Senior Resource Guide

Adult Children of Aging Parents

2012-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

I have been a member of this group on Facebook for about a year now. I find it very informative for myself as a "adult child" myself and also helpful to be a resource to my famliies as I help them everyday to mounver thru this sometimes diffucult process.

Check it out and I hope you find it as interesting as I do and helpful to know we are in this together!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/65386071640

9 Ways to Get Parents to Accept Assisted Living

2011-12-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

1.First, plant the seed. Don't approach your parent as though you've already made the decision for him or her. Just mention that there are options that could make life easier and more fun.

2. Next, offer a tour of some local assisted living centers, if he or she is willing, but don't push it. Drop the subject if necessary, and wait for another day.

3. Watch for a "teachable moment." Did Mom fall, but escape getting badly hurt? Use that as a springboard. You may want to wait a bit, or immediately say something like, "Wow, that was close. Once you're feeling better, maybe we could go look at the new assisted living center over by the church. We'd both feel better if you had people around." Go with your gut on the timing, but use the "moment."

4. Again, don't push unless you consider this an emergency. It's hard to wait, but you may need to. Wait for, say, a very lonely day when Mom is complaining about how she never sees her friends anymore. Then, gently, try again.

5. Check with your friends and friends of your parents. See if any live happily in an assisted living center nearby, or if their parents do. Just like your first day of school when you looked for a friend – any friend – who may be in your class, your parent would feel much better if there were a friend already in the center.

6. Even if they won't know anyone, you can still take your parent to watch a group having fun playing cards or wii bowling. Show off the social aspects of a good center. Keep it light and don't force the issue. Tour more than one center, if possible, and ask your parent for input. Big center or small? New and modern or older and cozy?

7. Show interest in how much privacy a resident has. Ask about bringing furniture from home and how much room there is. Take measuring tapes and visualize, if you can see some rooms, how your parent's room(s) would look. Show excitement, as you would do if you were helping your parent move to a new apartment, because that's what you are doing.

8. Stress the safety aspects.

9. Stress the fact that there's no yard cleanup, but flowers can be tended to. There's no need to call a plumber if the sink breaks, but there are plenty of things to do if people want. There's plenty of freedom to be alone, but company when they desire it.

Courtesy of Agingcare.com

Should Your Parents Still Be Living on Their Own

2011-09-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

As we age, giving up independence is one of the hardest things to do. Determining when it is the right time for a senior to move out of their home can be difficult. Here are tips that will help know how to make the decision when you parents should not be living alone any longer.

First, you must know this decision will be met with resistance, especially if your loved one is not injured and can still get around. You will need to be prepared to help them through this with sensitivity and understanding.

But there are some very basic activities they must still be able to accomplish if they are going to continue safely living on their own.

Questions to ask and observations to make:

1. Are they able to get out of the home to go to the store or doctor? To remain independent your senior must have the ability to get outside the home to accomplish tasks. Do they still drive or do they have a friend or relative that will drive them is the big question.

2. Do they have mobility issues that make it difficult to get around? If they can still get around well without the risk of falling, that is what you want to look for. If they show signs of instability, that can pose dangers living on their own.

3. Are they able to still cook and prepare meals for themselves? Observe how they operate around the kitchen. Can they still function safely with the stove and oven? Do they remember to turn these off when not in use? If they are not doing well in the kitchen, that can be a real problem.

4. How do they do with their medication? Put all their medication in a plastic container that has a separate compartment for each day. Keep an eye on this and watch to make sure they are taking all their medications at the proper times and the right days.

5. How is their hearing and vision? Are they able to use the telephone? A person can actually have challenges in these and still live on their own. There are special phones designed for those with poor vision or hearing.

When the time comes to move your loved senior family member from their home be sensitive to how difficult this will be for them. It is often best to explore options and talk over the best solution with them. Be sure to point out the safety reasons and that you are doing this out of love.

Written By : Mark Myers

Talking With Elderly Parents

2011-08-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Caring for your elderly parents can be a challenging task. As the body gets older, it falls victim to a number of health problems, which can be difficult for us to cope with. Seniors often become depressed and upset over small things because their bodies are unable to keep up with their minds. Other seniors will have mental health problems, which takes its toll on them and everyone around them. You will need to make some simple modifications to their home and shop for things that you may not have imagined like incontinence pads and enemas.

In order to properly care for your elderly parents, you need to learn how to communicate with them. Here are 5 simple ways you can open the lines of communication and build a strong and healthy relationship with your parents:

1. Show them respect. Just because you need to come over every morning and get them ready for the day does not mean they are a child. Your parents want you to still look upon them as the parents, not as an infant that needs care. Show them respect by treating them as your equal. You still need to sit down with them and ask them for advice and their opinions. Give them the opportunity to share their opinions instead of making it for them. They need to make their voice heard; even if you think what they have to say is a little odd.
2. Learn how to listen to your elderly parents. Parents like to be heard by their children, no matter what age they are. You need to respect them by listening to what they have to say. Truly listen to them instead of pretending to listen. When they are talking, give them your complete attention. Sit down with them and let them tell stories for hours and engage in fun conversations. Sometimes listening can be difficult and you may not hear exactly what they said, so you need to follow up with clarification questions. This is a great way to make their life a little easier and to make your care giving time more enjoyable.
3. Remain calm. Elderly parents may be slipping into the early stages of dementia and sometimes they say things that they don't mean. Many researchers have found that some elderly people tend to think they can say whatever is on their mind and people cannot combat it because they are "old". Be mindful of things that your elderly parents may say that are hurtful. Instead of lashing out at them when they say something hurtful, take a deep breath and walk away. If they continue to exhibit this behavior, kindly confront them about it and express your feelings. You may need to talk to their doctor about it because they may have dementia or it could indicate that they have suffered a small stroke.
4. Have rules and boundaries. As a caregiver you are giving up a large part of your life for your elderly parents. They will recognize this sacrifice and devotion to them so you don't need to constantly tell them. It is important for you to set some boundaries and rules with your elderly parents to keep your relationship strong and healthy. Let them know that some of their requests are unreasonable and learn how to tell them no. If your elderly parents cause too much stress on other loved ones, try to limit your visit at that person's home. Keeping it short and sweet may be easier for some of your siblings that do not understand dementia.
5. Love them. The best way to open up the lines of communication with your parents is to simply love them. Acknowledge when they do things that try to help you out. They may not be able to do things the way you want, but they are trying. Always tell them how much you appreciate them and love having them in their life so they know they are needed.

Written By : Dianna Malkowski

What you need to know about MOM and DAD, NOW!

2011-07-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Q. Do you know which medications your parents take?
A. Nearly half of adult children cannot name even one medication that their parents take.

This fact is alarming considering a majority of those same children say they expect to become the caregivers and/or decision makers for those same aging parents. Taking medications is complex and involves timing, watching for interaction and effectiveness.
Prevent stress and uncertainty now by finding out what medications your senior loved ones are taking.
Here are some planning tips to help you be an advocate for your parents’ medication management:
• Sit down with your parents and have a conversation about what medications they take, including vitamins and supplements. Have all the medications in front of you while you are talking.
• Have multiple copies of this sheet available in several safe places and share it with doctors, dentists, specialists and other caregivers.
• Accompany them on doctor visits and make sure that current prescriptions are still necessary. Update their medication tracker sheets often.

