Welcome to the new year and this new column.

Senior Musings will focus on issues facing those of us who are either approaching retirement or well beyond. I'll address such topics as health concerns, living alone, downsizing, deciding when to move to a retirement residence, loneliness, keeping your brain active, and other things readers suggest.

I'm still living, alone, in a 50-year-old detached home in old Gatineau, Quebec. Bought in 1967 for $17,500 (remember those days?), it's a basic three-bedroom bungalow with a finished basement. I wonder how many of you are living in similar homes?

I've managed on my own by installing a stair-lift to access the basement, which is not only ideal for anyone with mobility problems, but also enables me to carry things up and down the stairs without danger. Falls are the most common reason why seniors are hospitalized, so anything we can do to avoid falling is crucial.

Another way to avoid falls is to stop climbing on step stools. It's vital to get someone else to change light bulbs, batteries in smoke detectors, etc. I just moved everything from the top shelves of my kitchen cabinets and all the closets and cupboards. I also have a 'grabber which is very handy to reach unbreakable things without stretching or bending.

Household help is essential for seniors. Younger friends of mine have complained that when they visit elderly parents the house is often not as clean as it should be, and a prime reason for that is failing eyesight that doesn't see dirt and grime, and the inability to smell spoiled food or mold. Even having someone to do a thorough cleaning once a month can avoid these problems.

Handling things outside is also a problem for anyone who has a bad back or other joint problems. I got rid of my lawn, both front and back, several years ago. The stone interspersed with creeping thyme and low-maintenance perennial beds looks wonderful, doesn't need to be watered, and with the addition of mulch there are very few weeds.

I hire a snowplow company to keep my driveway clear, and for the past dozen years I've had a handyman who comes once a week after work. He clears my front driveway from snow, along with a narrow path behind the carport door to allow access to the Hydro meter. Spring through fall he keeps the front and back yards pristine and takes care of any small repairs indoors and out.

Unfortunately, he's just retired and moved north. I'm a bit panicky, because although my young neighbor across the street is happy to take out the garbage and recycle bin, fill bird feeders, and do other small chores, I really need a new handyman for things a even a responsible 8-year-old can't handle.

If you know someone able to help, do let me know!

And please e-mail me with your suggestions for future topics for this column.

Bobbi Graham can be reached at simon@storm.ca or via her website, at www.SimonTeakettle.com.

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Copyright © 2010 Barbara Florio Graham/Log Cabin Chronicles/01.10