Launching a raft for a multi-day float trip can be a frenzied experience. There is the anticipation of being on the river, and the pressure to launch quickly: a queue of rafters are waiting for their turn on the ramp to launch their rafts.
Even when retired, life can be hectic—and that is a good thing because you need to keep busy!
And like a river trip, forgetting certain things can prove to be an inconvenience or possibly require a big change in plans. And there is one thing you
dread losing.
Fill in the blank: “I’ve lost my _____________.” Be it your keys, phone, purse, or wallet, these items are seldom “lost”. They are misplaced.
As we grow older, forgetting where we put something (or wondering why we walked into a room or losing our train of thought) can be a common occurrence. When this happens, do you wonder if it is a sign of oncoming dementia? The reason is most likely stress, distraction, or simply being busy. If you can eventually retrace your steps and find the “lost” item, that is a positive indication of good cognitive health. People with dementia struggle to retrace their movements. Do you have difficulties with problem-solving, language, or orientation? If not, you are probably cognitively okay. If you have concerns about your cognitive health, consult your doctor. Cognitive decline may not be dementia but an indication of some other health problem that can be treated. And make sure to regularly see an ophthalmologist—not an optometrist—to have your eyes examined. Good vision is important to physical, mental, and social health. Other than eye-related health issues, an ophthalmology exam can also detect diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, neurological conditions, and other systemic health conditions.Technology can be your friend when searching for a lost item—if set up correctly in advance.
- Using the browser of your laptop or another phone, smartphones have built in features that allow your phone to be located on a map. Even if your phone is in silent mode, it can play a sound to help you locate it. If your phone is truly lost, you can lock your phone remotely or erase its data to minimize the damage losing a phone can wreak.
- Smart Trackers, such as AirTag or Tile, can be attached to key chains or hidden within a purse, wallet, or other valuable that can help you locate the item the same way you find your phone.
- Back up your phone regularly, either to your computer or “the cloud”. A lost phone can be replaced by writing a check, but the data on it could be irretrievably lost (think photos) or very time consuming to reconstruct (think names and addresses of your contacts).
- Use a password manager! Such an app will help you easily login safely to all the internet sites you routinely access, but a password manager will not leave a “trail of bread crumbs” for a thief who has your lost phone. (In the event of crisis or succession, a password manager will also make life easier for your executor or trustee.)
- Add on where possible multi-factor authentication or utilize passkeys. These are additional steps when logging into a web site that are very effecve at preventing thieves hacking into your secure internet sites even if they know your login credentials.
Password manager software offers a superior and secure method for keeping track of your internet sites and login credentials.