We grieve the loss of a family member, friend or a beloved pet. In fact, grieving is so normal that when someone doesn't show signs of grieving we may worry that he or she is in denial of grief. The process of working through grieving is different for everyone, but sometimes people get stuck in grieving and it starts to take over their lives. In response to a letter from a woman who is having a hard time recovering from the death of her mother, I offer some advice about when to seek help with grieving.

How have you worked through your own grieving process following the death of a loved one or the loss of a love? Share your grieving advice with Senior Living readers.
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Remember the Tin Woodman from The Wizard of Oz? When his limbs got stiff and hard to move, he needed that trusty can of oil. When I've been a couch (or chair) potato for too long and start feeling, as my grandmother laughingly described it, "all stove up," I can't reach for an oilcan--but I can get moving. And I always feel better.

Every older adult experiences unexpected aches, pains and muscle stiffness, but if you make stretching part of your daily routine you can slow--or avoid--a downward slide into chronic pain, stiffness, and immobility. Just a few minutes of stretching every day, especially when combined with a safe exercise program, can help you live with vibrancy, energy, and independence. Fitness guru Margaret Richard offers stretching tips to help you safely practice stretching. And I have a few simple stretching exercises that will help to keep you limber, longer.
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Social Security and Medicare have been on a collision course with reality for years, as lawmakers have struggled to find some way to keep the programs viable for current and future beneficiaries. In 2008, spending on Social Security and Medicare totaled more than $1 trillion, accounting for more than one-third of the federal budget.

According to the 2009 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report, which was released in May 2009, two new projections show how the recession is affecting Social Security and Medicare:

1. The Medicare fund that pays hospital bills for older Americans (Part A) is now expected to run out of money in 2017—two years sooner than projected in 2008.
2. The Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2037, four years earlier than previously projected.

Just like the banking and auto industries, and nearly every household in the United States, Social Security and Medicare are feeling the effects of the recession.

Kids have a way of making even familiar places and activities seem new. Maybe that's why travel with grandchildren is so popular.

I received a letter recently from a grandfather named Jim who feels very out of touch with his grandchildren. Jim's son is divorced and the kids moved across the country, so even Dad doesn't see them as often as he'd like. And Jim said he feels lucky to see them once a year.

Jim has been invited to join the kids and their father for a first-ever extended vacation, and he wants to make the trip memorable and fun for everyone.

Are you, like Jim, planning a getaway with your grandchildren? These 10 tips for travel with grandchildren will help you plan a travel adventure that that everyone can enjoy--while you create memories that last a lifetime.
_{Photo: Allison Bond}