Brought to you by your friends at The Harbor Court. Our nurses are here to help you understand the complexities and simplify the process of managing your parents’ medications.

--At The Harbor Court our medication management program includes a Pharmacy and Nursing Staff that double checks all residents’ medications for drug interactions, allergies and duplicated medications. We also manage all lab work associated with these prescriptions.

Our nurses are here to help you understand the complexities and simplify the process of managing your parents’ medication schedule.

To download a free copy of our Medication Information Worksheet, visit our websites at www.theharborcourt.com/seniorconnections

Most Baby Boomers lack a plan to care for parents

2011-06-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

A majority of Baby Boomers say they are likely to become caregivers for their parents, but only half can name any medications their parents take, a new survey shows.

The survey of 600 adults ages 45 to 65, conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network, also found:

•31% don't know how many medications their parents take.

•34% don't know whether their parents have a safe deposit box or where the key is.

•36% don't know where their parents' financial information is located.

"The majority of caregivers we work with have done no advance planning,'' says Jeff Huber, president of Home Instead Senior Care, a company that provides non-medical care services. "It is not important until it's urgent. So much stress and uncertainty down the road can be prevented."

Lack of planning can lead to serious complications when decisions need to be made quickly, says palliative care nurse practitioner Mimi Mahon, an associate professor at George Mason University in Virginia. "It's vitally important to plan ahead and have these conversations with parents, or families can act out of fear and make mistakes when emergencies arise."

Prescription drugs are of particular concern. In the survey, 49% couldn't name a single drug their parents took. Ask parents about their medications and, if necessary, do research, experts say. Find out the dose, what it's for, who prescribed it and why. People 65 and older account for about a third of all medications prescribed in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health, and older patients are more likely to have long-term and multiple prescriptions, which could lead to unintentional misuse.

"It's kind of a never-ending process for caregivers," says Sandy Markwood, head of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. "It gets further complicated when there is more than the family practitioner. A parent might have several specialists. It's a lot for a caretaker to keep up."

Markwood says the Administration on Aging, also under HHS, has been encouraging better record-keeping by seniors and stronger communication between seniors and caretakers since Hurricane Katrina. "Then you had a situation when seniors were evacuated without their medications and no one knew what medications they were on," Markwood says. "Doctors had to start from scratch."

One must-have answer for caretakers: What drugs can parents go without and which ones must be taken on schedule. For instance, blood pressure and anti-depressant medications cannot be missed, Mahon says.

The bottom line, she says, is being a staunch advocate for your parents' health care starts with "having conversations and putting plans in place."

USA TODAY

Take Care of Yourself

2010-10-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. This could mean asking family members and friends to help out, doing things you enjoy, using adult day care services, or getting help from a local home health care agency. Taking these actions can bring you some relief. It also may help keep you from getting ill or depressed.

Here are some ways you can take care of yourself:

* Ask for help when you need it.
* Join a caregiver's support group.
* Take breaks each day.
* Spend time with friends.
* Keep up with your hobbies and interests.
* Eat healthy foods.
* Get exercise as often as you can.
* See your doctor on a regular basis.
* Keep your health, legal, and financial information up-to-date.

Getting help

Everyone needs help at times. It's okay to ask for help and to take time for yourself. However, many caregivers find it hard to ask for help.

They feel:

* They should be able to do everything themselves.
* That it's not all right to leave the person with someone else.
* No one will help even if they ask.
* They don't have the money to pay someone to watch the person for an hour or two.

If you have trouble asking for help, try using some of the tips below.

Here are some reminders about how to get help:

* It's okay for me to ask for help from family, friends, and others. I don't have to do everything myself.
* I can ask people to help out in specific ways like making a meal, visiting the person, or taking the person out for a short time.
* I will join a support group to share advice and understanding with other caregivers.
* I will call for help from home health care or adult day care services when I need it.
* I will use national and local resources to find out how to pay for some of this help.

You may want to join a support group of AD caregivers in your area or on the Internet. These groups meet in person or online to share experiences and tips, and to give each other support. Ask your doctor, check online, or look in the phone book for a local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

You also can call the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center at no cost. The phone number is 1-800-438-4380. Visit on the Internet at http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers.

Your emotional health

You may be so busy caring for the person with AD that you don't have time to think about your emotional health. But, you need to. Caring for a person with AD takes a lot of time and effort. Your job as caregiver can become even harder when the person you're caring for gets angry with you, hurts your feelings, or forgets who you are. Sometimes, you may feel really discouraged, sad, lonely, frustrated, confused, or angry. These feelings are normal.

Here are some things you can say to yourself that might help you feel better:

* I'm doing the best I can.
* What I'm doing would be hard for anyone.
* I'm not perfect, and that's okay.
* I can't control some things that happen.
* Sometimes, I just need to do what works for right now.
* Even when I do everything I can think of, the person with AD will still have problem behaviors because of the illness, not because of what I do.
* I will enjoy the moments when we can be together in peace.
* I will try to get help from a counselor if caregiving becomes too much for me.

Meeting your spiritual needs

Many of us have spiritual needs. Going to a church, temple, or mosque helps some people meet their spiritual needs. They like to be part of a faith community. For others, simply having a sense that larger forces are at work in the world helps meet their spiritual needs. As the caregiver of a person with AD, you may need more spiritual resources than others do.

Meeting your spiritual needs can help you:

* Cope better as a caregiver.
* Know yourself and your needs.
* Feel recognized, valued and loved.
* Become involved with others.
* Find a sense of balance and peace.

Other caregivers made these suggestions to help you cope with your feelings and spiritual needs:

* Understand that you may feel powerless and hopeless about what's happening to the person you care for.
* Understand that you may feel a sense of loss and sadness.
* Understand why you've chosen to take care of the person with AD. Ask yourself if you made this choice out of love, loyalty, a sense of duty, a religious obligation, financial concerns, fear, a habit, or self-punishment.
* Let yourself feel day-to-day "uplifts." These might include good feelings about the person you care for, support from other caring people, or time to spend on your own interests and hobbies.
* Keep a connection to something "higher than yourself." This may be a belief in a higher power, religious beliefs, or a belief that something good comes from every life experience.

The information contained in this article is from the National Institute on Aging website.

New guidelines for Alzheimer’s could lead to earlier diagnosis

2010-07-28T06:43:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK — For the first time in 25 years, medical specialists are proposing a major change in the criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, part of a new movement to diagnose and, eventually, treat the disease earlier.The new diagnostic guidelines, presented yesterday at an international Alzheimer’s meeting in Hawaii, would mean that new technology such as brain scans would be used to detect the disease before there are evident memory problems or other symptoms.

If the guidelines are adopted in the fall, as expected, some specialists predict a two- to threefold increase in the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Many more people would be told they probably are on their way to getting it.

The changes could also help drug companies that are developing new drugs to try to attack the disease earlier. So far, no drugs alter the course of the disease.

Development of the guidelines, by panels convened by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association, began a year ago because, with a new understanding of the disease and new ways of detection, it was becoming clear that the old method of diagnosing Alzheimer’s was sorely outdated.

The current criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer’s require steadily progressing dementia — memory loss and an inability to carry out day-to-day activities — along with a pathologist’s report of plaque and another abnormality, known as tangles, in the brain after death.

But researchers now believe the disease is present a decade or more before dementia.

