As fall turns to winter, cold and flu season moves into full swing. Last year was a record year for colds and flu and this year health officials predict it will be even worse. We must take precautions so the cold and flu season doesn't catch us off guard.

"After walking on a treadmill at the local community center, I knew I'd be happier outside. So, I got a step counter and started walking in my neighborhood. Since then, I've seen yellow tulips bloom in spring and red dogwood leaves drop in fall. I always come home with more energy and happy to go on with the rest of the day." Marian (age 77)

Are you holding the newspaper farther away from your eyes than you used to? Join the crowd -- age can bring changes that affect your eyesight. Some changes are more serious than others, but no matter what the problem, there are things you can do to protect your vision. The key is to have regular eye exams so you can find problems early.

Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his drinking behavior is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma Betty was a teetotaler all her life-she started having a drink each night to help her get to sleep after her husband died. Now no one realizes that she needs a couple of drinks to get through each day.

Are you one of the many seniors out there who knows you should be exercising, but you aren’t sure where to begin? Do the tools of fitness -- exercise bikes, nautilus machines, treadmills, exercise balls and free weights -- intimidate you? Or maybe you find exercise boring? If any of the above apply to you, you are not alone. Although many older people are well aware of the importance of physical fitness, 85% of seniors do not exercise on a regular basis. Many older people don't exercise for the same reason that people of all ages resist physical activity – they think of it as too hard, too boring or they are disappointed by the lack of immediate results.