putting items on your personal Facebook page. In reality, she put physical copies of her photos on a wall in her home.

Acton resident Niela Miller, 81, is a multi-talented artist, musician, author, life coach and therapist. As if that wasn’t enough for one life, Miller has embarked upon a new adventure, taking her myriad skills online. In “Second Life,” a virtual 3D program on the Internet, Miller has created a whole new world with her alter-ego or “avatar,” Marly Mirena. She uses all aspects of her creativity - photographs, paintings, music, theater improv and movement - as tools for awareness, problem-solving, community building, spiritual development and building cultural bridges.

Not only can technology make your life easier and more fun but it also may allow you – or your loved one – to retain an independent, healthy lifestyle. Here are just eight of the many innovations now popular:

If you own a home in an area of the country where you get cold and snowy winters, then you've probably already experienced ice dams. If, on the other hand, you are a first-time homeowner or a new transplant who has just purchased a home in a region of the country with harsh winters, then you may be unfamiliar with ice dams. If you fall into one of these two latter types of homeowner categories, then it's important that you become familiar with ice dams and know how to resolve them quickly.

Buying furniture is an expensive endeavor, but living on a tight budget doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style. It can be an opportunity to be creative. For those with small bedrooms, having too much furniture can make the room appear cluttered and even smaller. Fortunately, you can do without bulky items, such as a nightstand, dresser or armoire, and replace them with organizers to make the room appear more spacious.

it may be a relief to step out of the “rat race,” and leave behind tightly scheduled work weeks, many people still appreciate having a sense of purpose.

Karen Lounsbury of Cambridge is comfortable interacting with military families. She’s the daughter and sister of veterans, and was a military wife.