“Our thinking has changed dramatically,’’ said Dr. Paul Aisen, an Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of California at San Diego, who is helping formulate the new guidelines. “We now view dementia as a late stage in the process.’’

The new guidelines include criteria for three stages: preclinical disease, mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease, and, lastly, Alzheimer’s dementia. The guidelines should make diagnosing the final stage of the disease in people who have dementia more definitive. But the guidelines also say that the earlier a diagnosis is made the less certain it is. So the new effort to diagnose the disease earlier could, at least initially, lead to more mistaken diagnoses.

Under the new guidelines, diagnoses will aim to identify the disease as it is developing by using results from so-called biomarkers — tests like brain scans, MRI scans, and spinal taps that reveal telltale brain changes.

The biomarkers were developed and tested only recently, and none has been formally approved for Alzheimer’s diagnosis. One of the newest, a PET scan, shows plaque in the brain. The others provide strong indications that Alzheimer’s is present, even when patients do not yet have dementia or much memory loss.

Aisen says he foresees a day when people in their 50s routinely have biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s and, if the tests indicate the disease is brewing, take drugs to halt it. That is not expected soon, he says, but “it’s where we are heading.’’

“This is a major advance,’’ said Dr. John Morris, an Alzheimer’s researcher at Washington University in St. Louis who helped write the guidelines. “We used to say we did not know for certain it was Alzheimer’s until the brain is examined on autopsy.’’

By Gina Kolata
New York Times / July 14, 2010

The Sandwich Generation- Care for the Caregiver

2010-05-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Sandwich Generation": those caught between caring for their aging parents and their own children. Many Baby Boomers (the generation born between 1946-1961) find themselves a part of this Sandwich Generation. The typical Baby Boomer is a 46 year old female, having some college education, and working full time. This is the typical demographic of the person trying to balance a full time job, caring for elderly parents and caring for their own growing children. It goes without saying that trying to juggle these responsibilities comes at a cost-usually to the caregiver. But who cares for the caregiver?

If you find yourself in this group, it is very important to remember to care of yourself. If you don't, the stress of juggling so many responsibilities will take its toll on you. Remember, you are no good to anyone if you are not taking care of yourself. There are several things you should do to take care of yourself. The first is to eat well. Avoid junk food and simple carbs as they can raise insulin levels and actually increase your stress levels.

Include yourself on the list of people you take care of- make yourself a priority. You can't provide care for others if you let your own health and well-being decline. Taking care of yourself must become a necessity, not an indulgence. Thinking of yourself this way may seem foreign but remember, it's not optional.

Remember to spend time with family and friends. You deserve that time and it can fortify you to continue as an effective caregiver. Many people find themselves spread too thin and when something needs to give, it's usually the time spent with family and friends.

Call upon brothers and/or sisters to share the load. In time, caring for an aging parent can become impossible to do alone, especially if you work full time. Speak with siblings and ask them how they can participate in your parents' care. It's not a burden for only one.

Consider utilizing the services of a home care agency. Affordable in-home care is available to relieve you of some of the daily activities of living. Help is available for assistance with bathing, cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, and even general companionship. This can be a low cost way to free you up to spend quality time with your aging parents.

Seek the advice of an elder law attorney. This can be money well spent. Make sure wills are drawn up. Consider obtaining any documents required to designate a power of attorney should it become necessary.

The help of a Geriatric Care Manager can be a valuable asset, especially to Boomers who live a long distance from their aging parents. Geriatric Care Managers are professionals that specialize in issues related to seniors. Care managers function as an advocate for their clients through needs assessment, problem solving, care coordination and referrals for other services as needed.

Being the caregiver of an aging loved one is never an easy task, but by making yourself a priority and utilizing the help of others, you can handle the takes healthier and longer.

Written By : Murphy Ortiz

Aging Gracefully or Not - 8 Mistakes

2010-02-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Taking care of aging parents is not an easy task. Many in our aging society are not aging gracefully, and fighting or ignoring their decline in physical and cognitive abilities. No matter how well we eat, how much we exercise, how many supplements we take, there is nothing that stops the aging process. Granted, we all age at different rates, but eventually our bodies wear out, and we can no longer do things as easily as we once did. Taking care of an aging loved one is not for sissies! To assist you as you go the through process of aging with your loved one, here are the top 8 common mistakes made by seniors and their families.
Not planning ahead, even for a health care crisis

Common sense tells us that as we age we should expect to require some assistance , or even total care at some point. Yet, many aging adults find aging gracefully difficult. Fear of aging and a need to hold on to their independence causes many seniors not to ask for help. Those in the early stages of dementia may not recognize their need. Family members need to prepare themselves so that if a health care crisis does occur that their aging loved one will have some protection. Preparing for this will take time and energy. It requires learning about Medicare, Medicaid, insurance policies, legal forms and health care options available. Being prepared, can decrease stress and anxiety in a time of crisis, and gives you a sense of confidence as you assist your aging parent in making important decision.

Denial

Many adults who have a fear of aging neglect signs of poor heath.. Many overlook health problems for such reasons as worrying about paying their co pay, so they delay going to the doctors until the condition worsens. Such a delay can result in more advanced stages of a condition. Many aging adults feel as if they can fight the process and refuse to wear hearing aides, braces or walking aids. Family members often do not address these behaviors as they are met with strong resistance. This can be a difficult and uncomfortable situation for many family members. Sometimes having a family meeting and having a person that your parent respects and trusts will open the lines of communication.

Reluctance

Not aging gracefully causes many adults to be reluctant to discuss that they need assistance, because to admit that fact means they are growing old. To many aging adults, that is a blow to their self esteem and many perceive that they must give up their independence or become a burden to the family. Family members, many times are reluctant to bring up the subject of your aging parent needing care, due to family dynamics. Within the family there may be challenges of overcoming guilt, anxiety or even anger. It is important that you make your aging parent aware that you are there to support them and not to interfere, that their safety and health are your utmost concern.

Are not aware of all the options and levels of care available

The healthcare delivery system can be overwhelming. Many families have no idea that where to begin to look for assistance or what services and options are available. There are many county, state and senior services that can provide direct access to specific care providers. Your local agency on aging can direct you to programs and services that are specific to your area. You clergy member may be able to assist you in directing you and your family members to professionals that have successfully supported other church members. You may want to utilize the services of a care manager or eldercare consultant to assist you in maneuvering the health care system. These are individuals that specialize in the care of the aging population and can advocate, make recommendations and assist in overseeing every aspect of the care and services that are needed for your aging parent.

Family disagreement

Inaction by family members due to differences of opinion with in a family as to what care is needed, and where and from whom it should come. Nothing can revive conflicts in adult siblings than making decisions about an aging parent. All the old roles, parents favorite, the black sheep, the unresolved battles and family rivalries resurface. Old family dynamics come back, and adult siblings can sabotage wise decisions during those anxiety producing conversations about the aging parent. There are also cultural differences, where the eldest son, no matter what his relationship with his aging parents has been, is expected to be the decision maker in those families. Many of the sisters/daughters in these cultures are not involved in the decision making process, even though they are the ones that have been providing the care. It is important to focus, as a group, on what your parents would want and provide them with the best possible care in a safe and comfortable environment. In these situations, an outside objective third party is recommended. There are eldercare facilitators, care managers and eldercare consultants to assist your family through this process.

