This blog presents the ideas and creative thinking of some of Utah's talented older adult writers. Their submissions are to inform and entertain, not to present policy or opinion positions of the Utah Commission on Aging. Enjoy.
Preparedness doesn’t stop with earthquakes. Since the events of September 11 attacks, security experts have warned that hostile groups may be embedded within the United States and could possess small nuclear devices—often referred to as “suitcase bombs”—capable of causing localized, life-threatening destruction. If such an event were to occur near you, would you know how to respond to protect yourself and others?
On April 16, 2026, thousands of Utahns will take part in the Great Utah ShakeOut—a statewide earthquake preparedness drill designed to save lives. Utah sits along the Wasatch Fault, one of the most active seismic zones in the country. Experts agree: it’s not a matter of if a major earthquake will occur, but when. The ShakeOut offers a simple but powerful opportunity to prepare.
As the heat of summer fades away, so might our awareness of how important it is for us and our older family members to stay hydrated. Because I’m coping with hip pain until I can have a hip replacement, today I watched a video of two doctors talking about nonsurgical methods for how to deal with hip pain. Surprise! One was to stay hydrated because dehydration can be a cause of joint pain.
How old do you feel in your head? Odds are it’s “a lot younger” than you feel when you look in the mirror or see a photo of yourself that someone else has taken from your “bad side.” If you have good genes, have been careful about not getting too much sun on your face, die your hair (that can also work against you), eat well, and exercise, other people might think you look a little younger than you are, but not that much younger!
According to a June 10, 2025, U.S. Measles Tracker Report1, there have been 1171 cases of measles so far this year. Of those cases, 94% were unvaccinated. Two children and one adult have died. In March, I had lunch with an unvaccinated granddaughter who had never heard of measles, didn’t know that it can be a deadly disease, or that we have now exceeded the total number of cases (285) reported in all of 2024. She had never heard of polio or an iron lung.