Results: As we get older and some things don't work as well as they used to, we have to find ways to adapt to the "New Reality." There are some accessories we can add to our arsenal that can help us live as normal a life as possible. Here are a few of them.

Let's start with sleep apnea. This is when you stop breathing while asleep or have almost no airflow. It can cause anti-social levels of snoring (elbow pokes in the middle of the night). One solution that is becoming common is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ) machine. Pre CPAP I had 60 apnea episodes per hour and now it is down to one or 2 and my snoring is almost eliminated. More importantly, I no longer fall asleep while having a meal or have to pull over for a nap if driving on a freeway. The only downside is I wear a CPAP mask in bed (see photo). Do you think this is worth investigating for yourself?

If you have a walk in shower, I envy you. I have a bath tub that I have to step over to get in and out and when I am wet from the shower, this can be risky if my sense of balance is not reliable and there isn't much to hold onto. My solution was to install a grab handle next to the tub. If is attached to one of the joists in the wall and is capable of handling up to 300lbs. It only took 5 minutes to install. It cost $25. Both my mother and my best friend died after a fall in their homes. Safety first - do you agree?

I'm not overweight, just too short for my BMI (Body Mass Index). I spent my career either behind a desk or on a plane. My feet and legs would swell by the end of the day. Working on a DIY project one evening, I nicked my skin and it turned into an ulcer. It took months to heal and required compression socks. I have worn them ever since to prevent ulcers and because it gives my legs more energy. I have basic black ones but there are really colorful ones that don't look like compression socks. I have a gizmo that helps me (for my back especially) put them on. Comfort, chic, compression - worth checking out?

I find there a lot of people on TV who mumble and slur their words. I also find that the background music often drowns out the voices. Or maybe it is the tiny speakers on my TV. Or maybe my ears don't work as well as they used to. I have tinkered around with the audio settings but what I like is not what my wife (or the neighbours) like. The solution is ear buds for me (photo attached) and the regular TV speakers for her. Is this something you might be interested in?