Misunderstanding of what health insurance, long term care, and supplements provide

It is important for seniors and their family members to investigate and understand what Medicare, Medicare supplements and Medicaid covers. If your aging parent has long term care insurance, it is also important to review waiting periods, cost of living riders and home care coverage. This is the first time many family members hear the term, "spend down". Spend down is depleting private or family finances to the point where an individual is sufficiently poor to meet the eligibility criteria for Medicaid. The spend down process and transition to poverty can involve multiple losses. It is wise to consult an elder care attorney early, before a crisis to assist you in planning to protect your aging parent's assets.

Concern over financial loss and downsizing

Many aging adults have worked their entire life and they want to leave an inheritance. They do not want to give up everything they have worked for. There are emotional and logistical factors of downsizing. It is emotionally traumatizing and overwhelming to the aging parent to give up their possessions. For many, their former life style was their identity. It is can be a difficult transition to fit into this new lifestyle. People want to age in their homes and do not realize there are options available to them to help keep them there. Eighty percent of long term care is provided by families, not institutions. There are more than 20 million Americans that provide care for an aging loved one. This allows the aging parent to continue to age in place in the comfort of familiar surroundings and be close to their loved ones.

Inability to discuss end of life issues

Aging gracefully is no longer a part of our culture. Billions of dollars are spent trying to avoid growing old. It is a fact that no one lives forever. We all are going to die. If we don't die young, we are going to die old. So we should prepare for this time. We should be able to say what we want to do to stay alive. Some choose multiple medical tests, invasive and painful procedures and multiple admissions to the hospital to avoid death at all costs. Others, do not discuss death and do not express their wishes to others, and leave the difficult decisions to family members. This takes a terrible toll on a family during a very difficult time. There is such a thing as dying with dignity. It is the very last thing we can have a say in as we age. Establish advanced directives now. Five Wishes, an advanced directive form, is a very complete and unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it looks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. Five Wishes also encourages discussing your wishes with your family and physician. Complete durable power of attorney for finances and durable power attorney for health care. These simple documents allow another person to make financial and health decisions for you should you become incapacitated in the future. You should also discuss developing a will and planning funeral arrangements. This will not only save you money, by preparing for your final arrangements, your family will have comfort in knowing that your final wishes are being honored. It will alleviate stress and allow them to celebrate you and your life.

In an effort to help family members become better informed and more feel empowered about assisting or even just with dealing with the issues of your aging parent, the resources are there. You just need to take the time, have the energy and the commitment to getting the right assistance at the right time. Being proactive and planning ahead makes this process much easier. Realize that your parents are adults and are responsible for their own lives.

You can only do what they will allow you to do. Hang in there and continue to work with your parents and do not take what they are saying personally. It is about them and fear of aging and change, fear of loss of independence and fear of loosing control, over their lives.

Caregiver Stress Check

2009-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Do you regularly . . .
1.Feel like you have to do it all yourself, and that you should be doing more
Yes No

2.Withdraw from family, friends and activities that you used to enjoy
Yes No

3.Worry that the person you care for is safe
Yes No

4.Feel anxious about money and healthcare decisions
Yes No

5.Deny the impact of the disease and its effects on your family
Yes No

6.Feel grief or sadness that your relationship with the person isn't what it used to be
Yes No

7.Get frustrated and angry when the person with dementia continually repeats things and doesn't seem to listen
Yes No

8.Have health problems that are taking a toll on you mentally and physically
Yes No

To get help with resouces and tips regarding your answers go to:

http://www.alz.org/stresscheck/

10 Signs of Alzheimer's

2009-09-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure

People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What's typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

4. Confusion with time or place

People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.

What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

8. Decreased or poor judgment

People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality

The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Sign of the Times

2009-08-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting that in my line of work you can predict how the economy is doing. In the past 6 months we have not had many seniors moving from their homes. Most are staying as long as they can because they fear of not being able to sell their homes. The seniors that have moved into The Harbor Court are what we call "need" driven. This is a senior that is coming from a hospital or have finished their rehab at a nursing home, and are unable to go back home. In the past couple weeks this has turned around. I have some delightful young women moving in that are still independent and want to have a better quality of life. Some have sold their homes, which is a good sign, and some are waiting it out while they enjoy their life with us. But I think that even that this is taking place is a good sign for all of us. I am doing my part too, above is a photo of my daughter Christina, her friend Amanda and my niece Amy on a recent trip to the big apple. Anyone else see things getting better?

Silver Alert Bill to Help Find Lost Dementia Victims Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

2009-07-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Silver Alert Bill to Help Find Lost Dementia Victims Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

House passed Silver Alert last month, many state and local governments setting up programs

March 17, 2009 – Legislation was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate last week to create a nationwide network for locating missing senior citizens and other adults. The Silver Alert Act, first introduced last Congress, would create a program modeled after the Amber Alert and provide federal coordination and assistance to local and state law enforcement agencies.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the National Silver Alert Act (H.R. 632), a version of the bill sponsored by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX).

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Ranking Member, again joined forces to reintroduce a bill in the Senate.

“Setting up a Silver Alert system for seniors who go missing due to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will promote the safety of our nation’s seniors, while bringing peace of mind to many concerned families,” said Senator Kohl. “With half a million new cases of Alzheimer’s every year, the need for a system of this kind will only grow.”

“With the growing number of aging Americans, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, thousands of adults go missing every year,” said Senator Martinez, the top Republican on the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.

“Providing families and law enforcement agencies with the combined resources they need to locate loved ones is essential. This type of proven nationwide network will assist states and territories with developing their own location system and integrate local Silver Alert plans currently in place with the national network.”

The bill encourages states to develop Silver Alert plans and provides funding to enhance and integrate Silver Alert plans that are currently in place in various states by directing the Department of Justice to establish a national communications network to assist efforts to locate missing senior citizens.

It also reauthorizes Kristen’s Act, which helps to maintain a national, interconnected resource center and clearinghouse for missing adults.

The National Association of State Units on Aging surveyed states last spring to determine actions being taken in the states to establish Sliver Alert programs, which are primarily aimed at protecting adults with cognitive impairment.

“Silver Alert programs are modeled after the Amber Alert programs now present in all 50 states according to the report by NASUA.

“The Amber Alert programs can quickly distribute information about missing persons to law enforcement, radio, and television stations. It is designed to alert the public and law enforcement agencies so that citizens can be on the look out for missing adults.

“While the Amber Alert programs are targeted at getting information quickly disseminated about children, Silver Alert programs are targeted for adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Of the states that responded to the NASUA survey, seven states had Silver Alert Programs and at least two states reported that they had legislation pending.

Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia have Silver Alert Programs in place, the survey found. Ohio had legislation that had been signed by the governor but was not yet effective.

10 Uplifting Movies for Seniors

2009-07-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

My personal Favorite is It's A Wonderful life.

The Gold Rush (1924)
Stars: Charlie Chaplin
Director: Charlie Chaplin
In classic Charlie Chaplin style, the tramp heads to Alaska as a lone prospector in search of his fortune, finding love and falling into the wrong crown along the way. Bittersweet, very funny, and ultra-touching, it’s one of the original and best feel-good films.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed
Director: Frank Capra
A suicidal man (Jimmy Stewart) has a chance encounter with a guardian angel. He’s given the opportunity to see his family, friends, and hometown as it would be without him. This sentimental tale is the epitome of what an uplifting movie should be- set during the Holidays, it’ll make you grateful to be alive.

Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Stars: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Daggy Fran wants to be a ballroom star, and has plenty of time to dream about it as she mops up the floors of the dance studio. Then she meets rebellious Scott, who is looking for a partner to work on his controversial dance moves. Baz Luhrmann's Aussie comedy shows us that anything is possible.

Singin' In the Rain (1952)
Stars: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds
Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
A famous silent screen couple never expected their film to turn into a talkie, let alone a musical, and it’s apparent that the female lead can’t sing herself out of a paper bag. A chorus girl (Debbie Reynolds) is recruited to dub the songs secretly. This sprightly MGM musical will get you up and dancing. A true classic!

Grease (1978)
Stars: Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta
Director: Randal Kleiser
A goody-two-shoes girl falls for a bad boy in this musical about identity, transformation, and growing up. The music is unforgettable and the costumes are as fun as you get. You’ll be singing the songs for days after, and perhaps buy yourself a poodle skirt.

Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Stars: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Director: Howard Hawks
In this screwball comedy, Katherine Hepburn is a crazy It-Girl set on snagging the geeky paleontologist (Cary Grant), and all the while taking care of her pet cheetah Baby. Hot chemistry, unforgettable slapstick comedy, and speedy banter will give you a shot of energy.

My Fair Lady (1964)
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison
Director: George Cukor
Eliza Doolitle is a foul-mouthed Cockney street-seller. She’s picked up by Professor Henry Higgins, a snooty phonetics professor, as part of a bet and experiment in voice work. Can he turn her into a high-society lady? Romantic, life-affirming and with a winning performance from Hepburn, this is pure delight.

The Odd Couple (1968)
Stars: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau
Director: Gene Saks
The classic comedy duo at their best! The guys move in together and discover that they don’t make so wonderful a pair after all. One’s an obsessive cleaner and the other’s a slob. Felix and Oscar's exploits and arguments are so hysterically funny they will have you falling out of your seat with laughter.

Some Like It Hot (1959)
Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon
Director: Billy Wilder
When the Mob comes looking for a couple of musicians, they beat it for the French Riviera, disguised as broads and join an all-female band. They find trouble when they both fall head over heals for irresistible ukulele-player Sugar (Marilyn Monroe). Marilyn and the boys are unforgettable.

Billy Elliot (2000)
Stars: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters
Director: Stephen Daldry

Little Billy has big dreams of dancing Ballet. Unfortunately his dad says dancing is for sissies. Billy and his no-nonsense ballet teacher won’t let that stop him. Life-affirming, delightful, and poignant, Stephen Daldry’s movie is sure to be a feel-good classic for years to come.

Elder Care and Guilt Issues

2009-07-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

After reading this article it brought some much of what I hear every day in my line of work. I am not sure if anyone saw the ABC show Family Issues. It was a very powerful show about a newly married couple that had the husband's mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's move in with them. Such a sad story. As this article mentions there is so much information and support for what we call the "adult child". If any one needs any questions answered or some support numbers please feel free to contact me.

By D. Gibson
Our society is in denial when it comes to aging. We spend millions trying to avoid looking like we have grown older. Sooner or later, however, we have to deal with aging, particularly when it effects our parents. This raises the issue of elder care and guilt.

Most people view life as a simple time line. You are born, your parents raise you, you become an adult and then you raise your own family. Most people do not factor in the subject of caring for their parents. When it becomes a necessity, it can be a huge wake up call from both a financial, emotional and practical point of view.

Many adults find themselves faced with making decisions on behalf of their parents. This often starts with small issues and then eventually blossoms into a wider range of subjects. This role reversal can result in the dredging up of old, painful issues as well as simply being a burden on the person making the decision.

As you become more involved in your parent's life, you will natural emotional reactions. These can range from the simple frustration of having to deal with them to guilt for thinking that way to anger to, well, the full gambit of feelings. How you deal with these issues is critical to getting through the process.

Dealing with parental issues is very mentally taxing. Now is not the time to play the tough guy role. Do what you must, but make sure you take care of yourself as well. Take time out each week for you. If things are rough, join a support group. It can make an absolute world of difference to be able to vent to someone who knows what you are going though. This is particularly true if you have a family member suffering from a form of dementia like Alzheimer's Disease.

Guilt is probably the biggest issue that people have trouble with. You have to nip this one in the bud. Growing old is a natural part of life. It happens to everyone. This also means the onset of ailments for many seniors. Again, this is a natural part of the cycle of life. While it may not be easy to go through, it is not your fault. You must live your life as well.

Elder care is become a huge issue as our population ages. Your parents are going to get older. They are going to need help. Don't think for a minute that you will not have to deal with these issues. You will. The key is to understand what is going on, prepare for it and keep as even a keel as you can. Remember to make time for yourself and consider joining a support group so you can vent a bit.

Resident Volunteers May Live Longer

2009-06-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Yet another best practice for enhancing your residents’ quality of life: Help get them involved in volunteer work. Not only will it make them feel valued and productive; it may help them live longer.

According to a study by the American Geriatric Society, older adults who volunteer had less than half the risk of dying compared to their non-volunteering peers. The study included 6,360 retired people over 65; the average participant was 78. Researchers note that findings are preliminary and that research is ongoing.

“People who are socially engaged will have a better quality of life and better survival,” Dr. Gary Kennedy, a geriatric psychiatrist, told Business Week magazine. “This study is a good way of using science to reinforce what’s good common sense. Volunteering is a good thing to do, and lo and behold, it’s good for you, too.”

Tips for Seniors Traveling

2009-06-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

By R. Priolo
Traveling is a luxury many seniors enjoy. The planning, preparation, adventure, and return, is all part of the delight that the phrase “travel for seniors” implies. One of the most common methods of travel is by air. Air travel today has changed dramatically in the past 60 years. What was once a privilege for the few has now become standard fare.

For many passengers, a cramped seating arrangement is a problem. Particularly for seniors traveling, they face issues with swelling of the legs and muscle and joint pain. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Seniors planning on traveling can take additional herbal supplements and do regular stretches to promote circulation and general health.

One of the other dilemmas faced by senior travelers is airline food. Back “in the day” food was served as part of the flight—whether you liked it or not. Now, meals are minimal and must be purchased. So, traveling seniors with special diet restrictions or allergies must now make additional preparation for how to plan a trip well.

Drinks are still readily available when traveling by air. However, some seniors when traveling may forget the need to drink plenty of water. Although sodas, coffee, tea, and juice are acceptable, they should never be a substitute for good ol’ fashion H2O when traveling.

Medications are often a problem for traveling seniors. You want to enjoy your trip as much as possible and don’t want the hassle of supplements and pills. Yet your health is also necessary for enjoying your travel. Seniors may need to consult a physician before taking extended flights to ensure all medical needs are handled. It may be important for you to continue taking medication on a regular schedule.

Seniors traveling by air have the assistance of flight attendants. These individuals are usually very competent, knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. They can assist in addressing specific concerns of traveling seniors; they can also provide helpful suggestions. After all, they’ve probably helped thousands of passengers before you!

Finally, seniors—just like any passenger—need to bring something to do on board. The movies are not always appealing to passengers. Traveling seniors may rather enjoy a good book and a pair of headphones.

So, if you—or a senior you know—is looking to do some travel by air, consider some of these travel tips. For traveling seniors, an airplane ride can still hold a thrill.

Tips on Caring for Aging Parents

2009-05-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

By Lin Steven

Do not feel alone if you are caring for your aging parents because you are one of 50 million Americans in the same boat. Whether they are staying with you or in another location, if you have the responsibility for their care, prepare yourself for a time consuming and emotional experience.

Tips for the Son or Daughter

Caring for your aging parents can be a very draining and exhausting ordeal. A support system between your brothers and/or sisters and friends will help lighten the load. Caring for aging parents is impossible to do on your own, especially if you work full time. You must come to the realization that at some point in time, one or both of your parents might have their normal thoughts, behavior, and attitudes changed radically by disease.

If this happens, caring for your parent can be like dealing with a complete stranger. For your own emotional and physical health, you will need an occasional break. Having your own parent not recognize you or think you are somebody else can come as a big shock to your system.

Tax Implications

Consulting with an accountant and/or attorney, if you are caring for aging parents, is time, energy, and money well spent. By making sure a will is drawn up and estate laws examined in detail, you will be free to give loving care for your aging parents. Depending on your circumstances, you may find that you can claim your parent as a tax deduction.

Taking Away the Car

This usually happens before the house is taken away. There are many things that have a negative effect on an older driver. Diminishing eyesight, physical handicaps, and mental disease can all make it very dangerous for these people to drive, both for their own safety and the safety of others. Very seldom does the parent voluntarily give up their car keys. Often times it is best just to make the car disappear over night.

Taking Away the House

Get ready for the battle of your lifetime when you determine, for their own safety, that your parents must be moved to a care facility. A home can be a very dangerous place for an older person who forgets things easily or has physical limitations. Falling down the stairs or leaving the stove burner on can have devastating effects.

You Are Not a Parent

While you are a care giver for your aging parents, you can never be a parent to your parent. The most that you can do is respond with love to their needs as they responded to your needs when you were young. Always remember that caring for your aging parents requires patience, patience, and more patience.

THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT

2009-05-07T07:10:00.001-07:00

Starting Mother's Day, May 10, 9 PM -- THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT -- on HBO

A 4-PART DOCUMENTARY, CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA THINKS ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

You are cordially invited to a special 40-minute screening of Caregivers.

Immediately following the video an expert panel from Lakewood Hospital

and the Alzheimer’s Association will answer your questions about

Alzheimer’s Disease.

Date: Tuesday, May 12

Location: Lakewood Hospital Wasmer Auditorium

14519 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

RSVP: Call 216.227.2570 or register online at lakewoodhospital.

Loneliness Can Make You Sick

2009-04-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Man is a social being, preferring to live in groups with a high level of social interaction. We are dependent on one another for everything from food and clothing to health. Studies have shown that people who are isolated and lonely have a higher incidence of health problems. A 1998 study of patients with heart disease found that 50 percent of the patients who reported feeling very isolated were not married and had no one in whom they could confide died within five years. During the same time span, only 17 percent of those with either a spouse or confidant died. Another 1998 study on women found that symptoms of depression and lack of social support were associated with more heart attacks, open-heart surgeries and deaths from cardiovascular disease. A report has found that seniors, who attend church at least weekly, live longer.
Even the Internet is proving to be a weapon in the fight against social isolation and loneliness. Websites that sponsor chats and forums are among the most popular on the Internet. They help foster a sense of community and help seniors keep in touch with friend and family who may be many miles away.
As one gets older, the social circle they developed through a lifetime will change and sometimes diminish. Parent, siblings and a spouse may die leaving loved ones alone for many years. Most women because of the significant difference in life expectancies can expect to spend several years alone. Opportunities for developing and maintaining a social network abound, especially for seniors. The challenge is to take advantage of the opportunities. Excuses can be pushed aside.
If loneliness becomes overwhelming, it can lead to depression. Depression can make it even harder to get out and make social contacts.

Seniors Should Try to Keep Up with Younger Adults

2009-04-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

Adults - even senior citizens – need two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, which will return substantial health benefits, according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which were released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Regular physical activity is essential for healthy aging. Adults aged 65 years and older gain substantial health benefits from regular physical activity and these benefits continue to occur throughout their lives. Promoting physical activity for older adults is especially important because this population is the least physically active of any age group.
Older adults are a varied group. Most, but not all, have one or more chronic conditions, and these conditions vary in type and severity. Regular physical activity reduces the risk in adults of early death; coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. All have experienced a loss of physical fitness with age, some more than others. This diversity means that some older adults can run several miles, while others struggle to walk several blocks.

Aerobic Activity
People doing aerobic activities move large muscles in a rhythmic manner for a sustained period. Brisk walking, jogging, biking, dancing, and swimming are all examples of aerobic activities. This type of activity is also called endurance activity.
Aerobic activity makes a person's heart beat more rapidly to meet the demands of the body's movement. Over time, regular aerobic activity makes the heart and cardiovascular system stronger and fitter.

Muscle-Strengthening Activities
Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities, such as weight training, push-ups, sit-ups, carrying heavy loads and heavy gardening, at least two days a week.
At least 2 days a week, older adults should do muscle–strengthening activities that involve all the major muscle groups. These are the muscles of the legs, hips, chest, back, abdomen, shoulders, and arms.
Muscle-strengthening activities make muscles do more work than they are accustomed to during activities of daily life. Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include lifting weights, working with resistance bands, doing calisthenics using body weight for resistance (such as push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups), climbing stairs, carrying heavy loads, and heavy gardening.
Muscle-strengthening activities count if they involve a moderate to high level of intensity, or effort, and work the major muscle groups of the body. For example, muscle-strengthening activity done as part of a therapy or rehabilitation program can count.
No specific amount of time is recommended for muscle strengthening, but muscle-strengthening exercises should be performed to the point at which it would be difficult to do another repetition without help. When resistance training is used to enhance muscle strength, one set of 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise is effective. Development of muscle strength and endurance is progressive over time. This means that gradual increases in the amount of weight or the days per week of exercise will result in stronger muscles.

Balance Activities for Older Adults at Risk of Falls
Older adults are at increased risk of falls if they have had falls in the recent past or have trouble walking. In older adults at increased risk of falls, strong evidence shows that regular physical activity is safe and reduces the risk of falls. Reduction in falls is seen for participants in programs that include balance and moderate-intensity muscle-strengthening activities for 90 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes) a week plus moderate-intensity walking for about 1 hour a week.
Preferably, older adults at risk of falls should do balance training 3 or more days a week and do standardized exercises from a program demonstrated to reduce falls.
Examples of these exercises include backward walking, sideways walking, heel walking, toe walking, and standing from a sitting position. The exercises can increase in difficulty by progressing from holding onto a stable support (like furniture) while doing the exercises to doing them without support. Tai chi exercises also may help prevent falls.
The evidence is clear - regular physical activity over months and years produces long-term health benefits and reduces the risk of many diseases. The more physically active you are, the more health benefits you gain. It can improve thinking ability in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily living.

Examples of Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Activities for Older Adults.
The intensity of these activities can be either relatively moderate or relatively vigorous, depending on an older adult's level of fitness.

Aerobic Muscle-Strengthening
Walking
Dancing
Swimming
Water aerobics
Jogging
Aerobic exercise classes
Bicycle riding (stationary or on a path)
Some activities of gardening, such as raking and pushing a lawn mower
Tennis
Golf (without a cart) Exercises using exercise bands, weight machines, hand-held weights
Calisthenic exercises (body weight provides resistance to movement)
Digging, lifting, and carrying as part of gardening
Carrying groceries
Some yoga exercises
Some Tai chi exercises

Older adults should increase their amount of physical activity gradually. It can take months for those with a low level of fitness to gradually meet their activity goals. To reduce injury risk, inactive or insufficiently active adults should avoid vigorous aerobic activity at first. Rather, they should gradually increase the number of days a week and duration of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Adults with a very low level of fitness can start out with episodes of activity less than 10 minutes and slowly increase the minutes of light-intensity aerobic activity, such as light-intensity walking.

Poor economy taking toll on senior citizens

2009-03-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

I found this information so disturbing. I do have a financial expert coming in to talk to seniors about other options. This Event is May 21st at 7pm at The Harbor Court 22900 Center Ridge Road Rocky River, OH Please RSVP to Kathi 440-863-5017.

CLEVELAND — The bad economy has left growing numbers of Cuyahoga County senior citizens hungry, homeless and at risk of family violence.

That was the grim outlook painted Monday by social service providers during a forum sponsored by McGregor Foundation and the Center for Community Solutions' Council on Older Persons. The event drew about 80 people to McGregor's senior citizen complex in East Cleveland.

"We're seeing seniors losing their homes. We're seeing seniors having to abandon their apartments because of the inability to pay for things like utilities," said Steve Wertheim, director of United Way's 211/First Call for Help line. "I could go on and on."

Older homeowners have been particularly vulnerable to predatory lenders and unscrupulous home repair companies, officials said.

First Call for Help's figures showed the number of seniors ages 60 and up referred to homeless shelters grew from 83 in 2005 to 150 in 2008, and the number of seniors needing foreclosure help leaped from 46 to 695 during the same period.

Help line operators also fielded 224 calls from seniors seeking help finding a job in 2008, as compared with 73 in 2005. Wertheim noted similar increases in calls for help with utilities and food.

Luther Smith, 80, a Cleveland senior activist invited to share his financial story, explained that a fixed income doesn't go as far as it once did, because costs for utilities, food and even bus fare are rising.

One-third of his $860 monthly income goes to his rented home, said Smith, lightening the mood by explaining that he could live cheaper in senior housing but prefers not to live in a "high-rise senior closet." To save money, he goes without a phone. "I don't have cable and I don't have the new converter box either."

Susan Axelrod, director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services, detailed other problems facing seniors, including an increased threat of violence in some homes where a grandparent's social security check may be the only income a family can count on.

"When financial times get worse, incidents of adult abuse go up," she said. "These are tense situations that unfortunately spill over to abuse and neglect, and we are definitely seeing that."

As senior citizen needs expand, some funding is tightening. At 12 local Golden Age Centers, which provide hot meals to seniors, two of its largest grants have been slashed by a third. "We're at the point where we might have to start cutting services," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Armour.

Attendees were urged to press state legislators to provide funding for in-home care, respite for Alzheimer caregivers and to protect seniors from abuse.

Rob Hilton, McGregor Foundation president, said he hopes to work with other philanthropic partners to produce at least $1 million to help meet basic needs for seniors.

Topics and Posts From Other Blog

2009-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 16, 2009

Giving Care for Parents
I had heard this ad on the radio several times but had not had a chance to go to the web site they were referring to. This site has some great information and articles. Check it out:

http://giving-care.riteaid.com/giving-care/

Have a great week.
Kathi
Posted by Kathi Greco at 9:23 AM

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Monday, March 2, 2009
If Parents Had Alzheimer's, Aging May Come Early
I saw this article and found it interesting. As a granddaughter of an Alzheimer's patient it worries me and I try to stay on top all education material that is out there. Hope you find it interesting.

Middle-age people whose parents had Alzheimer's and who carry the so-called Alzheimer's gene might very well have the memory of someone 15 years older, a new study has found.

This memory decline was not detected in people of middle age whose parents had Alzheimer's but who do not carry the gene, known as ApoE4, according to the study.

About 20 percent to 25 percent of the population have at least one copy of the ApoE4 gene, but not all people with the gene develop Alzheimer's, said study co-author Dr. Sudha Seshadri, an associate professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.

The study involved 715 participants in the ongoing Framingham Heart Study, including 282 whose parents, one or both, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other dementia. The participants averaged 59 years old and were healthy, with no memory complaints, said Seshadri, who is also a senior investigator with the Framingham study.

But when given a battery of cognitive tests, those who logged the lowest scores on verbal and visual memory tasks were people who were carriers of the ApoE4 gene and had parents with dementia.

Seshadri stressed that the neuropsychological tests and brain imaging conducted as part of the study offered a sensitive measurement of memory. The participants were "performing older than they're expected," she said, but added that there were "no memory symptoms associated with this." Participants still tested within the normal range for memory and were living normal lives, she said.

The results suggest that the Alzheimer's gene is facilitating the expression of some other gene, Seshadri said. "It's just giving us a clue that whatever [other] gene we find is going to have an interaction with ApoE," she said.

Finding other genes will require a sample of 10,000 to 20,000 people and the collaboration of several research groups, Seshadri said. But, she predicted that "within the next year or two, I think we are going to find more genes."

The study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and released Wednesday, is to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting, from April 25 to May 2, in Seattle.

But the findings should not send people scurrying for genetic testing, Seshadri and another expert said.

Alzheimer's is "not like Huntington's, where if you have the bad gene and you live long enough you're going to get it," Seshadri said. "E4 explains only part of the risk. Clearly there are other genes out there, but they probably have much smaller effects than ApoE4."

Dr. Gary J. Kennedy, director of the division of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said that the finding "needs to be seen with considerable caution so it doesn't get over interpreted."

For starters, he said, the study has not been peer-reviewed, meaning it has not been scrutinized and evaluated by other experts in the field, a process that precedes publication of research in a major medical journal.

Also, statistics in the abstract of the study do not indicate how big a risk factor carrying the ApoE4 gene is for those whose parents had dementia or Alzheimer's, Kennedy said, and the brain scans of the study participants did not show any volumetric changes. "If they saw volumetric changes, that would be scary," Kennedy said.

The bottom line then, according to Seshadri, is that 50-somethings who begin to lose their car keys don't need to start worrying as a result of this study.

"Those of us who lose our keys actually have pretty good memories," she said. "We remember we lost our keys." Besides, she said, people lose their keys "mainly because we were thinking of 15 other things when we put our keys down."
Posted by Kathi Greco at 7:21 AM

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Monday, February 16, 2009

Ideas from Candice Miele - Fairview Park Senior Center
These ideas are from Candice Miele the Social Worker at Fairview Park Senior Center. Thanks Candice for your contribution.

1. The Reality Check System: This is something I have devised and used with my seniors who get scammed by people who want them to send money for various reasons. They need to have a designated person to be their "Reality Check Person." When they are asked for money (except for ongoing bills they are used to paying), they need to call that person. They will tell the person what they are being asked to donate money to or invest in. That trusted person (a close friend or family member) will tell them whether they think it is a scam or a worthy cause. Seniors have, for the most part, generous hearts and they help support many of the great causes that keep research and treatment going. However, I have encountered more and more cases where they are being intimidated and coerced to send money to scam artists. Since the decline of the economy, the problem has become so much worse. Tell them never to send money without a reality check first!

2. How do you get a person with Alzheimer's disease or any form of Dementia to take a bath or shower with the least resistance? The best way I have found (and this has been tried and true in many of my past cases) is to have the bathing assistant (formal or informal caregiver) use a matter-of-fact tone, and state boldly ahead of time (a few hours before, then again a couple minutes before the event - repeat as necessary) that it is time for the bath or shower. Then, as the time approaches, just keep the stance that this is a routine event that must be done. Most people with dementia welcome this kind of firm but caring guidance. They usually just go along with the program. The first couple times may be the most difficult, but once the scheduled bathing day comes along every week for a few weeks, they will store it in their long-term memory and they will just think of it as part of their week.
A second suggestion related to bathing is to ask the person: "Would you like to take a shower now, or in five minutes?" The usual response, especially for resistant people, is "five minutes." Then, you must be consistent. Watch the clock with them and count down the five minutes and follow through with the bath or shower at that time. This helps them maintain control and the power of limited choice.
Posted by Kathi Greco at 6:11 AM

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Monday, February 9, 2009

High Blood Pressure May be to Blame for Mental Confusion, Study Reveals

By Geoffrey Moore from the Home Instead Senior Care office in North Olmsted

Q. My 79-year-old father seems to be getting more confused all the time. I’m very worried he is getting Alzheimer’s disease and, since he lives alone, I don’t know what to do. Help!

First, don’t jump to conclusions. Various reasons could explain your father’s disorientation and there’s no reason to panic until you know the medical facts. Ask your dad to make an appointment with his doctor. Or, if he balks, suggest that you help him set that up. Maybe he is fearful of finding out the truth as well.

There could be a logical and medically treatable explanation. For instance, diabetes can cause disorientation. And, according to a study from North Carolina State University, high blood pressure spikes can lead to a decline in mental function.

In fact, increased blood pressure in older adults is directly related to decreased cognitive functioning, particularly among seniors with already high blood pressure, research reveals. This means that stressful situations may make it more difficult for some seniors to think clearly.

Dr. Jason Allaire, an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State, who co-authored the study, explains that study subjects whose average systolic blood pressure was 130 or higher saw a significant decrease in cognitive function when their blood pressure spiked.

However, Allaire notes, study subjects whose average blood pressure was low or normal saw no change in their cognitive functioning – even when their blood pressure shot up.
Specifically, Allaire says, the study shows a link between blood pressure spikes in seniors with high blood pressure and a decrease in their inductive reasoning.

Depending on what his doctor says, your dad might also want to heed this advice from Asenath LaRue, a senior scientist at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). While there aren’t many controlled clinical trials on ways to keep your brain in shape, she says a variety of observational studies point to three main preventive actions: be physically active, challenge your brain and stay socially active.
Posted by Kathi Greco at 6:41 AM

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Monday, February 2, 2009
Old Age or Not?
I was touring a couple the other day, it was an adult child and his wife looking for his parents. As we started to talk about the needs of each of his parents his wife added that the mother was having some memory issues. The husband became very defensive. Adding that it was just a part of old age. I thought he could really use some education about Alzheimer's. Sometimes it is just the aging process and sometimes it's not. Below is a list I have download from www.alz.org this is the official site of the Alzheimer's Assoc. There is so much information available to you. One bit of information that helped me over years is, when I first started working in senior care our nurse was talking about a resident that was having some confusion. It wasn't normal for this woman. She stated she was going to have a urine check done because it might be a UTI (urinary tract infection). I asked her what does that have to do with anything. She educated me that seniors with UTI's can show signs of ALZ. Over the years I can't tell you how many residents have had a UTI and onset confusion and after a round of antibiotics they are back to their selves. I hope this helps and please utilize the ALZ Association they have a great staff to help with any questions or resources.

Memory loss.
Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.
What's normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps to prepare a meal, place a telephone call or play a game.
What's normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

Problems with language.
People with Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find their toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth."
What's normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Disorientation to time and place.
People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own neighborhoods, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
What's normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

Poor or decreased judgment.
Those with Alzheimer's may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment about money, like giving away large sums to telemarketers.
What's normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

Problems with abstract thinking.
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are and how they should be used.
What's normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

Misplacing things.
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
What's normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.

Changes in mood or behavior.
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
What's normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.

Changes in personality.
The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
What's normal? People’s personalities do change somewhat with age.

Loss of initiative.
A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.
What's normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations
Posted by Kathi Greco at 8:15 AM

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Small gifts mean a lot
I was talking to a resident in the elevator and she was showing me a gift her great grand-daughter had given her. It was a lighted magnifying glass. She expressed what a thoughtful gift it was. It got me thinking, small thoughtful gifts mean so much to us that it's a nice idea to think of our loved ones in Assisted Livings or Nursing Homes not only on birthday's or Christmas but all year. Especially in the winter when it's no fun for anyone to be closed in. So here is a list of things that are not only helpful but thoughtful also.

Toiletries: moisturizing lotion, soap on a rope, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste or denture cleaner, shampoo, facial tissue, cologne, lipstick, nail polish.

Grooming supplies: comb or hairbrush, hair accessories, hand mirror, electric razor.

Clothing such as track suits, pajamas or nightgowns, underwear and socks. Consider adaptive apparel such as Velcro closing.

Dresses and shirts - that makes dressing easier. All items should be easy-care. Velcro-closing running shoes or slippers with non-skid soles are another good idea.

Throw for the sofa or bed, or a lap blanket if the person is wheelchair dependent.

Adapted dishes and utensils - plates with rims and drinking cups with straws, for example - to help maximize independence with eating. These can be found at medical supply stores.

Tote bag that attaches to walker or wheelchair.

A device for picking things up off the floor or retrieving items on shelves. Found at home health stores.

Telephone that is cordless or has an oversized keypad and adjustable volume.

Lighted magnifying glass (include extra batteries).

Large-print calendar with generous spaces for noting appointments and special occasions.

All-occasion cards and stamps.

Hearing aid batteries.

Night lights (include replacement bulbs).
Posted by Kathi Greco at 6:16 AM

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Thursday, January 22, 2009
Funding for Assisted Living
When I meet with families the question I get asked a lot is "Is there any funding for Assisted Living?" There are only two ways that I know of that input to the funding of AL. One being long term care insurance. I do find that some families do not check to see if their mom or dad has one of these policies. Ask them they may have taken it our years ago and I find some think it's only for a nursing home. But if it's worded for a residential care community it applies to Assisted Living. Most pay anywhere from $100 to $140 a day towards the rate. That could make or break which community you chose.

The other is VA Benefits. This benefit is for Veterans and widowed spouses who served during war time. The veteran commission will pay a portion of assisted living if there are 2 or more ADL's (activities of daily living) needed. I don't like to give out the amount they pay because it changes and there is an application process. But I have families that are receiving the benefit so it is out there. Here is a link to the Cleveland Chapter. http://www.vba.va.gov/ro/cleveland/index.html
If you are not in the area you can Google VA and your town.
Happy almost TGIF!

New Blog

2009-03-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all -

I am moving my blog from theharborcourt.blogspot to this blog. I think it will help people when they sreach for help with this confusing, frustrating at times mission.

This blog is intended to help what i call "the adult child" with the tools to ask questions about what is the best options for their parents.

Please visit my old blog for topics that may help you and check back on this one.

Thanks for your support!
Kathi